The State of Oregon’s Adoption Assistance Program

The recipient of a PhD in nursing from the University of Washington, Devon Berry is an experienced health care professional who most recently served as executive associate dean at Oregon Health & Science University’s School of Nursing. In addition to his professional interests, Devon Berry is a strong proponent of adoption.

The majority of the children waiting for adoption in Oregon are younger than 5 years old and are either part of a sibling group that needs to be adopted together; part of a racial, cultural, or ethnic minority; or have mental, developmental, physical, or emotional disabilities. Adopting a child that falls into any of these categories can present financial challenges for families, but the state of Oregon provides relief in this regard through its Adoption Assistance Program.

Families that adopt children in Oregon can qualify for adoption assistance via state funds or Title IV-E federal funds, as long as there has been a legal determination made that the child either should not or cannot be returned to the parents’ home. It must also be shown that there was a concerted effort to pair the child with an adoptive family that doesn’t require adoption assistance.

Oregon offers additional financial support through its vendor attorney program. Through this program, the Oregon Department of Human Services covers legal fees for families adopting children who fall into the aforementioned categories.