According to a Sept. 14 press release, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $35 million in grant funds to 38 states and Puerto Rico for the purpose of increasing the adoption of children who are currently living with foster families:

The states that receive the funds will use the federal money to support programs that promote the adoption of abused and neglected children, the release reported:

"Adopting a child from foster care is a wonderful way to enrich any family`s life," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "We congratulate the states that performed so well this year and we thank the parents who are providing loving and permanent homes."

The Adoption Incentives program was created as part of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. The original program authorized incentive funds to states that increased the number of children adopted from foster care.

In order to get payments, states had to increase the number of children adopted relative to baseline data.

Labels: foster_care, financial_assistance

Posted By: Aspen/CRC