Adoption Success Earns OKDHS Federal Incentive Payment

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Children, Youth and Families awarded the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) an adoption incentive payment of more than $600,000 for finding new, permanent families for Oklahoma children leaving foster care.
The Adoption Incentive Payment Program pays incentive funds to states that increase the number of children adopted in specific circumstances. ACF rewards states that exceed the overall foster child adoption, older child adoption or special needs adoption baselines.

For federal fiscal year 2007, OKDHS finalized 1,250 foster care adoptions, 86 more than the baseline set in 2006. OKDHS also finalized 591 special needs adoptions, an increase of 144. Each foster child adoption above the baseline earned the state $4,000; each child under the age of 9 with special needs earned the state $2,000.

“Finalized adoptions indicate true, forever families,” said OKDHS Director Howard H. Hendrick. “Our success is due to many, many persons. Our permanency planning staff and our Swift Adoption team work together with the prospective adoptive families. Mostly, we are grateful for the wonderful commitment of the families who fold these special children into their existing families. Their commitment makes a great difference."

Hendrick added, "Under the Swift Adoption Program implemented in 1998, the total number of OKDHS adoptions -- 11,183 -- is higher than all the adoptions -- 10,769 -- from 1967 to 1998."

Under the payment program, incentive awards can be used to improve adoption services and activities.

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