Emili Schurke – Adoption Benefits | Employer Assistance Program & Payments

3 Employer Adoption Benefits You Should Know About

Emili Schurke — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 09:00:25 +0000

Adoption is a life-changing experience, but it comes with some financial burden and sometimes it comes with emotional burden. If you are considering adoption, you may be wondering about benefits you can receive from your employer. According to a survey in 2008, over half of the 940 employers surveyed said that they offer some type of adoption assistance. In his book, Adoption Nation, Adam Pertman says that companies find that providing adoption benefits shows some social responsibility and creates more satisfied workers. There are three common types of employer adoption benefits offered by most employers. The three most common types of employer adoption benefits include financial assistance, information resources, and parental leave.

Financial assistance is the most common type of adoption benefit provided by employers. Financial assistance can come in different forms, such as a lump sum payment for adoption, payment of certain fees, and partial reimbursement to employees for expenses. Typically reimbursement plans can cover 80 percent of certain expenses related to the adoption up to an established amount. Every employer has different policies about reimbursement. Some may provide more for special situations such as the adoption of a special needs child. Be sure to check with your employer regarding financial assistance with your adoption.
Parental leave is required by law for employers with 50 or more employees. This federal law requires that any employer with 50 or more employees must offer 12 weeks of unpaid leave to both mothers and fathers of new adopted children. This ensures that employees have job security and health benefits while on leave. Some employers may offer more than 12 weeks. Check with your employer to find out how much parental leave you can receive.
Information resources such as support groups, access to an adoption specialist, and help with special situations are also available to employees. Not all of these resources will be made available by your employer, so it is important to check with your human resources department to find out what resources are available to you.

If you are considering adoption and need help, contact your employer to find out about any benefits you could receive.

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What is an Adoption Assistance Program?

Emili Schurke — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 09:00:47 +0000

Adoption assistance is also known as adoption subsidy. This program helps financially and provides services for children with disabilities and their adoptive parents. In order to qualify for adoption subsidy, you must be a parent or primary caregiver of an adopted child with special needs. While every state has a different definition of the term “special needs,” the general definition is that a child with special needs is a member of a minority group, has a medical condition, siblings who should not be separated, or a child with handicaps. A child with handicaps will have a physical, mental or emotional disability. So now that you know what an adoption assistance program is, you need to know how to apply for it, right? Read on to find out.

In order to apply to receive adoption assistance, you must first contact the adoption assistance specialist in your state. Once you have contacted the specialist, he or she can determine your eligibility and give you more information. If you are accepted to receive help, the state may provide monthly maintenance payments, medical assistance, and other support up until your child turns 18 or 21. You may also be eligible for a one-time reimbursement to cover expenses related to the adoption. These expenses can include adoption fees, agency supervision of the adoptive placement, court costs, attorney fees, travel, food and lodging expenses. If your child qualifies for assistance, the state must enter into an agreement with you as the adoptive parents. Assistance is provided based on the child’s background and special needs. Assistance can be either federal or state. A child cannot qualify for both federal and state assistance. A child must meet three criteria to qualify for federal assistance: the state has determined that the child cannot return to the birth parent’s home, the state has found a specific factor or condition (or a combination) that make it difficult for the child to be placed for adoption, and the state has made a reasonable but unsuccessful effort to place the child without support.

If you believe that you qualify for adoption assistance, contact your local department of social services. For more information, visit:

https://www.benefits.gov/benefits/benefit-details/822

https://www.nacac.org/resource/eligibility-benefits-federal-assistance/

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Are There Adoption Benefits for the Child?

Emili Schurke — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 18:27:01 +0000

Thousands of families each year are formed through adoption. There are benefits for everyone involved in the adoption triad. The adoption triad includes the adoptive family, the child, and the birth parents. The adopted child has many advantages. Not only does he or she have a forever family, but he or she is afforded many opportunities— for example, the option to attend college, receive a degree, and have a career. He or she has parents who are committed and a stable home to grow up in. Adopted children tend to have better health and more one-on-one attention from parents, are more involved in extracurricular activities, and are as well-adjusted as their peers. They are given the opportunity to travel and explore the world with hands-on experience. Studies show that adopted children are more likely than their non-adopted peers to have health insurance. Adopted children are also less likely to live in households below the poverty line.

Studies also show that adopted children are more likely to be successful in school. According to a study in 2007 completed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 68 percent of adopted children are read to everyday as young children compared to the 48 percent children who were not adopted. Being read to every day contributes to better school performance in children. According to this same study, more than half were reported to have very good or excellent performance in reading, language arts, and math.

One of the best benefits for an adopted child is having two families to love. An adopted child has a birth family and an adoptive family. In modern adoptions, birth families have some form of relationship with their child. Adopted children who have some form of communication with their birth families are shown to be happier in life. The more someone feels loved, the happier he or she is. There are so many benefits for an adopted child, but these are some of the best.

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