What is a special needs adoption?

A special needs adoption is an adoption in which a child has medical, social, and/or emotional needs that must be addressed in order to provide a successful outcome. In New York, a special needs adoption is defined as an adoption in which the child is placed with an adoptive family and is in the temporary custody of the state or a child-placing agency. The child is considered to have special needs if he or she is either over the age of five, is part of a sibling group, has a disability or chronic medical condition, is a member of a racial or ethnic minority, is of Native American descent, or is from another country. In New York, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services provides extensive support to families adopting children with special needs. This support comes in the form of subsidies, including reimbursing adoptive families for up to 90% of the costs associated with the adoption. In addition, families may also be eligible for free or reduced medical care, counseling, and other supportive services. Special needs adoptions can be both emotionally and financially draining for families, but the rewards of providing a permanent, loving home for a child can be great. Families can gain peace of mind knowing that they have made a difference in a child’s life and will receive the emotional and financial support from the state to help in making the adoption successful.

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What is a special needs adoption?

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