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Help with Fees and Expenses for Adoption or Guardianship

Adoption assistanceGuardianship assistanceGetting startedContact us

Adoption Assistance Program

The Adoption Assistance Program can remove barriers for families adopting a child when they may not otherwise be financially able to do so. The coordinator will work with the family to help offset out-of-pocket expenses making it possible to incorporate the child into the family. This is not intended to reimburse parents for the full cost of raising a child, but can include:

  • Financial costs - Funds to help with adaptive equipment or therapeutic activities that support the child's needs.
  • Legal and one-time costs - Funds to legally finalize the adoption such as attorney legal fees, court costs and pre-placement visits.
  • Medical coverage - Health insurance through Oregon or the child's state of residence. It may be possible to use the medical card as a supplement to private insurance.

Guardianship Assistance Program

The Guardianship Assistance Program can provide financial and medical assistance to help support the child’s special needs when relative caregivers of children in foster care assume legal guardianship. The coordinator will work with the family to help offset out-of-pocket expenses incurred to incorporate the child into the family. This assistance can include:

  • Financial costs - Funds to help with adaptive equipment or therapeutic activities that support the child's needs.
  • Legal and one-time costs - Funds to legally finalize the guardianship such as attorney legal fees, court costs and pre-placement visits.
  • Medical coverage - Health insurance through Oregon or the child's state of residence. It may be possible to use the medical card as a supplement to private insurance.

If you are a certified ODHS Child Welfare resource family and want to learn more about the guardianship and adoption assistance programs, sign up for one of our monthly trainings hosted by our coordinators.

Getting started

Families adopting children with special needs can get help if they don’t have enough income to pay for the services their adoptive child or children will need. 

To be eligible, ​all of the following must be met:

  • The court ​​decided the child cannot or should not be returned to his or her parents. 
  • The child has a condition or factor that would make the adoption challenging. Some examples are:
    • a documented medical, physical or emotional condition or disability
    • part of a sibling group that needs to be placed together
    • a member of an ethnic or racial minority
    • more than 8 years old 
  • There was a failed attempt to have the child adopted by another family without the support of this program.

Note: You need to negotiate and have an adoption assistance agreement in place before the adoption is finalized.

A child in the care or custody of the Department or participating tribe is eligible for guardianship assistance payments when all the following requirements are met:

  1. The child must have been removed from the home pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement or as a result of a judicial determination to the effect that continuation in the home would be contrary to the welfare of the child.
  2. The child is eligible for Title IV-E foster care payments.
  3. The child is​ a United States citizen or qualified alien and is placed in the United States or a possession thereof.
  4. The child is placed with a potential guardian who is considered a relative as defined by the Department.
  5. The child must have resided in the home of the potential guardian for a period of at least six consecutive months during which the potential guardian was fully licensed, certified or approved by the state or a participating Tribe. 
  6. The Department determined that returning home or adoption are not appropriate permanency options for the child.
  7. The child demonstrates a strong attachment to the potential relative guardian.
  8. The child has special needs or is placed with a potential guardian who indicates an economic need to care for the child.

A child who is ineligible for federal guardianship assistance payments may be eligible for state-funded guardianship assistance payments when requirements 3 through 8 above are met and the child is in the care or custody of the Department.​​

Note: You need to negotiate and have a​ ​guardianship assistance agreement in place before the guardianship is established.

​Things to consider when requesting assistance benefits:

  • ​What are the ordinary and special needs of the child?
  • What items or services are you currently providing to meet the needs of the child and what is the cost to provide each item?
  • How much financial support are you able to provide for your child?
  • How much financial support are you requesting?

Adoption or ​Guardianship Assistance Program benefits are negotiated and agreed to before the adoption or guardianship is finalized. 

​To apply, you will:​​

  • Discuss your child's needs and your family circumstances with your caseworker.
  • Complete the Application and the Non-recurring Expense form. Your caseworker will help you complete and submit the forms.

​Assistance Application
 Direct Deposit Authorization
Non-recurring Expenses 

Other things to know

  • This assistance can't be more than what the family receives or would receive if the child was in foster care.
  • There are no automatic or annual increases such as cost of living increases.
  • The family can request to renegotiate the subsidy payment amount if the family's circumstances or the child's needs change.
  • The program will automatically end when the child turns 18 years old but can be extended to 21 in some cases.
  • This assistance could affect other benefits you’re getting. You can contact the agencies that give you the other benefits to ask if you’ll see any changes.



Contact us

Mailing address
Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Programs
500 Summer St NE, E71
Salem, Oregon 97301-1068

 Phone: 503-947-1134
 Fax: 503-378-8424

Staff assignments

Coordinators

Support