A budget shortfall in 2007 forced Florida lawmakers to trim $4 billion in state spending - cuts that resulted in the complete omission of new funding for adoption subsidies. On June 17, 2008, lawmakers agreed to transfer $21 million from state trust funds to adoption, foster care, and child protection programs.

"The [adoption] subsidies are the state's primary tool in encouraging parents to adopt foster children with special needs who may require extra health or psychological care.... Both the adoption and after-foster care programs would have collapsed this year without more money."

The money will help support adoptions that occurred during the last fiscal year, and will provide funding for the more than 3,000 adoptions the state is expecting to process in the coming year. Source: Tampa Tribune

Labels: special_needs, foster_care, financial_assistance

Posted By: Aspen Education Group