RD157 - Report on Adoption of Children in Foster Care - March 2014


Executive Summary:
Item 341 (G) (1) and (2) of the 2013 Appropriation Act provides:

(1) "Out of this appropriation, $828,734 the first year from federal funds and $1,500,000 the second year from the general funds shall be provided to implement pilot programs that increase the number of foster care children adopted"

(2) "Beginning October 1, 2013, the department shall provide a quarterly report, within 30 days of quarter end, on the use and effectiveness of this funding including, but not limited to, the additional number of special needs children adopted from foster care as a result of this effort and the types of ongoing supportive services provided to the Governor, Chairmen of House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees, and the Director, Department of Planning and Budget."

This is the third report provided by the Department of Social Services (DSS) and details activities for the third quarter of State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2014. There were 523 finalized adoptions that resulted from adoption matches made in 2013. This included 438 adoptions finalized on or before December 31, 2013, and 85 adoptions finalized in early 2014. Between January 1, 2014 and February 28, 2014, 77 adoption matches were made, according to reports from 116 localities.