Adoption of Special Needs Children

There are reported to be 114,000 children in foster care in the United States who will not be able to return to their biological family and who need permanent adoptive homes. Many of these children are part of sibling groups which can be harder to place together in permanent homes. Others have experienced some degree of trauma in their lives, and as a result have developed emotional, behavioral, social or developmental challenges.

Speaking to the annual conference of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys in St. Louis, Missouri on May 2, 2008, Dr. Dixie van de Flier Davis outlined the efforts which have been taken to help find adoptive homes for these children. Dr. Davis founded The Adoption Exchange in 1983 and later its subsidiary, the Wednesday's Child Foundation. Every year the Education Center of The Adoption Exchange trains over 7,000 families and professionals in all fifty states. The Exchange has facilitated over 5,170 adoptions of American special needs children.

Clearly there is a great need for families willing to adopt children with various special needs. Many couples who have had children of their own make a decision to adopt one or more children with certain challenges. Other couples who find it difficult to adopt healthy newborns, report that in adopting a child with special needs, they experience a great level of love and satisfaction.

Federal and state law provides for adoption subsidies which provide services necessary to help special needs children to overcome challenges. These subsidies are negotiated with the child welfare agency and may include monthly maintenance payments, Medicaid benefits, respite care, therapy and counseling, tutoring and payments of legal fees and costs.

Persons interested in learning more about special needs adoption can inquire of their local Department of Family Services concerning children in their city or county who are awaiting adoptive homes. There are also a number of web sites which feature photographs and information concerning waiting children. Among those sites are those maintained by The Adoption Exchange and Wednesday's Child.