The Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) provides funds to adoptive parents to assist them in meeting the basic and special needs of their adopted children. All families who adopt Sacramento County dependent children are eligible for AAP funds regardless of income. 
AAP eligibility begins effective the date the family signs the Adoptive Placement Agreement (usually a matter of weeks or months prior to finalization) and ends when the child turns eighteen. It is possible to receive AAP funds past the child’s 18th birthday, but there must be documented disability, which qualified the child for continued AAP.
AAP is recertified every two years. However, adoptive families can request an evaluation for a higher rate at any time. They are not limited to the recertification period. If a family is requesting a higher rate, the AAP specialist will request documentation attesting to the child’s increased special needs.
State regulations do not allow AAP to pay for service (i.e. compensate a family for out of pocket expenses). The special needs rate is determined by an assessment of the child’s needs and the measures the adoptive family must take to meet those needs.
Per State regulations, AAP rates are based on the Sacramento County foster care rate structure not the foster family agency structure. AAP is to be allocated according to what the child would receive if he or she were placed in a county licensed foster home. Therefore, foster family agency families who adopt will not necessarily receive the same amount they were receiving as foster parents.
If a family chooses not to accept AAP at the time of finalization, they will be asked to sign a deferred agreement which allows them the opportunity to come back at any time prior to the child’s 18th birthday and request that AAP be initiated.
Any child who is receiving AAP is eligible for Medi-Cal benefits. If the adoptive family chooses to place the child on their private insurance, Medi-Cal becomes a secondary form of coverage.
Sacramento County Department
of Health and Human Services
Adoptions
3701 Branch Center Road
Sacramento, California 95827
Phone: (916) 875-5967
Fax: (916) 875-6612
