Marc and Misty Ray of Perry adopted four children from Iowa’s foster care system: a 10-year-old boy, two girls ages 10 and 12, and 16-year-old Sabrina Ray.
Nicole and Joseph Finn of West Des Moines adopted four children from foster care before they divorced.
Mindy and Andy Knapp of Urbandale adopted six kids from the state.
The parents received monthly adoption subsidies — part of $159 million the state of Iowa spends each year to support families and prevent children from languishing in foster care.
But even after being accused of horrific abuse, none of those parents will have to pay back the adoption subsidies — not even if they are convicted of crimes ranging from assault to child endangerment to murder, Reader's Watchdog has found.
Federal statutes mandate that states terminate adoption subsidies when parents are no longer supporting the children they are supposed to help.
But neither the state of Iowa nor the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has systems in place to check on recipients of adoption subsidies for fraud or recoup payments when parents commit abuse.
Unlike federal programs such as Social Security or food stamps, those receiving adoption subsidies are not subject to verification processes or scrutiny, state officials confirmed.
That worries advocates for abused children, people who review children's placements and former foster and adoptive children interviewed by the Watchdog.
While foster kids are subject to monthly home visits and routine checkups, children adopted out of state care — especially those who are independently home-schooled — are not monitored again.
State workers can put a stop to taxpayer-backed subsidies if they find that foster or adoptive parents are not supporting the children in their care.
But McCoy acknowledged the agency does not track when or even if that happens.
Typically in Iowa, subsidies end only when children age out of foster or adoptive homes, of if parents themselves decide to terminate their contract with the state, McCoy said.
“The vast majority of these families are using the subsidies to care for their families,” she said.
The state of Iowa puts no limits on the number of foster children parents can adopt. Instead, families are assessed on how well they can meet the needs of the children at the time, McCoy said.
Adoption subsidies are negotiated with the state and vary depending on a child’s age and special needs.
The amount is determined by an assessment of the child’s needs, but it does not exceed that provided for foster care. The adoptive family’s income is not considered when negotiating financial support.
Generally, parents receive more for older children with special needs, bringing in as much as $12,333 annually.
Adopting four older children with special needs can bring in close to $50,000 a year.
minnesota.cbslocal.com
