ADOPTION:Children With Special Needs

SASS 505: Adoption Policy and PracticeTracy Oyler

Case Western Reserve University

WHAT ARE SPECIAL NEEDS???“Special needs describes several categories:

disabilities, race, age, sibling status, and at-risk.”

Disabilities include: “mental, physical and emotional disabilities and disorders which can range from mild to severe. Behavioral problems are part of the emotional disabilities group.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL3o8L3tnK8

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW“The two means of adopting special needs

children that are recommended are through public and private licensed adoption agencies.”

“Parents should be sure that a private agency they choose is licensed and non-profit. Some states will refuse to write adoption assistance contracts for children placed through for-profit agencies.”

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW“If it seems like adoption is tougher, more

complex, stressful, time-consuming and expensive than it should be, there are reasons for this…The current system is a result of the need to protect children from the possibility of being adopted by unfit or even dangerous parents.”

“Parents must be determined and stay tough because the kids can't come to them. The parents must go to the kids.”

HOW TO PREPARE“Parents who adopt children with special needs will

need to take the time to decide if they have the emotional, physical, mental, and financial resources to be a successful parent.”

Consider such questions as: How many children can I take? How much contact with the birth relatives would I be

comfortable with? Do I have enough support from family and friends to

help me when I need it? Is my lifestyle flexible enough to handle a child with

special needs? What disabilities, or mental, emotional, physical,

behavioral challenges can I handle?

WHAT TO EXPECT “While adoption has a positive effect on children, the child

doesn't know this when he or she is leaving their current situation. The child only knows that they are leaving behind everyone and everything they have ever known. It is typical then, for the child to react with unexplained crankiness, clinginess, or crying. The child might also regress in his skills or behavior.”

 The following are ways to help the child learn to trust you:

Meet your child's emotional state, and attune yourself to that. Mirror your child's expressions, vocalizations, level of excitement. Comfort your child over the grief he/she is feeling by leaving

his/her old life behind. Look for opportunities to hold, snuggle, nurture, and soothe your

child.

POST ADOPTION SUPPORThttp://www.childwelfare.govProvides links to “resources that include information

on counseling, support groups, training, birth records, and more.” http://www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/adopt_parenting/

Also provides a link to a “list of organizations that help children and youth with disabilities and special needs and their families.” http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/reslist/rl_dsp.cfm?subjID=3&rate_chno=11-11286

REFERENCES http://www.adoptuskids.org/resourceCenter/specialNeeds.aspx http://special-needs.adoption.com/ http://www.earlyinterventionsupport.com/parentingtips/

adoption/healthyattachments.aspx http://www.childwelfare.gov/