| Policy |
The Subsidized Adoption Program was created to provide a
means to facilitate the adoption of Department and private Connecticut licensed
child-placing agency special need children, thereby achieving permanency for more children
and reducing the number of children in foster care. Legal Reference: CONN.
GEN. STAT. §17a-117.
Note: A child brought from another country outside the United States, its
territories and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for the purpose of adoption is not
eligible to receive subsidized payments or medical coverage under CONN. GEN. STAT. §
17a-116 through 17a-121.
A child brought to Connecticut from within the United States is subject to the
Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and, as such, the sending state shall
continue to have financial responsibility for the child during the period of placement
under CONN. GEN. STAT. §17a-175. |
| Primary Goal In
Adoption |
The primary goal in adoption is to secure an appropriate
adoption placement for the child where
- the adoptive parents are willing and able to assume complete responsibility for the
child, and
- the parents and child can function as an independent family unit without the need for
any further assistance from the Department.
|
| Eligibility
Requirements |
A special needs child is eligible for the Subsidized Adoption
Program when the
- adopting family being considered meets the standards for adoption which any other
adopting family would be expected to meet and
- child meets the "special needs child" definition and
- child has established significant emotional ties with prospective adoptive parents while
in their care as a foster child or
- the child cannot be placed in adoption through existing resources after all reasonable
efforts have been made consistent with the best interests of the child.
When determining eligibility, consider the definition of special needs and the primary
adoption goal. |
| Important Note |
It should be noted that even if the child meets one or all
of the above criteria, the child may not be appropriate or eligible for the Subsidized
Adoption Program, if efforts have not been made to find a family who is not requesting a
subsidy. The subsidy should be granted only in situations where the adoption would not
take place without the subsidy, except when a child has established significant emotional
ties with prospective adoptive parents while in their care as a foster child. |
| Special Needs Child
Definition |
A special needs child is
defined as a child who is difficult to place in an adoptive home because of one or more of
the following conditions:
- physical or mental disability
- serious emotional maladjustment
- a recognized high risk of physical or mental disability
- over age eight (8) which presents a barrier to adoption
- over the age of two (2) and have racial or ethnic factors which present a barrier to
adoption
- is a member of a sibling group which should be placed together, an
- has been certified as a special needs child by the Department.
Legal Reference: CONN. GEN. STAT. §17a-116. |
