Alabama recieves adoption award

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama has received a $412,000 award for increasing the number of children adopted from foster care.

The adoption incentive award will be used to enhance programs for abused and neglected children.

The money was given Monday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program was created as part of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997.

To get the award this year, states had to surpass their adoption baselines from 2007.

States received $4,000 for every foster child adopted above the 2007 baseline, plus a payment of $8,000 for every foster child age nine and older and $4,000 for every other special needs child adopted above the respective baselines.