You and your family have decided to adopt a special needs child. So how can your family decide which special needs to consider and which special needs won’t work with your family’s lifestyle? How do you go about finding a special needs child who needs a forever family?

First, look at some of the state adoption websites like North West Adoption Exchange, or The Adoption Exchange and national adoption websites like Adopt U.S. Kids or Adopt America Network and familiarize yourself with the various special needs of children who are available. Then use a search engine like Google to find medical and educational information about each special need and to learn what it might be like to parent a child with each special need. This should help you to rule out some special needs and to consider others, even some you may not have heard of before this opportunity.

Once you and your family have determined the special needs you’ll consider, you should determine the age range and possibly the gender which would best fit into your family. Then decide if your family should pursue domestic or international adoption. Domestic, special needs adoptions, may include Medicaid and support subsidy for the child through the 18th birthday, international will not. At this point, if you don’t already have an adoptive homestudy, you’ll need to contact an agency in your area, licensed by your state of residence to complete your adoptive homestudy. This may take about six months, but it could be considerably less, depending on the agency, and also on your motivation to complete the paperwork and possibly complete some training about special needs.

If you’re adopting internationally, your agency will pursue a referral for a specific child for you from a specific country. If you choose a domestic adoption you can apply for children on any state website if you have an approved adoptive homestudy. You can also submit your homestudy to your local Department of Human or Family Services to let them know that you’d like to be considered for an adoptive placement. Once a child’s parent’s rights have been terminated, the agency will usually consider the child’s relatives or foster family for adoption first, however those are not always options, and local children do become available.

Another option, if you’re interested in a special needs infant, is to send your approved homestudy to various private agencies in your state, with a cover letter listing the special needs your family will consider. Many private agencies like to have a “pool” of homestudies to show parents expecting special needs infants, even if that private agency did not complete your family’s homestudy. There are also a few agencies, which specialize in special needs adoptions, which will accept your homestudy even though you don’t reside in their state. Some examples of agencies that will usually accept your homestudy are Spence-Chapin, The Cradle, and Chask. Some of the facilitator-type agencies will also allow you to register for free and then contact you periodically with situations to consider. Usually you need to pay a fee when you’re matched with a situation. Some examples of these types of agencies are Little Bit of Heaven Adoption Referral, Heaven Sent, or Hands to Hold .

You should create a profile for your family which includes a letter of introduction telling about your family and some photos. You’ll need to make several copies of your profile once it is complete. When you find out your family has been chosen as a possible match for a child be sure to send your profile to be included in the staffing. It’s ok to inquire on several children at a time, because there are so many applicants pursuing adoption, it is unlikely that your family will be chosen, as the adoptive family, at more than one staffing.

Related sites:
Hoping to adopt?
Free (No Cost) Adoption