Subcommittee hears permanency budget for Human Services; $284.1 million earmarked for adoption, guardianship and post‑permanency supports

The Joint Interim Subcommittee on Human Services continued its informational hearing on SB 55 26 on Wednesday, March 19, focusing on the Department of Human Services' permanency budget and services for adoption and guardianship.

The permanency budget totals $284,100,000, department staff told the committee, with roughly $128,100,000 coming from federal sources (primarily Title IV‑E) and about $137,000,000 from the state general fund; another 6 percent is described as other funds, including adoption savings. The department said most spending is for post‑permanency services and supports.

The budget breakdown presented to the committee lists roughly $102,900,000 for adoption assistance and $21,400,000 for guardianship assistance, plus smaller federal and state buckets for foster care, Title IV‑B, Medicaid administrative funds and the adoption incentive grant. The department said the adoption incentive grant (currently about $800,000) funds intensive family search and engagement contracted services and that Medicaid administrative dollars (about $400,000) pay for health‑related services for families.

The department described post‑permanency services that the budget funds, including contracted adoption placement and supervision services, mediation for post‑adoption and guardianship communication agreements, legal assistance tied to finalization, and…