Adoption Frequently Asked Question #14
Question:
What postadoption services are available?
Answer:
Postadoption services, services provided after a child is placed for adoption or after adoption finalization, provide support to adoptive families and may help reduce the likelihood of adoption disruption or dissolution. Since adoption is governed by State law and policy, the type of postadoption services available to adoptive families varies from State-to-State. Child Welfare Information Gateway, a service of the Children’s Bureau, provides State-by-State information on the types of postadoption services available to families in the Adoption Assistance by State search on its website at http://www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/adopt_assistance/
Under Postadoption Services, click on question 7, “What types of postadoption services are available in your State and how do I find out more about them?” to view this information for each State. The information on this site is updated by the Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (AAICAMA) (http://www.aaicama.org/cms/ ).
Child Welfare Information Gateway provides two publications about the range of postadoption services and how to access them: Postadoption Services: Factsheets for Families at http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_postadoption.cfm and Postadoption Services: Bulletins for Professionals at http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_postadoptbulletin/index.cfm .
Additionally, you may find the Child Welfare Information Gateway web sections, Postplacement Adoption Casework Practice (http://www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/postplacement/ ) and Parenting After Adoption (http://www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/adopt_parenting/) helpful. Postplacement Adoption Casework Practice connects adoption professionals to resources that will assist them in identifying, providing, and evaluating quality postplacement services. Parenting After Adoption provides resources for adoptive families that explain what to expect at various developmental stages, how to talk about adoption, address adoption issues in school, help children with grief and loss, recognize and get help for postadoption depression, find needed services, and obtain financial assistance.