Post Adoption Resources

Disclaimer:This information is not intended to substitute as, or for, legal advice.

Adoption Assistance/Subsidy

• AAICAMA Home Page The Association of Administrators on the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance home page. On this page families will find information on ICAMA, including state contact information, adoption assistance, Title IV-E adoption assistance, FAQs, and more.
• Adoption Assistance by State Search for a state’s adoption assistance policies on Child Welfare Information Gateway.
• Adoption Assistance for Children Adopted from Foster Care A Child Welfare Information Guide on state and federal adoption assistance programs.
• Adoption Subsidy Definitions NACAC defines common adoption subsidy terms.
• Adoption Subsidy Fact Sheets View NACAC’s various fact sheets on adoption subsidies. Topics include interstate adoption subsidies, college tuition waitver programs, taxes, negotiating adoption assistance, and more.
• Eligibility and Benefits for Federal Adoption Assistance NACAC provides general information on Title IV-E (Federal) adoption assistance.
• NACAC State Adoption Subsidy Profiles View adoption subsidy information for each state and the District of Columbia.
• Negotiating Title IV-E Adoption Subsidy Agreements NACAC provides suggestions for negotiating Title IV-E Federal Adoption Subsidy agreements.
• Renegotiation and Modification of Adoption Subsidy Agreements NACAC provides suggestions on re-negotiating an adoption subsidy agreement.
• Title IV-E and State Adoption Assistance Checklist Adoption Resource Center provides a helpful checklist for adoptive families to go through before signing an adoption assistance agreement.

College Scholarships

• Educational and Training Voucher (ETV) The Educational and Training Voucher (ETV) is an annual federal grant provided to states for youth who were adopted after the age of 16 or aged out of foster care. Hover of the ETV tab and select your state to learn more.
• Educational and Training Voucher FAQs Commonly asked questions about the ETV program.
• FAFSA For children who were adopted from foster care at age 13 or older, they may consider them as an “independent student” on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. This means they do not have to count family income, and therefore are more likely to receive financial aid. Adoption subsidies do not count as income on FAFSA form.
• Federal Pell Grant Applicants must fill out FAFSA form and meet certain requirements to qualify for a Pell Grant. Pell Grant is not a loan, and therefore does not need to be re-paid.
• NACAC College Tuition Fact Sheet Guide to federal and state college tuition programs for children who were adopted from foster care.
• Tuition Assistance and Scholarships for Youth A list of potential scholarship resources for foster or adopted childrenfrom the NYSCCC.
• Point Foundation The Point Foundation empowers promising LGBTQ students to achieve their full academic and leadership potential. This Foundation offers website links and information for organizations that assist with the costs associated with being a student. This includes tuition help, scholarships – general and LGBTQ specific, living stipends, textbook costs, childcare benefits, work grants, and more.

Employee Benefit Programs

• Adopt Link Outlines the advantages to employee adoption benefits, includes a list of companies who currently offer adoption benefits, and provides a list of other adoption assistance programs.
• Adoption-Friendly Workplace Dave Thomas Foundation compiled a list of adoption-friendly workplaces.
• How to Lobby Your Employer for Adoption Workplace Benefits An article from Adoptive Families magazine on asking your employer for adoption benefits. Must subscribe to Adoptive Families magazine to read the article.

Federal Adoption Tax Credit

• Adoption Learning Partners Tax Credit Course Adoption Learning Partners provides a free course that covers important adoption tax credit information for the current tax year. Updated every January/February.
• IRS Adoption Tax Overview of the Adoption Tax Credit, and instructions on how to fill out form 8839 Qualified Adoption Expenses.
• IRS Tax Form 8839 Download tax form 8839 Qualified Adoption Expenses.
• NACAC Federal Adoption Tax Credit NACAC provides general information on the Federal Adoption Tax credit.

Pre-Finalization Phase

• Adoption-Competent Therapist Traits MN Adopt compiled a list of traits to look for in an adoption-competent therapist.


• Adoptive Families Online Support Groups A list of online support groups from Adoptive Families Circle. A subscription to Adoptive Families magazine is not required to join a group.


• American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Locate an adoption-competent attorney near you.


• Avoiding Common Placement Pitfalls A guide from the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program on common placement pitfalls in special needs adoption and how to avoid them.


