This appropriation exists to encourage families of any economic status to adopt eligible children and youth and to provide these families with the benefits that will allow them to meet the needs of these eligible children.

 

These benefits include monthly subsidy payments, medical assistance, reimbursement for nonrecurring expenses, fees assessed by the state department, county department or adoptive agency, reasonable adoption fees and other fees permitted under Section 26-7-102(3).

 

Distribution of funds under this program is similar to an entitlement program; counties are not limited in their allocations so long as expenditures meet all requirements and the counties contribute 10% of the total.