Jim Bunning: “the Adoption Incentive Program has been a successful program, which provides States with real incentives to find…”

“the Adoption Incentive Program has been a successful program, which provides States with real incentives to find permanent homes for foster children. However, AIP's authorization expires on September 30, 2003, and the program needs to be reauthorized this year. Under current law, States receive incentive payments for increasing the number of adoptions from the public foster care system. The amount of payments is based on the number of adoptions above a State's baseline, which is the highest number of adoptions in a State since 1997. Currently, States receive $4,000 for each foster child adopted above the baseline number. The State can also receive $6,000 for each adoption above a baseline for children with special needs. While each State relies on individual criteria, "special needs" can include a child's age, ethnicity, disability or having siblings. AIP's success cannot be questioned. In fact, according to the Congressional Research Service, there was a 61 percent increase in adoptions of children from the public foster care system from 1997 to 2001. At the same time, states have earned about $144 million in adoption incentives for adoptions from 1998, to 2001. In my State, Kentucky has received about $1.6 million in adoption incentives during this time period. However, it is now time to reauthorize and strengthen the program. One of the biggest challenges in the foster care system today is finding adoptive homes for older children.”