Pennsylvania State Adoption Assistance Program

https://www.dhs.pa.gov/AdoptPAkids/Pages/default.aspx

Pennsylvania’s state-specific medical assistance information: 
https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Assistance/Pages/Medical-Assistance.aspx

Pennsylvania Adoption Act, Chapters 21-29:
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/23/23.HTM

Pennsylvania Code, 55 Pa. Code 3140.201 to 3140.210
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/055/chapter3140/
subchapCtoc.html

In Pennsylvania a child with special needs is defined as a child who meets all three of the following criteria:

• The child is free for adoption.
• The child has a qualifying factor or condition (see list below).
• Reasonable efforts were made to place the child without adoption assistance unless it is not in the child’s best interest; for example, if there is the existence of significant emotional bond between the adoptee and the adoptive parents

For a child to be determined to have a qualifying factor or condition, he or she must meet at least one of the following circumstances:

• Be five years of age or older and under the age of 18 or 21
• Be a member of a racial or ethnic minority group
• Be a member of sibling group of two or more placed together in the same adoptive home
• Have a physical, mental, emotional condition or disability
• Have a genetic condition that indicates a high risk of developing a disease or disability

Monthly adoption assistance maintenance payments cannot exceed the monthly foster care maintenance payment the child was receiving or would receive in foster care. The foster care maintenance amount varies by county and is determined by the child’s needs and the allowable expenses for foster care maintenance reimbursement.

Adoption assistance agreements either end for the child at the age of 18 if not eligible for the extension or at the age 21 if eligible for extension.

Yes. The Statewide Adoption Network (SWAN) provides respite care as ones of its post-permanency services for further information visit, http://www.adoptpakids.org/Respite.aspx. 

Post-adoption services are funded by the Department of Public Welfare (DPW), Office of Children, Youth and Families through the Statewide Adoption Network (SWAN). SWAN post-permanency Services) include:

• Case advocacy for post-permanency services
• Support groups
• Respite care

Eligibility is open to all adoptive, kinship, and permanent legal custodian placements from the child welfare system. To request services, families can call SWAN at 800-585-SWAN (7926).

Pennsylvania provides assistance for children who are in the custody of a public children and youth agency and who leave the child welfare system with a court-approved permanent legal custodian. The eligibility requirements must be met for Title IV-E or state subsidy. The amount may not exceed the foster care maintenance payment which may differ by county. 

To read more about Permanent Legal Custody visit, https://www.pacwrc.pitt.edu/Curriculum/209_CncrrntPlnnng1
/Hndts/HO09_PrmnntLglCstdy.pdf