Adoption Assistance by State:New Hampshire

New Hampshire


1. What specific factors or conditions, in addition to those required by the Federal government, does your State consider to determine that a child cannot be placed with adoptive parents without providing financial assistance? ("What is your State definition of special needs?")


A child with special needs is defined as a child that has at least one of the following needs or circumstances that may be a barrier to placement or adoption without financial assistance:

The child must be under 18 years of age
The child must be legally free for adoption or in the process of being legally freed for adoption
The child must have one of the following legal relationships with the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), another public agency, or a private licensed child-placing agency:
Legal supervision
Custody, or
Guardianship
The child must be considered 'hard to place' or 'special needs' because of one or more of the reasons listed below:
Six years of age or older (if age is the only factor used to determine need)
Member of a minority or ethnic group
Member of a sibling group of two or more which should be placed together
A physical or mental disability or emotional disturbance
A language barrier
Ethnic background, race, or color
Note: to see the federal government requirements for eligibility for title IV-E adoption assistance see Fact Sheets for Families
(on the Child Welfare Information Gateway), link: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_subsid.cfm#federal
or the Child Welfare Policy Manual (on the Children’s Bureau website), link:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/cwpm/programs/cb/laws_policies/laws/cwpm/policy_dsp.jsp?citID=49.



2. What are the eligibility criteria for your State-funded adoption assistance program?


In order to be eligible for State-funded adoption assistance a child must be a special needs child as defined above. Eligibility is based on the needs of the child and the circumstances of the adoptive parents.



3. What is the maximum amount a family may receive in non-recurring adoption expenses from your State? (Adoptive parents can receive reimbursement of certain approved, "one-time" adoption expenses incurred in the process of finalizing a special needs adoption.)


$2,000.00



4. Does your State enter into deferred adoption assistance agreements? (In some States, adoptive parents can enter into an agreement in which they choose to defer the receipt of a Medicaid card, the monthly monetary payment, or both and can elect to receive the Medicaid card and/or monetary payment at another time.)


New Hampshire offers deferred adoption assistance.



5. When may adoption assistance payments and benefits begin in your State?


Adoption assistance payments and benefits may begin in New Hampshire at placement.



6. How are changes made to the adoption assistance agreement in your State?


When can a parent request a change in the adoption assistance agreement?
How does a parent request a change in the adoption assistance agreement?
What if a parent does not receive the change they request in the adoption assistance agreement?
Adoptive parents can make a request to change the adoption assistance agreement at any time. Requests can be made to the adoption program supervisor, in writing, documenting the need for a change. Requests for change should be based on a change in the circumstances of the family or the needs of the child and each request is considered on an individual basis. If the parent disagrees with the decision on the requested change, they have the right to request an appeal of the decision and seek a fair hearing. See Question #10 for more information on the fair hearing process in New Hampshire.



7. What types of postadoption services are available in your State, and how do you find out more about them?


Postadoption services in New Hampshire are administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and include the following examples:

Resource and referral
Educational opportunities
Respite
Support groups
Case management
Counseling
Adoption search services
Parent support
Mentoring program
New Hampshire partners with Granite State College for a university-based service that develops instruction on an identified need. The organization provides training for foster and adoptive families three or four times annually on a range of subjects including attachment issues, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and developmental disability. Contact Granite State College at the general number: 888.228.3000 (toll free) or 603.271.4946 for information on their Education and Training Partnership.

Information on postadoption services, link: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/adoption/postadoption.htm.

Many private organizations offer a variety of respite options. See the ARCH National Respite Network Respite Locator Service, search by state to locate New Hampshire’s respite programs, link: http://www.respitelocator.org/.

To contact DHHS, DCYF, see the contact and information link: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/contactus/index.htm. A list of District Offices can be found at, link: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/contactus/districtoffices.htm.

Note: Not all services may be available in all cases. Contact the adoption program supervisor or post adoption services contact for information regarding process, eligibility, availability, and duration of services.



8. What mental health services are provided by your State?


Public mental health services for children in New Hampshire are administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Community and Public Health and include the following examples: inpatient hospitalization, psychotherapy, social work counseling, mental health services, pastoral counseling, prescription drugs, and respite care.

Medicaid is comprehensive coverage, including in-patient and out-patient hospital services, doctor visits, home health care, eye care, psychological services, certain dental procedures, etc. A complete listing of benefits can be obtained from a DHHS District Office or by calling Medicaid Client Services.

To contact DHHS, Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), see the contact and information link: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/contactus/index.htm. A list of District Offices can be found at, link: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/contactus/districtoffices.htm.

Behavioral Health services link: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcbcs/bbh/index.htm.

New Hampshire Medicaid link: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/ombp/index.htm.

Note: Not all services may be available in all cases. Contact your adoption assistance worker or medical assistance specialist for information regarding process, eligibility, availability, and duration of services.



9. Does your State provide additional finances or services for medical or therapeutic needs not covered under your State medical plan to children receiving adoption assistance?


New Hampshire does not offer additional finances or services for medical or therapeutic needs not covered under their state medical plan to children receiving adoption assistance. New Hampshire adoption assistance staff will assist families in obtaining other available resources.



10. What is your State's process for applying for a fair hearing? (A fair hearing is a legal, administrative procedure that provides a forum to address disagreements with agency decisions.)


Adoptive parents may appeal, within 30 days, any decision by the Division for Children, Youth and Family that affects their child’s adoption assistance benefits. Appeals relative to a decision or the termination or failure to renew the adoption assistance may be made upon written request. Address the appeal to:

Administrative Appeals Unit
Department of Health and Human Services
Room 121C
105 Pleasant Street
Concord, New Hampshire 03301



11. What is your State Web address for general adoption information?


New Hampshire’s general adoption link: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/adoption/adoptingdcyf.htm.



12. What is your State Web address for adoption assistance information?


New Hampshire’s provides some information on adoption assistance at:http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/adoption/postadoption.htm.

For additional information, contact New Hampshire Foster Care and Adoption Services, link: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/adoption/contact.htm.



13. What is your State Web address for State-specific medical assistance information for children?


New Hampshire’s state-specific medical assistance links: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/ombp/medicaid/index.htm and Department of Heaalth and Human Services (DHHS) health programs and services for children and families http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/ombp/medicaid/children/index.htm.