Open Arms Adoptions is seeking families for special needs adoption that are willing and able to be trained to adopt and take care of these most precious children. Infants and children with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and other serious and severe medical conditions need permanent, loving, and patient families, like yours.
When you adopt with Open Arms Adoptions, you are never alone! Your dedicated social worker will be with you every step of the way. Your social worker will assist you in connecting to local resources and will make sure the the child receives any financial assistance they are eligible for. We will also be providing training on navigating care systems, advocating in education, and finding financial resources.
According to the U.S. Maternal and Child health bureau, children with different needs are defined as “those who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally.” Approximately 4.3% of children in the United States have a disability, physical or cognitive, according to the Census Bureau. Thousands of children are available for adoption in the U.S. that have physical and developmental disabilities. And they need families like yours that can provide consistent care, love, patience, and understanding.
Some of these children may have short life expectancies, others may need care through adulthood. It is a special and unique challenge to open one’s family to children with these needs, but it is not without its own rewards.
Everyone thinking about adoption should do research and educate themselves on the process and what will be required of them. This is especially important if you are considering adopting a child with a physical or developmental disability.
Some things to ask yourselves include:
- What disabilities are we prepared to handle?
- What physical and/or emotional challenges are we able to face?
- Do we have the financial resources to care for a child with severe medical needs?
- Can my local school district handle the educational needs of a child I might adopt?
Your social worker will work with you to obtain medical information on the child you are considering adopting. Open Arms Adoptions will provide general training and assist you in locating community resources that can help address your child’s specific medical, behavioral, and physical needs.