If you adopt a child in Georgia who meets the special needs definition as defined for adoption, the child will qualify for adoption assistance. 

Children falling into one of the following categories at the time of adoptive placement are considered to meet the state’s definition of special needs:

• The child has been in the care of a public or private agency or individual other than his or her legal or biological parent(s) for more than 24 consecutive months 
• The child has a physical, mental, or emotional disability, as validated by a licensed physician or psychologist 
• The child is a member of a sibling group of two or more placed in the same home for adoption

Adoption assistance is a financial and medical subsidy available to adoptive children with special needs being placed for adoption through DFCS for meeting the special needs of the adoptive child. 

There are four categories of adoption assistance:

• Monthly Assistance — A monthly financial supplement to aid in meeting the needs of the child, as described above 
• Medicaid — Available for any child eligible for monthly adoption assistance to aid adoptive families in meeting the medical needs of the child 
• Special Services Adoption Assistance — Financial assistance provided for a limited or onetime special service that is not covered by Medicaid, monthly maintenance assistance, or through specific community resources (i.e. orthodontics, prosthetics, or psychological counseling); special services approval is dependent upon the availability of funds 
• Non-Recurring Adoption Assistance — Will cover attorney fees, court costs and other singular expenses directly related to the legal adoption of the special needs child

Page 74