| There are tens of thousands of children in the | | | | or neglect, have conditions that may lead to |
| United States who have special needs and are | | | | problems in the future, or have had some form |
| waiting for permanent homes. In the past, children | | | | of prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol. Nearly all |
| who have special needs have been generally | | | | special needs children who are eligible for adoption |
| considered harder to place for adoption than | | | | are currently in foster care. |
| others, but in reality, many children with special | | | | Nearly any adoptive parent who has the |
| needs can be successfully placed. The Adoption | | | | commitment, skills, and preparation to adopt may |
| and Safe Families Act of 1997 has focused more | | | | adopt a special needs child. Most agencies differ in |
| attention on finding permanent homes for those | | | | their specific requirements for adopting a special |
| children who have special needs as well as making | | | | needs child, and the requirements for age and |
| certain that they have the post adoption services | | | | marital status tend to be less restrictive for |
| they need. | | | | special needs children. Most agencies will consider |
| When used in adoption, "special needs" may | | | | both single and married applicants from 18 to 50 |
| include several factors, and sometimes vary from | | | | years of age, and sometimes even older than 50. |
| one state to another. In general, children with | | | | The age is often considered differently depending |
| special needs have physical or health problems, | | | | on the age of the child. Most agencies require that |
| are older, are members of a minority group, have | | | | married couples be married for at least 1 to 3 |
| siblings and need to be adopted as a group, have | | | | years. |
| HIV, have emotional problems, a history of abuse | | | | |