Although mental health services may not be needed until years after the adoption has taken place, at some point your child may need to see a mental health professional due to emotional, behavioral, or developmental challenges.
It is often helpful to sort out which issues are common to all children, and which issues are related more specifically to children who were adopted. Through the Adoption Support Agreement, you can access mental health support for your child through either:
- Medicaid, or
- As a Preauthorized Service
Medicaid: To access services through Medicaid, you will contact that insurance program directly. If you live in Washington State, you may have Coordinated Care of Washington, or another insurance plan.
- To contact Coordinated Care of Washington:
- To contact the Foster Care & Adoption Support Team (if you’re unsure of your Washington State medical plan):
- Call: 1-800-562-3022 ext. 15480
Preauthorized Counseling: If you have identified a mental health provider that does not accept your child’s insurance or your family’s private insurance, our program may be able to assist financially with this service. Reach out to the program staff prior to service beginning for information and process.
To learn more, please review the Preauthorization form & protocol: https://dcyf.wa.gov/forms?field_number_value=10-214&title=
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Paid Family and Medical Leave supports Washingtonians, and lets you take paid time off when you need it most. It’s here for you when a serious health condition prevents you from working, when you need time to care for a loved one or build a relationship with a child new to your home.
Most people who work in Washington are able to use Paid Leave to help replace some of their paycheck during these important times.
Many of our families may be supporting their children and youth with a variety of needs, taking them to appointments and services, and taking time off work. Paid Leave may be able to assist you during that time.
For more information about the program, eligibility and applying, please visit: https://paidleave.wa.gov/
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Washington State Specific:
Our website offers information on internal and external resources available to families. We keep it updated on an ongoing basis.
This internal publication provides detailed information about the Adoption Support program and accessing resources. It is available in a variety of languages.
While these sessions are geared more for families prior to adoption finalization, anyone is welcome to attend as a refresher for our program, and connect with team members!
- E-learning through the Alliance
- Medical:
Did you know as an adoptive parent, you have access to FREE trainings and discussion groups offered through The Alliance? They provide trainings on hundreds of topics in various formats, including e-learnings, Webinars, in-person trainings, and discussion groups, with topics ranging from Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) to ABC’s of Autism, Behaviors and Coping Strategies.
Coordinated Care also offers support groups and trainings for the community: Apple Health Events | Coordinated Care (coordinatedcarehealth.com)
Other Relevant Resources:
A national resource committed to “nurturing, inspiring and empowering children, teens, their families and the professionals who support them”. They offer FREE education opportunities and resources for adoptive families.
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Families Rising (previously NACAC) – Families Rising provides information, support, and advocacy for the adoptive and foster care community.
This organization connects the public to information resources and tools on a wide variety of topics, including adoption.
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