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Adoption Subsidies/Assistance

In 1980, the United States Congress enacted the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act (Public Law 96-272). Under P.L. 96-272, each state must establish an adoption assistance program that provides maintenance payments, Medicaid coverage, selected social services, and reimbursement for nonrecurring adoption costs to families adopting eligible special-needs children. Assistance is available for children adopted through private or public agencies; independent adoptions, those negotiated via a private attorney, are not eligible for federal or state funds.