The Adoption Support Program benefits will automatically end on the youth’s 18th birthday, unless, prior to their 18th birthday, the adoptive parent requests an extension of benefits.
To be eligible for an extension of Adoption Support benefits:

• If your child was adopted prior to their 16th birthday, the youth must:
  • Continue to receive ongoing financial support from their adoptive parents, and
  • Be attending high school full time in a curriculum leading to a high school diploma or is attending an instructional program leading to a GED or high school equivalency certificate (HSEC)

If these circumstances exist, the department can extend the terms of the Adoption Support Agreement until the youth completes their school program.

• If your child was adopted on or after their 16th birthday, the youth must:
  • Continue to receive ongoing financial support from their adoptive parents, and
  • Be participating in a qualifying activity, which includes any of the following:
    • Enrollment in a high school program
    • Enrollment in a post-secondary academic or vocational program
    • Participating in a job training program
    • Working more than 80 hours per month; or
    • Inability to participate in any of the above activities due to a documented medical condition.

Under no circumstances can either Adoption Support or Extended Adoption Support continue for a youth beyond their 21st birthday, even if they continue to participate in a qualifying activity.

For more information, visit the Adoption Support Website.
For specific contact information, visit our contacts page under “Program Staff.”

Adoption Support can pay for adoptive families to access a variety of Evidence Based Practices. PCIT is a specific Evidence Based Practice designed for children aged 2 to 7. This service can assist families who need:

• Support in managing difficult behaviors.
• One-on-one parenting coaching.
• Assistance with family discipline.
• Assistance with child behavior problems.

This service can be utilized in an office or at home, and generally is provided weekly for 12 to 16 weeks. The expected outcomes include:

• An increase in appropriate parenting skills
• An improved parent-child relationship
• A decrease in child behavior problems

Visit DCYF’s Evidence Based Practices webpage to learn more about PCIT and other practices.

If you are interested in learning about contracted providers in your area of residence, please reach out to the Adoption Support Program.

The Premium Payment Program is a program administered through the Washington State Health Care Authority, that may provide financial assistance for private health insurance coverage for those receiving Apple Health (Medicaid). The program does this by providing reimbursement for private health insurance coverage when an Apple Health client has access to qualifying private health insurance coverage, such as through an employer or purchased through the HBE (Health Benefit Exchange) with no premium tax credit. Generally, it can be utilized by families who have themselves, or their family members, on a private insurance plan as their primary insurance coverage, and Medicaid as a secondary coverage.

For more information about the program, eligibility and applying, visit the Premium Payment Program webpage or email Melissa Bruce, Unit Supervisor at Melissa.Bruce@hca.wa.gov.

*If you reside outside of Washington State, please contact the Medicaid provider in your state to determine if a similar program exists in your state of residence.