Who do I need to notify if I move? ↓

Please notify the postpermanency@mesacounty.us email before you move, if possible. If you are moving out of the county or out of the state, you will need to have a Medicaid Transfer for your childs Adoption Medicaid. You will need to provide your child’s name and social security number, your name and phone number, your new address, and your move-in date.

If I move within Colorado, do I have to transfer my child's Medicaid?↓

Yes, please email the postpermanency@mesacounty.us email with your child’s name and social security number, your name and phone number, and your new address with your move-in date.

If I move outside of Colorado, do I have to transfer my child's Medicaid?↓

Yes, please email the postpermanency@mesacounty.us email with your child’s name and social security number, your name and phone number, and your new address with your move-in date.

When does my child’s Medicaid end? ↓

Adoption Medicaid will continue through the end of the month of the youth’s twenty-first birthday if the youth resides in Colorado. Since children who are Title IV-E adoption assistance eligible are also eligible for Medicaid, the Medicaid would also continue in the state in which the child/youth lives. Medical and dental services will be provided through the Medicaid Program until the end of the month of the child/youth’s 21st birthday (Title XIX of the Social Security Act). If the child/youth is non-Title-IV-E and the family moves to a state that is not reciprocal with the Medicaid program, the county providing the adoption assistance is financially responsible and shall arrange with the family for medical coverage for the child/youth. Psychiatric and other counseling services must be pre-authorized by their adoption assistance worker, if not using Medicaid. It is an expectation of the adoptive family to utilize the available Medicaid provider(s). If a needed service identified in the agreement is not available through the Medicaid Program in the new state of residence, the county making the original adoption assistance payment remains financially responsible for providing the needed service or equivalent/comparable service.

Why isn’t my child’s Medicaid working?↓

Sometimes your child’s foster care Medicaid number is still in the doctor or pharmacy’s system. Make sure you have the correct number and share it with the provider. If it still is not working, please contact the postpermanency@mesacounty.us email.

Who do I contact if my child is not living with me any longer? ↓

If your child moves out of your home for any reason for more than 30 days, please contact the postpermanency@mesacounty.us email to notify MCDHS of the change. If you receive Adoption Assistance (subsidy) you must offer that money to your child’s new caregiver until you are notified by MCDHS about how to move forward.

Do I need to report my Adoption Assistance on my taxes or any eligibility forms? ↓

The IRS does not consider Adoption Assistance taxable income, however other programs may consider it income.

What happens after I call in a Beyond Control of Parent (BCOP) report to the hotline? ↓

Your referral will be screened by certified social caseworkers and supervisors who will determine if your referral meets the criteria for a caseworker to be assigned to your case. Please work with your Ongoing Support worker to learn more.

When should I tell my child they were adopted? ↓

We recommend that you begin talking with your child about their adoption as soon as possible in an age-appropriate way. Raise the Future, an adoption resource, has great training available about how to have this conversation with your child. You can also read a resource that we have available for you here.

What do I do if my partner and I divorce? ↓

Please notify the postpermanency@mesacounty.us email if you and your partner divorce. The Adoption Assistance will continue to be deposited to the same account unless you fill out a new direct deposit form. The new direct deposit form is available in the Google Folder for your convenience.

What do I do if my child runs away?↓

We recommend that you call your child in as a runaway to your local non-emergency police department line. You can also contact the postpermanency@mesacounty.us email when your child returns home to open a Family Empowerment Case and access services to strengthen your family dynamic.

How does trauma affect my child’s behavior?↓

Trauma can affect your child in many ways. Your child’s trauma can manifest differently as they age. It is important that you inform yourself as much as possible about your child’s history and temperament to best parent them as they grow. There are resources available in the Google Folder related to parenting children who experienced trauma.

Why does my child have so many questions about their birth family?↓

Your child’s birth family is a part of their story. Many children ask questions about where they came from, what their parents were like, why they were adopted, if they can reach out to their birth family, or if they can return to their birth family. Each question and story is unique. It is important to respect your child’s desires and show them they can trust you to protect them and help them. There is more than one way to field these questions and there are resources to help you and your child along the way. Please see the Resources Folder (see section below) for specific resources.

How can I protect my child if their birth family continues to try to contact them? ↓

You are not alone in this. Many birth families feel disconnected from their birth children and seek them out after adoption. If you are concerned about a parent contacting your child at school, sporting events, etc. please notify the responsible adults who oversee those events and programs. Your child’s school can help watch over your child when they are on school property if they know who is appropriate and who is not. Speak with your child, in an age-appropriate way, about why you are uncomfortable with them speaking to their birth family. These conversations are difficult and often need to happen more than once. Remember to validate your child’s feelings and comfort them as they deal with disappointment and/or confusion.

Is my child eligible for Adoption Assistance until they’re 18 or 21 years old? ↓

Your child is eligible for Adoption Assistance until they graduate from high school or their 18th birthday, whichever is the latest. If your child attends college, vocational/occupational school works at least 80 hours per month, or has a severe disability they will be eligible for Adoption Assistance until their 21st birthday. Your child does not have to live with you for you to receive this assistance after their 18th birthday. The Adoption Assistance will continue to come to your account, but it is expected that you use the funds to assist your child in their transition to independence. After your child turns 18 years old, you must provide evidence that they are participating in a program or working. You can email the postpermanency@mesacounty.us email with that evidence.

Why do I have to verify that my child is in school every year? ↓

Every year you will need to provide verification that your child is in school to meet the agreement you made when you signed the Adoption Assistance Agreement.

How often will I receive an Adoption Assistance Review? ↓

You will receive an Adoption Assistance Review every 3 years. You will be asked to provide school verification at this time as well. If you already provided school verification for that school year, you do not have to provide it again.

Is my child eligible for an Adoption Assistance Extension? ↓

If your child already turned 18 years old and graduated from high school they need to attend college, vocational/occupational school, work at least 80 hours per month, or have a severe disability to be eligible for Adoption Assistance until their 21st birthday. Your child does not have to live with you for you to receive this assistance after their 18th birthday. The Adoption Assistance will continue to come to your account, but it is expected that you use the funds to assist your child in their transition to independence. After your child turns 18 years old, you must provide evidence that they are participating in a program or working. You can email the postpermanency@mesacounty.us email with that evidence.