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