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Characteristics of Children Waiting for Families
While each child is unique, children who wait the longest for families (whether in the U.S. foster care system or in another country) often share some common characteristics. These characteristics include being an older child, being part of a sibling group who needs to be placed together in the same family, being a member of a minority group, or having a disability. Sometimes children with these characteristics are referred to as having "special needs." While the Federal Government does not have an official definition of special needs, States define special needs differently for purposes of children's eligibility to receive adoption assistance when adopted from the U.S. foster care system. In this section you will find information about adopting children with some of these characteristics or special needs as well as information on some unique issues for children adopted internationally.
- Adopting older children
- Adopting sibling groups
- Adopting children of color
- Adopting children with disabilities
"Special Needs" Adoption: What Does It Mean?
Child Welfare Information Gateway (2010)
Presents common questions about adopting a child or youth with special needs and provides resources that will give prospective adoptive parents detailed answers.
Adoption Assistance by State
Administrators of the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (AAICAMA) & Child Welfare Information Gateway
Summarizes each State's definition of "special needs," along with other information about State adoption assistance programs.
Adoption USA: A Chartbook Based on the 2007 National Survey of Adoptive Parents | |
Author(s): | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. Vandivere, Malm, Radel |
Availability: | View Order (Free) - Add to Cart |
Year Published: | 2009 - 91 pages |
The National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) is a nationally representative survey of U.S. children under age 18. In each sampled household, one child under age 18 was randomly selected. A parent or guardian knowledgeable about the child's health answered questions by telephone regarding the child's and the family's health and well-being and provided information about demographic characteristics. The 2007 NSCH includes information on 91,642 focal children, representing 73.8 million children throughout the United States. |
Adopted Children With Special Health Care Needs: Characteristics, Health, and Health Care by Adoption Type
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (2008)
Presents information on adopted people with special health-care needs, using data from the 2005-2006 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs.
Effects of Institutionalization
Adopting.org
Includes research, parenting advice, and resources to understand the effect of institutionalization on children.
Growth in International Adopted People
University of Minnesota International Adoption Clinic
Discusses the long-term implications of institutionalization on the growth of children adopted from other countries.
The Health and Well-Being of Adopted Children
Bramlett, Radel, & Blumberg
Pediatrics, vol. 119 Supplement, 2007
Examines adopted people's health-care needs.
International Adoption Project
University of Minnesota International Adoption Clinic
Presents results from a study to assess the successes, challenges, and needs of families in Minnesota who have adopted children through intercountry adoption.
Language Development in Internationally Adopted Children
Towson University
Provides answers to common questions about language learning after international adoption.