Post adoption services are needed for NYS most vulnerable children. While most children who joined their family by adoption do not need specialized post adoption services, many children who were abused, neglected, traumatized, or exposed to alcohol prenatally prior to their placement in their adoptive families have unique mental health needs which are not being served by programs in the community. Research has shown that children are not being adopted from foster care because of a lack of post adoption services. Young adults who leave foster care without families are more likely to be homeless, be involved in the criminal justice system and on public assistance.

Post adoption services that families most often need are: respite, support groups for parents and children, counseling, case management, information & referral to community services, and training. Often these services are available to families when a child is in foster care and but these services stop once a family adopts. While most families that adopt will never need post adoption services, the families that do are thrown into crisis when they cannot find or afford these services in their communities.

The cost of post adoption services would be offset by a decrease in the number of children who were adopted from entering foster care as a means to access services, decrease the use of residential treatment by children who were adopted and help move children from foster care to permanent families. We urge New York State to provide statewide post adoption services for the state’s most vulnerable children.

Petition started by: New York State Citizens’ Coalition for Children

www.nysccc.org

www.change.org/petition