About 240 children in Indiana’s foster care system were waiting for adoptive homes, with an average age of 12 to 13, according to the Indiana Department of Child Services figures reported by WISH-TV. Older children, sibling groups and children with more complex needs may wait longer for permanent placement. Gov. Mike Braun signed a proclamation recognizing November as Adoption Month in Indiana, WISH-TV reported.
Sixteen adoptions were finalized Friday at Clark Circuit Court Four in Jeffersonville, with twelve households attending, according to WLKY. Judge Lisa G. Reger announced the adoptions as the children and families took part in the ceremony.
For Todd and Jordan Mackey, Friday’s finalization made permanent the adoption of Zora, who had been with them since 2022, WLKY reported. Todd described the end of the process as relieving uncertainty, while Jordan said the family could move forward together and expressed hope for Zora’s future.
Jennifer and Nelson Griffin finalized the adoption of Emersyn Nicole Griffin after looking forward to the occasion for two years, WLKY reported. They were also pursuing the adoption of a second child. Attorney and foster parent Claire Lorch Hagedorn, who has experience on both sides of the process, spoke about the importance of providing children with safety and support, the station reported.
Indiana recorded 1,903 adoptions in 2023, down from about 2,400 in 2019, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle. A state change to adoption and guardianship assistance allows caregivers to receive the full financial support a child was eligible for while in foster care, with the possibility of negotiating for more, the publication reported.
Adoption assistance in Indiana
For families asking about support after adopting from foster care, the Indiana Department of Child Services says adoption assistance may be available when a child meets eligibility requirements; DCS determines eligibility after the adoptive parents apply. The guidance describes financial assistance, but the information cited here does not detail health-care coverage. Indiana DCS says adoptive families may request a subsidy modification no more than once every 12 months after adoption. A modification may be appropriate if a child’s needs have increased significantly or the family’s financial situation has changed, according to the department’s adoption assistance FAQ.