• Choosing An Adoption Therapist MN Adopt provides a guide to selecting an adoption-competent therapist.


• Establishing Household Rules The Foster Care and Adoption Resource Center provides suggestions for establishing household rules after a child is placed in your home.


• Fact Sheets MN Adopt provides general information and resources on topics like attachment, autism, FASD, behavioral issues, sexual abuse, school problems, siblings, transracial parenting, and more.


• Final Preparations: Getting Yourself and Your Child Ready for Adoption Finalization CCYF provides suggestions on preparing for adoption finalization.


• Four Things to Do When Bringing Home a Child from Hard Places Jamie Ivey writes a list for Verge Network describing the four things parents need to do when bringing home a child who suffered trauma and loss.


• Helping Your Foster Child Transition to Your Adopted Child A guide from Child Welfare Information Gateway on making the transition from foster child to adopted child smoother.


• Legalizing an Adoption Adopt Us Kids provides general information on what is required to finalize an adoption.


• Naming and Claiming Your Adopted Child: A Guide for Parents A guide from MN Adopt discussing the pros and cons of changing your child’s name, and the importance of including your child in the decision.


• Normal Phases of the Pre-Finalization Phase A guide from Ohio Child Welfare Training Program on what to expect after your child is placed in your home and before you finalize.


• Preparing Children for Transitions CCYF provides a guide to help a foster child transition into their adoptive family.


• Realistic Expectations: The First Year Home A guide from EMK Press on how to manage your expectations after your child is placed with your family


• Receiving an Adoptive Placement Adopt Us Kids outlines the steps families will go through prior to and after a child is placed in their home.


• Selecting and Working with a Therapist Skilled in Adoption A guide from Child Welfare Information Gateway on the different types of therapeutic services available to families and their children, finding the right therapist, what questions to ask before choosing a therapist, and a list of national resources.


• Transition Guidelines Suggestions from Foster Care Support Foundation on how to create a transition plan that is in the best interest of the child(ren) you are adopting.


• What is a Safety Plan & How to Use One AboutAdoption.com provides information on what a safety plan is, and how to implement one. Includes a printable worksheet for creating a safety plan.

Post-Adoption Phase

Disclaimer:The views and opinions in the blogs listed below are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of A Family For Every Child.

