Enhanced adoption benefit program to encourage adoption

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – For the first time in the history of the Adoption Benefit Program, employees will have the option of a stipend and/or reimbursement, based on the needs of the family.

The program is aimed at lowering the number of children in Kentuckys foster care system and aiding state employees with the financial costs of adoption.

Officials say state employees who adopt may now receive up to $5,000 for a standard adoption and up to $7,000 if the child is certified by CHFS as having special needs.

These changes represent a $2,000 increase in the amounts available to employees who adopt.

Kentucky currently has 10,000 children in the foster care system, and hundreds of those children are ready to be adopted.

Reimbursable expenses include licensed adoption agency fees, legal fees, medical costs (not paid by insurance, Medicaid, or other available resources), court costs, or any other reasonable fees or costs associated with the legal adoption of a child.

They say this important upgrade to the adoption benefit represents an all hands on deck approach to helping children in our system find forever homes, CHFS Cabinet Secretary Adam Meier said. We are confident that these changes to the program will promote awareness about adoption in our state and encourage state employees to consider adoption.

State employees who wish to apply for the program should send their applications to the benefits coordinator at the Personnel Cabinet. More information on applying is available here.