-What is the Statewide Adoption Network (SWAN)?

SWAN is a network of public and private agencies and organizations with the common goal of improving the opportunity for timely permanency for Pennsylvania children. SWAN provides direct services to children in out-of-home care as well as the families that serve them. The network includes:

• County children and youth agencies
• County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania
• Other organizations and licensed agencies
• Private adoption agencies
• The prime contractor
• The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, through the leadership of the Office of Children, Youth and Families
• Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network Advisory Committee
• The courts and the legal system
• Child and parent advocacy and support groups
• Pennsylvania State Resource Family Association
• Parents – birth, legal, foster, pre-adoptive and adoptive
• Pennsylvania Adoption Exchange
• Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center, and
• SWAN Helpline (1-800-585-SWAN)

Who can adopt?

Anyone can adopt a child if they pass the requirements to be an approved foster/adoptive family, are over the age of 21, and have an approved Family Profile completed. Requirements include home safety checks, training, and health appraisals among others. Prospective adoptive parents and anyone who resides in the home that is over 18 years of age must have clearances completed. These include FBI fingerprints, child abuse history clearance, and state police clearances from PA. Additionally, if you’ve lived in any other state within the last 5 years, clearances will need to be requested from that state.

Is it expensive to adopt?

The adoption of children in the Pennsylvania foster care system is largely subsidized through the Statewide and Adoption Network (SWAN) program to minimize expenses to families. In most cases, there is little to no cost to adopting families. Families can learn more about adoption expenses by contacting the SWAN Helpline at 1-800-585-7926 or swanhelpline@diakon-swan.org

How long does it take to adopt a child?

The time can vary for every child. Different factors include:

• Waiting periods after a child is placed established by law
• The child or family’s readiness to finalize the adoption
• If the child is legally free for adoption

What does legally free for adoption mean?

A child is considered legally free for adoption when the parental rights of both biological parents have been legally terminated and the waiting period for appeals has passed.

How can I adopt a child?

When children are placed into care, their typical goal is reunification or to return to their family. Once a child has been in care for a specific timeframe (15 out of 22 months), the courts can decide if termination of parental rights should be explored. Many families have fostered children and then adopted once this time has passed. For any family who wishes to only adopt, they will need to have a Family Profile and Family Matching services. Only families with approved Family Profiles can adopt.

What is Family Matching?

Family Matching is a unit of service through the Statewide Adoption Network (SWAN) that is completed by affiliate agencies. This service includes ongoing efforts and activities to identify a child for placement with a family. The criteria for a family to receive Family Matching is:

• Not have an identified child for adoption
• Have current, approved SWAN Family Profile
• Be registered with the Resource Family Registry as an adoptive family
• Interested in Pennsylvania children awaiting adoption and who are in the custody of a county
• Meet one or more of the following criteria:
  • Searching for a child age ten and older
  • Searching for children with significant medical, physical, cognitive or emotional challenges
  • Searching for sibling group

Is there financial support when adopting?

Yes. Children’s Home of York provides a daily stipend for each child in care with your family. As part of the adoption process, your family and the county that has custody of the child will negotiate a subsidy contract (Adoption Assistance) that can continue after the youth is adopted until the child is 18 years of age. Families who adopt children eligible for Adoption Assistance can receive all, or some, of the following:

• Reimbursement for non-recurring adoption expenses – (adoption fees, court costs, legal fees, and any other expenses directly related to the adoption). The maximum amount a family may be reimbursed is $2,000.
• Monthly adoption subsidy – designed to cover the costs of meeting the ordinary and special needs of the child. The subsidy cannot exceed the foster care maintenance amount the child would receive in foster care.
• Medicaid (federal medical coverage) – if eligible, children will receive this coverage until the age of 18. If the child is 16 or older, they will qualify to receive the coverage between the ages of 18-21.
• Medical Assistance (Pennsylvania’s medical assistance) – if eligible, children will receive this coverage until the age of 18. If the child is 16 or older, they will qualify to receive the coverage between the ages of 18-21.

Do families receive support after adoption?

Yes. The SWAN network offers post-permanency services (also referred to as post-adoption services) to eligible Pennsylvania families who have provided children permanency through domestic or international adoption, permanent legal custodianship, or formal kinship. Families can receive Case Advocacy services, Support Group services, and Respite services.  Families can self-refer for these services by calling the SWAN Helpline at 1-800-585-7926 or email swanhelpline@diakon-swan.org.