• 5 Things Foster/Adoptive Parents Shouldn’t Do A list of 5 things foster and adoptive parents shouldn’t do post-placement.
• 6 Key Factors to Consider for an Open Adoption April Dinwoodie, CEO of Donaldson Adoption Institute, writes a piece for the Huffington Post outlining six key factors adoptive parents must consider in an open adoption relationship.
• 7 Practical Ways to Foster Attachment in Children A blogger outlines a few ways she helped her adoptive daughter bond with her family.
• Access to Adoption Records A guide on accessing an adopted child’s birth and adoption records from Child Welfare Information Gateway.
• Adoption Disruption and Dissolution Child Welfare Information Gateway provides a guide on disruption and dissolution, including trends, reasons why adoptions disrupt or dissolve, and ideas for future research.
• Adoption at the Movies A blog that provides reviews for recent movies that have adoption themes. Each review contains a summary of the movie, the “adoption connection”, strong and weak points, a recommendation, and questions to ask your child after the movie.
• Blended Families in Adoption PACT provides a list of resources on the topic of blending families.
• Coping with Disruption or Dissolution Child Welfare Information Gateway provides a list of resources for families who have undergone an adoption disruption or dissolution.
• Dear Ellen: Post-Adoption Depression CASE provides information on Post-Adoption Depressioni (PADS).
• Disruption and Dissolution: Unspoken Losses EMK Press provides a guide for families on adoption disruption and dissolution. Topics include making an adoption work, considerations before disrupting a placement, re-placement process, coping with loss, and more.
• Disruption Support is Crucial An article from NACAC discussing the importance of supporting families during an adoption disruption.
• Finding and Using Post-Adoption Services Child Welfare Information Gateway provides a guide to common post-adoption issues, different types of post-adoption services, finding post-adoption services, advocating for post-adoption services, and more.
• Genes Aren’t Destiny, and Other Thinks I’ve Learned From Being Adopted A great read and conversation-starter for older children and teens about what being adopted means.
• How Childhood Trauma Effects Health Across a Lifetime Listen to pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris describe the effects that trauma has on a child’s health and brain development.
• I Don’t Care If He Goes to Harvard, But… An article from C.A.S.E. discussing the importance for parents and children to re-examine their expectations about adoption and family.
• Model Post-Adoption Services A list of common post-adoption services families should have in place from NACAC.
• Now That the Adoption Is Finalized Blog post from Attempting Agape on what to do post-finalization.
• Parenting Tips Montgomery County, Ohio provides links to parenting tips for issues that come up post-placement. Topics include reducing sibling rivalry, positive discipline, stopping bullying, finding a babysitter, toilet training, leaving children home alone, and more.
• Plan, Prepare and Support to Prevent Disruptions An article from NACAC on how agencies can prepare their adoptive families to help avoid disrupted placements.
• Social Media and Your Foster/Adopted Teens: 4 Risks and What You Can Do Adopt Us Kids outlines 4 risks of social media as it pertains to foster care and/or adoption, and how you can help your foster or adopted teen safely use social media platforms.
• Strengthen Your Forever Family: A Step-by-Step Guide to Post-Adoption Dave Thomas Foundation compiled a post-adoption guide on identifying and using post-adoption resources.
• The Adopted Child’s Changing View C.A.S.E. provides a general timeline for how a child’s thoughts on adoption change during each developmental stage (infant-19).
• The Truth About Older Child Adoption Blogger Jen Hatmaker outlines the different post-adoption stages.
• Transitioning Home: The First Months Post-Adoption A Creating a Family radio show on what to expect the first few months post-adoption.
• Understanding Adoption: Up to Age 10 MN Adopt provides a guide for talking with your children ages 10 and under about adoption.
• Understanding Adoption: Ages 11-15 MN Adopt provides a guide for talking with your children ages 11-15 about adoption.
• Understanding Adoption: Ages 16-21 MN Adopt provides a guide for talking with your children ages 16-22 about adoption.
• Unique Challenges of Bringing Home an Older Child In this video, a mother and daughter talk about some of the challenges they faced post-adoption and how they handled them.
• When Siblings Become Traumatized Heather Forbes answers a parent’s question on what to do when an adopted child’s trauma history and behaviors traumatizes other children in the home.

Post-Adoption Training and Support

• AFFEC Book List A list of suggested reading for adoptive parents and children.
• American Academy of Pediatrics Provides information for parents on general pediatric issues. Information geared towards children ages 0-21.
• Facsheets for Families Child Welfare Information Gateway’s Factsheets for Families convers topics pertaining to foster care, adoption and parenting.
• Helping Adopted Children Cope with Grief and Loss A guidebook from Child Welfare Information Gateway on helping your adopted child cope with the losses he/she has faced.
• Helping Foster and Adoptive Families Cope with Trauma A guidebook from the American Academy of Pediatrics, helping foster and adoptive parents navigate their child’s PTSD. Information includes the causes and effects of trauma, and effective parenting methods to help children heal.
• How an Adoptive Mom Becomes a “Nurturing Enemy” The Institute for Attachment outlines how the “primal wound” effects a mother-child relationship, and provides suggestions for resources.
• Impact of Adoption on Adoptive Parents Child Welfare Information Gateway provides a guide to identifying and coping with the emotions, and the ups and downs in the adoption process.
• Mental Health Services Provided by State Child Welfare Information Gateway compiled a list of mental health services provided by each state and the District of Columbia. Includes links to additional information and resources.
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network NCTSN provides resources for caregivers, educators and adoption professionals on trauma and trauma-related issues.
• Parenting After Adoption Resources Child Welfare Information Gateway compiled a resource list containing information on post-adoption related issues. Topics include adoption and school, disruption/dissolution issues, finding services, talking about adoption, creating a life book, and more.
• Post-Adoption Resources By State Child Welfare Information Gateway compiled a list of post-adoption resources available in each state, and who to contact for more information.
• Post-Adoption Training List Child Welfare Information Gateway compiled a list of online and state post-adoption training opportunities for adoptive families. Please note that this is not a complete list, nor is A Family For Every Child endorsing any of the trainings listed.
• Privacy and Safety on Facebook NNEDV wrote a guide to keeping your child safe online.
• Respite Care Providers Locate a licensed respite care provider near you using ARCH’s national respite care locator map.
• Tips for Finding Help NCTSN provides recommendations for finding professional help in trauma-related issues.