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Adopting Children with Special Needs A guide and resource for parents considering adoption.
About the author
My name is Kyla and I am a graduate student at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve. I put this website together as a resource for prospective adoptive parents of special needs children. I hope you find this information useful and wish you the best of luck on your adoption process.
Children with Special Needs In the United States, more than 110,00 children with special needs are waiting for an adoptive home.
Traditionally these children have been harder to place
Adoption Safe Families Act 1997
Focused more attention on finding homes for children with special needs & making sure they receive post adoption services they need.
Congress enacted the law to ensure that children in foster care who cannot be reunited with their birth parents are freed for adoption and placed as quickly as possible.
What defines a child as Special Needs?
Physical or Health Problems
Older
Ethnic or racial minorities
History of Abuse or Neglect
Emotional problems
Sibling group
Positive for HIV
Documented conditions that may lead to other problems
Prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol
Ways to Adopt Children with Special Needs Using attorney’s for
placement rather than agencies- Not recommended because this could result in a legal loss of adoption assistance benefits for the child.
Adopting children with moderate to severe disabilities from other countries- Not recommended unless the parents have a lot of expereince
Adopting children through private licensed agencies – Recommended and children will receive the same adoption assistance benefits as children who come through public adoption agencies. Remember to make sure agency is licensed and non-profit.
Adopting through Public licensed agencies
Advocacy Resources for Ohio
Adoption Policy Resource Center
FindLaw
North American Council on Adoptable Children
Adoption Resources and AgenciesThe following slides will provide agencies across the United States that
can aid in the adoption of Special Needs Children. The titles of the slides are hyperlinked to the website of the agency.
A Family for Every Child
This agency provides photographs of children who are waiting to be adopted.
There are resources listed on the website as well
A helpful section of frequently asked questions may guide you through this process
Adopt America Network
This website gives profiles of children who are awaiting adoption
It also has success stories, which can be very inspiring and bring hope to your search.
Other information such as about adopting, how you can help, and news and events of the organization are linked here.
Adopt Ohio
This website provides a description of the agency, as well as a photo listing of children needing to be adopted.
Rules and policies are discussed
Contact information is provided for additional information needed.
Northwest Adoption Exchange
View waiting children
Explore classes and programs to help you prepare for adoption
Familiarize yourself with the adoption process
Connect with adoption professionals
Read inspiring stories of adoptive families
Support the program by donating
References
http://library.adoption.com/articles/adopting-a-child-with-special-needs-2.html
http://www.adopting.org/adoptions/special-needs-adoption-what-prospective-adoptive-parents-need-to-know.html
http://www.afamilyforeverychild.org/kids/All_Kids.php
http://adoptamericanetwork.org/
http://www.nwae.org/?tn=1
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