Still Missing CA - Orson & Orrin West (3&4), California City, 21 Dec 2020

[potatoes13]

If you legally adopt your foster children the state still pays you for their care?

I think it depends on the state, and I think it’s just if you fostered. I could be wrong.

 

[Laughing]

I think it depends on the state, and I think it’s just if you fostered. I could be wrong.

Some placements are a subsidized adoption, varies from state to state. Diagnosed special needs, sibling groups, etc are more likely to end up with an adoption subsidy:

US Adoption Assistance/Subsidy

ymmv lrr

 

[Knox]

psst... it's only Thursday

I'm all off kilter with the holidays, it feels like a Friday today lol.

 

[DidYouThinkOfThat]

Per the link I shared earlier in this thread, California pays $1000 per adopted child per month as a base rate (with higher tiers of payments based on health needs). So, by my estimates the couple is receiving a minimum of $4000 per month (I recall there being 4 total adopted children, but someone please correct me if wrong).

For those not familiar with the area, California City is one of the lowest cost of living areas in the entire state. Zillow shows the home sold 3 months ago, presumably to the Wests, for $197,000. Assuming a standard 20% down payment and with the low interest rate environment, their monthly mortgage payment would be approximately $900 per month based on online calculators.

Were they in adoption for the money? Hard to say since we don’t know much about the couple or if they had any other jobs/businesses, but regardless they would need to put on a decent show to convince the state that they want to be adoptive parents for the right reasons. A similar show was put on at the press conference. JW mentioned in the press conference that “they were going through it”. With their kids taken by CPS, without another job, there may be no other income stream.

 

[Dallas Volunteer]

I think it depends on the state, and I think it’s just if you fostered.

This was a major topic of discussion in the Hart family case. It was reported they received over $270,000 from the state of Texas in "adoption subsidies" for the 6 kids they adopted (all from Texas):

Texas likely paid Devonte Hart's parents $270K to care for adopted kids, report says

 

[Emb72]

If you legally adopt your foster children the state still pays you for their care?

We adopted our daughter through the state of Washington and the only reason we receive a monthly payment is because I quit working to care for her. She has quad CP, non verbal etc etc. Now if that wasn't the case, we would receive nothing. And in Washington state you make more money being a foster parent than adopting. Im not sure about California...sounds a bit different.

 

[Knox]

I think it depends on the state, and I think it’s just if you fostered. I could be wrong.

According to a chart at the link below, California offers financial adoption assistance for 0-18 years of age -$1,037/Mo. Higher payments if the child has special needs.
Do the math, that's not a bad monthly income. Specially when you have around a $1,000 house payment.
California State Adoption Assistance Program

 

[Warwick7]

I'm all off kilter with the holidays, it feels like a Friday today lol.

But I love your enthusiasm!

 

[dillysmom11]

It makes sense to me. The children weren't in the yard, so he went to see if they were in the house before he extended his search beyond his property. I would do the same. This makes sense to me.

I'm really wanting to know more about this adoptive couple and their work history which affords six kids and a house. I want to know if the kids are a business, or an act of love. That's a lot of mouths to feed. I am waiting until (and if) this couple are named POI or Suspects as I know TOS doesn't permit us to sleuth them until such (and if) time. Sitting on hands no so patiently.

Amateur opinion and speculation

Well, my husband and I have 12. 10 are adopted and he works his *advertiser censored** off so I can raise the children. Definitely an act of love, and most adoptive families I’ve worked with are hard working, loving families.

 

[rosesfromangels]

According to a chart at the link below, California offers financial adoption assistance for 0-18 years of age -$1,037/Mo. Higher payments if the child has special needs.
Do the math, that's not a bad monthly income. Specially when you have around a $1,000 house payment.
California State Adoption Assistance Program

And their medical is covered through Medical-cal as well IIRC

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[Lusitana]

Well, my husband and I have 12. 10 are adopted and he works his *advertiser censored** off so I can raise the children. Definitely an act of love, and most adoptive families I’ve worked with are hard working, loving families.

Wow. 12 kids! Props to you and your husband, lucky kids and lucky parents!

 

[dillysmom11]

Very noble of them to adopt 4 kids plus their two? Especially as a young couple. It would require lots of time , financial resources , emotional expenditure.
Also did the kids have any special needs?
Wonder how much of a review was done before placing them with this couple.
Also why change their given first names? Their original names are a little unique but wouldn't they be used to their names?

I’d like to quickly address the name changes as well (I counsel adoptive families). Many families choose to give their adopted children family names, change their middle name, and sometimes even the first name (depending on the situation). Our children all chose to change some part of their names, and two of them changed their names completely. Both of them were named after people who they were trying to forget.

The children are grafted into the adopting family, they are considered “biological” by law. IMO the biological family should not have been called into question so quickly. Birth mom hadn’t visited/seen the children in over two years.

