Adoption Opportunities Program Receives Funding Bump
The Adoption Opportunities program appears to be on track for a $1 million increase in funding in the coming fiscal year. Both the House and Senate appropriations committees have allocated $54 million in funding to the program, up from $53 million in the current fiscal year.
In the report accompanying the Senate bill (S. 4942), $2 million is set aside for evaluations of post-adoption programs that would qualify for funding under the Family First Prevention Services Act. This is a continuation of similar funding provided for this purpose this year at the request of Voice for Adoption. In a grant forecast released on July 18, the Administration for Children and Families projected that those grants will become available next March. There are likely to be 1-2 grants available at a minimum of $900,000. Interested organizations should contact VFA’s executive director, Patrick Lester, for more information.
The Senate report also allocates $2 million for continued funding of the National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative, which is operated by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.), a VFA member.
The report accompanying the House bill (H.R.9029) includes the above provisions, but also several additional provisions, including:
Adoption Agencies: In the accompanying report language, the House Appropriations Committee encourages HHS to “maintain a public list of licensed adoption agencies so that birth mothers can make decisions based on verified and trustworthy information. The list of agencies should include adoption agencies with current state licenses who are in good standing with the state.”
Adoption-Sensitive Care Training: The committee provides $1 million, the same as the current year enacted level, “for a competitive grant program to improve access to adoption-sensitive care training for eligible hospital staff.”
National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC): The committee directs HHS to extend the current program, which is operated by VFA member Spaulding for Children, by 12 months.
Support for Birth Parents: The committee “recognizes that birth parents who voluntarily place their children for adoption often benefit from post-adoption counseling, support, and resources.” It sets aside $1 million for a demonstration program to provide support groups, resources, and services to birth parents. Eligible grantees should be adoption-focused, nonprofit organizations with experience working with parents who have placed their children for private domestic adoption.”
If history is any guide, the above committee-passed legislation may or may not receive floor consideration when Congress returns from recess this fall. The final package is likely to be negotiated between the House and Senate. The negotiated package will probably then be included in an omnibus spending package that is enacted after the election, probably in December. Most or all of the above provisions are likely to be included in the final package.
