Some upset about
adoption policy change

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Some new adoptive parents in Indiana will receive less financial support from the state than those who adopted before this year.

Victoria Jones is an adoptive mother and says the idea that the state is reducing the amount of support money many new adoptive parents get is just wrong.

"I just want to make sure that my children and all the adoptive children in the state of Indiana, as well as, the foster children be a priority for the government officials. They don't seem to prioritize the children and that's what I want to bring attention to," said Jones.

"The perception might be that this is financially driven for an adoptive parent. I see it much more as driven all around. As a parent, I want to be able to meet the unique needs of my child. And these children have very pressing needs," said Sharon Pierce, The Villages.

Indiana's Department of Child Services said it's no longer going to pay the portion of the adoption support that counties used to pay because that money is no longer available. For many who adopt Indiana's foster kids that will mean 25% less support money. The state said it will be watching in the coming year to see if fewer foster parents adopt.

"If a year from now we find out that adoptions have gone down dramatically, if we find that there are more parents, foster parents, prospective foster parents than we think will come forward and say, 'I really love this child but I'm not willing to adopt this child if I don't get more money.' If we find that, we'll keep track of it, then we'll re-evaluate this," said Jim Payne, Department of Child Services.

Payne also said adopted children with special needs such as autism may still be eligible for the greater adoption support rate. And, anyone who adopted a foster child in Indiana before January 1 of this year won't be subject to the cut.