Post-Adoption Support for Families Who Adopt Foster Children in South Carolina: A Comprehensive Guide. Adopting a foster child can be a rewarding and life-changing experience for families in South Carolina. However, the journey doesn’t end with the finalization of the adoption. Post-adoption support is crucial to ensure the successful integration and well-being of both the child and the adoptive family. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of post-adoption support and highlight the resources available in South Carolina. Every State is different in their post adoption support so contact your post-Adoption Liaison if you have specific questions about your State.
Why Post-Adoption Support Matters:
- Smooth Transition: Post-adoption support facilitates a smooth transition for the child from foster care to a permanent home, providing stability and reassurance during this significant life change. After termination of parental rights (TPR) the case usually is transferred from “regular” foster care to the Adoption Department. Sometimes this can happen before TPR has taken place and is called concurrent planning. That means the biological family is still attempting to work their case plan, but most likely they will not or can not complete it. (Source: South Carolina Department of Social Services)
- Emotional Support: Adopted children may face unique emotional challenges. Post-adoption support programs offer counseling services, support groups, and therapeutic interventions to address these needs. I’ve seen where the kids attempt to sabotage their adoption. They feel “guilty” for loving their foster parents and think they are betraying their biological family. These are big feelings for a child who has most likely already suffered emotional trauma. Even infants taken home directly from the hospital into a foster home can have the same feelings. Children can also have mental illness that may not have been known at the time of adoption that does not show up until puberty. This can be hard for the adoptive family so utilizing those resources are vital to stop the child being placed back into foster care. (Source: The Post Adoption Support Services program)
- Educational Assistance: Post-adoption support includes educational resources and assistance to help children thrive academically, such as tutoring programs and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). If a teen is adopted out of foster care after the age of 13 they can also benefit from not having to file their adoptive families income on their FAFSA. This can lead to more scholarships for higher education. (Source: South Carolina Department of Social Services)
- Access to Health Services: Adopted children often require ongoing medical and dental care. Post-adoption support connects families with healthcare providers and ensures children receive the necessary services. In South Carolina children who are adopted through Foster Care can remain on SC Medicaid until their 21st birthday. This helps take the financial strain off the adoptive family. (Source: The Post Adoption Support Services program)
- Sibling Preservation: Post-adoption support focuses on maintaining sibling connections whenever possible, recognizing the importance of sibling relationships in the lives of adopted children. We have a program in the Upstate of South Carolina called Sib-Link https://fgi4kids.org/our-great-ideas/sib-link/. It is a part of Fostering Great Ideas in an effort to help keep siblings linked even after adoption. This can be vital to the emotional well being of the children. (Source: South Carolina Department of Social Services)
Post-Adoption Support Resources in South Carolina:
- The Post Adoption Support Services program offers a range of assistance, including counseling, support groups, paid respite, and educational resources. (Source: South Carolina Department of Social Services)
- The South Carolina Foster Parent Association provides support and advocacy for adoptive families through networking opportunities, training, and mentoring programs. (Source: South Carolina Foster Parent Association)
- The South Carolina Department of Mental Health offers mental health services for adopted children and their families, addressing issues such as trauma and attachment. (Source: South Carolina Department of Mental Health)
- The South Carolina Department of Education provides educational resources and support for adopted children, including assistance with school placement and special education services. (Source: South Carolina Department of Education)
- The South Carolina Foster Care Review Board advocates for the best interests of children in the foster care system, including post-adoption support services. (Source: South Carolina Foster Care Review Board)
- Adoption Subsidy: In South Carolina, an adoption subsidy, also known as an adoption assistance program, is a financial benefit provided to families who adopt children with special needs or who have been in the foster care system. The subsidy is intended to help offset the costs associated with raising and caring for a child with special needs. The subsidy may cover expenses such as medical and dental care, therapy services, counseling, tutoring, and other necessary supports. It may also include a monthly cash payment to help with the child’s basic needs.
Support plays a vital role
Post-adoption support plays a vital role in ensuring the well-being and successful integration of adopted children into their new families in South Carolina. The resources and services available in the state provide crucial assistance for families navigating the post-adoption journey. By harnessing these support systems, adoptive families can create a nurturing and stable environment where their foster children can thrive.
