Adoption Assistance Update: Incentive Payments and Savings Data

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) recently released fiscal year (FY) 2019 data on state savings from the phased-out income-eligibility requirements for Title IV-E Adoption Assistance. Since FY 2015, states have saved $843 million as more children have become eligible for the federal program, which is financed with federal and state funds rather than just state funds. States must spend savings from this federal expansion on child welfare services. Overall, states have spent $516 million (61% of the total savings).

ACF also awarded $70.4 million under the Adoption and Legal Guardianship Incentive Payment program for performance in FY 2019. Due to insufficient appropriations, states will receive these payments over two years (FYs 2020-2021).