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The Effects of Federal Adoption Incentive Awards for Older Children on Adoptions From U.S. Foster Care

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  • Margaret E. Brehm

Abstract

This paper analyzes state responses to the 2003 and 2008 changes in the federal Adoption Incentives program to increase adoptions from the U.S. foster care system. The 2003 change introduced a $4,000 payment to states for every adoption of a child aged 9 and older above a state‐specific baseline. In 2008, the payment was doubled to $8,000. Using a discrete hazard model cast in a difference‐in‐differences framework, I do not find robust evidence that the incentives increased the probability of adoption for older children relative to younger children following the policy changes. I also do not find that the incentives affected the timing of adoption, likelihood of termination of parental rights, or the amounts of adoption assistance for older children relative to younger children. The findings illustrate the incentives are unable to help states overcome many of the challenges associated with achieving adoption for older children.

Suggested Citation

  • Margaret E. Brehm, 2018. "The Effects of Federal Adoption Incentive Awards for Older Children on Adoptions From U.S. Foster Care," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(2), pages 301-330, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jpamgt:v:37:y:2018:i:2:p:301-330
    DOI: 10.1002/pam.22040
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Potter, Marina Haddock & Font, Sarah A., 2021. "State contexts and foster care adoption rates," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    2. Eriko Shiraishi & Seido Takae & Ahmad Mohd Faizal & Kohei Sugimoto & Aikou Okamoto & Nao Suzuki, 2021. "The Scenario of Adoption and Foster Care in Relation to the Reproductive Medicine Practice in Asia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-9, March.
    3. Alexa Prettyman, 2024. "Happy 18th Birthday, Now Leave: Estimating the Causal Effects of Extended Foster Care," Working Papers 2024-02, Towson University, Department of Economics, revised Feb 2024.
    4. Alexa Prettyman, 2025. "States of opportunity for youth aging out of foster care," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 43(3), pages 388-410, July.
    5. Jun Li, 2022. "Value‐Based Payments in Health Care: Evidence from a Nationwide Randomized Experiment in the Home Health Sector," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 41(4), pages 1090-1117, September.
    6. Bishop Kelly C. & Mac Donald Diana E., 2022. "The Effect of Paying Parents to Adopt: Evidence from Minnesota's Foster-Care System," Working Papers 2022-01, Banco de México.

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