Private Adoption

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About This Episode

Private adoption often comes with less built-in support than adopting through foster care. That doesn't mean you're on your own. It means you need a plan before you need the help.

Episode Summary

Families who adopt through the foster care system often keep access to Medicaid, adoption subsidies and agency-funded therapy. Families who adopt privately usually carry those costs themselves. In this episode, Maxine walks through what to line up before and after a private adoption, so your child can get trauma-informed care without your family hitting a wall.

What You'll Learn

What to check in your health insurance before placement, including whether trauma-focused and adoption-related therapy is covered
Why an adoption-competent therapist who includes the whole family in treatment is non-negotiable
How superbills and community funding (such as Step Up For Students, the Sylvia Thomas Center and Camelot) can help with the cost of therapy
Why budgeting for ongoing therapy and coaching is one of the most protective things you can do
Where to find support groups that welcome private and international adoptive families
Why it's worth asking, before finalization, whether your child could still qualify for state adoption assistance
How the federal adoption tax credit works, and what it does and doesn't replace

Who This Is For

Families adopting privately, independently or internationally, and anyone supporting them, who want to plan for therapy and support before the first hard season arrives.

A Line Worth Sitting With

"Therapy is one of the most overlooked expenses of a private adoption, and one of the most protective if you plan for it early."

This episode is informational, not legal or financial advice. Programs and rules vary by state and change over time, so confirm what applies to your family with your adoption attorney or agency.

Center for Parent Coaching, Brainspotting & Therapy. Train. Transform. Thrive.

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As Asian is complete, rarely available or limited to families who adopt through the system. Reduce cost and trauma for therapy, of course, they get access to that through the system, sometimes available through the state or agency contracts. For families who don't come through the system, the cost is typically the family's responsibility. So what to line up for yourself? Review your health insurance before placement, ask specifically whether mental health benefits cover trauma -focused or adoption -related therapy.

Whatever therapy you get, you must have an adoption -competent therapist. You must. It's almost a no -brainer. The adoption -competent therapist must also do family therapy. I spoke to families that had said that the therapist never even talked to the family, didn't let them in the session. I'm like, are you kidding me? It's a family. Why would you be getting individual therapy? And obviously talk about what the out -of -pocket costs look like. Identify trauma -informed therapists in advance and ask directly whether they work with private pay families since private adoption rarely comes with a bill in referrals into support system.

But we can do super bills. There's funding again, like I said, through Step Up or different community agencies, Sylvia Thomas Centre, Camelot. There are other agencies out there that offer funding that you can get for a period of time and get access to it if you don't have any means of internal funding. Budget for the ongoing cost of therapy and coaching. This is one of the most overlooked expenses of a private adoption and one of the most protective if you plan for it early. Look for support groups open to every adoption type.

Faith -based groups and independent adoptive parenting communities are often open to private and international adoption families, even when the state groups are not. Ask before finalization whether your child could still qualify for state adoption assistance. Some children are eligible even through a private placement if they meet the state's definition of special needs. Eligibility and available programs vary by state and change over time so this is worth confirming directly with your adoption attorney or agency rather than assuming either way.

Look into the Federal Adoption Tax Credit. It is available regardless of adoption type. It is a one -time credit rather than an ongoing subsidy so it helps but it does not replace the recurring support a foster care adoption may include. A note on this section, post adoption support programmes and adoption assistance rules vary state by state and change over time. This section is meant to help you ask the right questions early, not to serve as legal or financial advice. Your adoption attorney or agency can confirm exactly what applies to your family's situation.