So, yes, it’s done often in the adoption world and there is nothing “nefarious” about it.

Of course, there are so many other sketchy things about this case... IMO.

 

[dillysmom11]

If you legally adopt your foster children the state still pays you for their care?

The answer is: not always. And never enough. It’s not a “get rich quick” scheme. You can’t live off what they reimburse for the children, often you end up spending out of pocket for therapy and other methods to help the children heal.

I definitely would not consider that a motive IMO.

 

[Knox]

Well, my husband and I have 12. 10 are adopted and he works his *advertiser censored** off so I can raise the children. Definitely an act of love, and most adoptive families I’ve worked with are hard working, loving families.

I remember you mentioning your adopted kids years ago, thank you for raising and loving those kids!
Do we need to update your screen name

 

[dillysmom11]

A good friend of mine adopted two boys and was quite surprised to find out that once the adoption was approved by a judge there is no oversight. The county or state never check in again unless there's a complaint. Since my friend is a loving, dedicated father he hasn't been contacted by anyone for any sort of follow-up over the past four years.

With private adoption, typically there are post-adoption reviews for the first year or two. With state adoptions, not usually. The process takes so long that they get to know the families well; back ground checks are done, references, multiple interviews, etc. Post reviews aren’t usually needed.

The biggest failure of most states is lack of educational resources on developmental trauma and how to parent to meet the children’s needs. We did 36 hours of training and it wasn’t near enough.

Did you know that if you ask the state for help once the adoption is final, 9 times out of 10 they’ll say you’re SOL.

I think that’s closer to the issue with these children missing so long. IMO.

 

[dillysmom11]

I remember you mentioning your adopted kids years ago, thank you for raising and loving those kids!
Do we need to update your screen name

Ha! I remember you, Knox. Our youngest has been with us for 6 years now!

 

[dillysmom11]

Per the link I shared earlier in this thread, California pays $1000 per adopted child per month as a base rate (with higher tiers of payments based on health needs). So, by my estimates the couple is receiving a minimum of $4000 per month (I recall there being 4 total adopted children, but someone please correct me if wrong).

For those not familiar with the area, California City is one of the lowest cost of living areas in the entire state. Zillow shows the home sold 3 months ago, presumably to the Wests, for $197,000. Assuming a standard 20% down payment and with the low interest rate environment, their monthly mortgage payment would be approximately $900 per month based on online calculators.

Were they in adoption for the money? Hard to say since we don’t know much about the couple or if they had any other jobs/businesses, but regardless they would need to put on a decent show to convince the state that they want to be adoptive parents for the right reasons. A similar show was put on at the press conference. JW mentioned in the press conference that “they were going through it”. With their kids taken by CPS, without another job, there may be no other income stream.

This is inaccurate. Each child is different, and many receive nothing but a medical coupon.

 

[dillysmom11]

According to a chart at the link below, California offers financial adoption assistance for 0-18 years of age -$1,037/Mo. Higher payments if the child has special needs.
Do the math, that's not a bad monthly income. Specially when you have around a $1,000 house payment.
California State Adoption Assistance Program

This is max, typically only children with severe medical needs receive the maximum post adoption.

Not trying to defend anyone, just like to keep speculation in its place. MOO

ETA: if money was a factor in the adoption, I would assume the parents had nothing to do with the children’s disappearance.

 

[DidYouThinkOfThat]

This is inaccurate. Each child is different, and many receive nothing but a medical coupon.

Are you familiar with California adoption in particular? Can you explain why all of the literature shared in the thread here points to a $1000 basic rate for each adopted child? Our cost of living is very high here so $1000 isn’t a lot, but it can be substantial if you have 4 adopted children and are living in the lowest cost of living area in the entire state.

Please see table D and the literature above table D in this chart: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/ACL/2019/19-58.pdf

Please see this page, specifically the “Agreements signed after 1/1/17”: California State Adoption Assistance Program

Where does it state the basic rate only applies under certain conditions or special needs? The first chart states that the 3 higher rates (above the $1000 basic rate) only apply under certain conditions.

If the information I shared is inaccurate, as you stated, please post any source here that disputes such information.

 

[dillysmom11]

yes

Are you familiar with California adoption in particular? Can you explain why all of the literature shared in the thread here points to a $1000 basic rate for each adopted child? Our cost of living is very high here so $1000 isn’t a lot.

Please see table D and the literature above in this chart: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/ACL/2019/19-58.pdf

Please see this page, specifically the “Agreements signed after 1/1/17”: California State Adoption Assistance Program

If this is inaccurate, as you stated, please post any source here that disputes such information.

Yes, we lived in CA for many years and I’ve worked with families out of CA. According to the rate table, these are max amounts that are negotiated (case by case) for post adoption. Foster care rates remain the same.