Special Needs Adoption Coletta Rathbun SASS 505 Adoption

Special Needs Adoption Coletta Rathbun SASS 505: Adoption Practice and Policy February 19, 2011

Special Needs Adoption For perspective individuals looking to adopt a child it is important that they are prepared for the challenges that they may face with the adoption process, especially when adopting a child with special and medical needs. The links given are to provide families with resources and information regarding special needs adoptions. These links are only a small proportion of the actual number of adoption resources available but they provide a great starting point in locating more information on the adoption process, special needs adoption and supportive resources that is available to all members of the adoptive constellation.

Adoption. com offers information on all types of adoptions, including special needs adoption. This site is a great resource when looking for more information on support. There are dedicated adoptions forums that are available for parents who have specific questions regarding their child or who are looking for support either pre or post adoption. There is also an excellent article written from a parent who adopted a special needs child, where she gives her perspective on the adoption process and raising her child. . http: //special-needs. adoption. com/

Come. Unity This website provides a number of resources for the parent or perspective parent of a child whom has special needs. There a variety of articles on special needs adoptions and reviews on adoption books. Topics ranging from attaching in adoption to developmental disorders to expectations from adopting an older child. The website offers links to more information on specific diseases and disorders and also links to other sites discussing children’s disabilities. http: //www. comeunity. com/adoption/special_needs/index. html

Family Village was developed for children and adults with disabilities, their families and their friends. It’s goal is to compile a list of online resources that can be used in an organized and easy way. There is a section dedicated to special needs adoption with links for more information on different topics. http: //www. familyvillage. wisc. edu/frc_adpt. htm

Adopt American Network Special Children Deserve Special Families This agency is a nonprofit charity that aims to improve the lives of children, with special physical or emotional needs, who are in the foster care system by placing them with loving and permanent families. The website offers a list of children waiting to be adopted and also caring families looking to adopt. http: //adoptamericanetwork. org/

The Villages is in partnership in Indiana’s adoption initiative for children with special needs, “Adoption: Opening Hearts. Changing lives. ” This partnership offers funds to assist families who are adopting a child with special needs. If the criteria is met, there is often little to no cost for the family of the adoptive child. http: //www. villageskids. org/special. php

New Life Adoption Agency, Inc. China Waiting Children with Special Needs Program This program places children with special needs from China with adoptive parents in the United States. Any family that has previously qualified for a traditional adoption, and is willing and able to care for the needs of the child is eligible to adopt through this program. http: //www. newlifeadoption. org/special_needs/home. html

Rainbowkids. com “The voice of Adoption” This website offers a variety of resources for parents of a child with special needs. Perspective parents can learn more about a number of diseases and also children with special and medical needs who are waiting to be adopted. The website also offers information on how to begin the adoption process and a number of resources that are available for adoptive families. http: //specialneedsadoption. rainb owkids. com/ Waiting Children Adoption – A manual of special needs Created by Chinese-focused charity, Love without boundaries. The manual has been distributed to every orphanage in China and is available for foster families and interested adoptive parents. The manual consists of a description and definition of a variety of physical conditions and treatment options that are available for the child. http: //www. rainbowkids. com/Articl e. Details. aspx? id=496

Family Net Works The family Net Works is an online resource developed to provide information to families who have a child with a disability. While the website is designed mainly for locating resources in the state of Maryland, it does provide excellent national resources that are available regarding adoption of children with special needs and disability-related information and supports. http: //www. family-networks. org/adoption. cfm

National Adoption Center There are no unwanted children, just unfound families The agency was developed when two adoptive parents came together with an idea of finding families interested in adopting children who were not the typically “healthy” children that were once associated with adoption. Since their development in 1972, The National Adoption Center was selected to operate the national program FACES of Adoption: America’s Waiting Children, which has now merged with Adopt. USkids. http: //www. adopt. org/assembled/home. html

Adopting the International Child with Special Needs A Practical Guide by Teri Bell This article is an excellent source of information for perspective adoptive parents whom are looking to adopt an international child with special needs. The article is published on adopting. org website and offers the adoptive parent suggestions and guidelines to consider, such as specific questions to ask regarding the child’s needs, the need to research their child’s disability and how talking with other parents whom have a child with special needs can prove to be beneficial. http: //www. adopting. org/sn. html

http: //family-friendlyfun. com/children/adoption. htm This website is a great site for perspective adoptive parents looking into a special needs adoption. There is a provided list of national adoption agencies and resources. While this site is not affiliated with an adoption agency, it is a great resource for parents who have questions regarding a special needs adoption.

Children’s Disabilities Information This site was created by a family who struggled with raising their child who has multiple special needs. They created this page to help other parents who have children with special needs be linked to resources and articles that they found helpful when raising their own child. There is a special section dedicated to special needs adoption with articles and adoption books discussing this topic. http: //www. childrensdisabilities. info/adoption/i ndex. html

Preparing Families for Adoption of Instiutionalized Children with Special Needs and/or Children At Risk for Special Needs By Dr. Victor Groza and Daniela F. Ileana This article is an excellent article for families who are considering adopting internationally. It discusses the need for perspective adoptive parents to be aware of the general issues they will face and the importance of preparing during the adoption process by reading adoption articles and attending trainings and seminars. This article also touches on special needs, behavioral issues and attachment difficulties that may arise. This article is a great read for any future adoptive parent.

Special Needs Assistance Program SNAP assists families who have a child with special needs by offering workshops, referrals, education and grants for medical and therapeutic equipment not covered by health insurance. http: //www. snap 4 kids. org/id 1. html

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