adopting children with special needs
It's often difficult to find families willing to care for a child with special needs. Most people considering adoption or permanent care would prefer to adopt a child as young as possible and as healthy as possible.
DoCS’ Special Placements Program places children with intellectual and/or physical disability in adoptive or permanent care families.
Most of the children are aged between five months and nine years. Many have significant physical or intellectual disabilities. Some may have behavioural or emotional challenges. The most common disability among the younger children is Down Syndrome.
Some of the older children have been in residential care and have very little experience of living in a family.
who can adopt a child with special needs?
The needs of different children vary greatly, and a family who may be best for one child might be unsuitable for another.
For example, a family without small children may be the most suitable for a child with multiple and demanding care needs, yet another child may benefit greatly from the stimulation of other children in the family.
Marital status is not as relevant for children with special needs: married couples, couples living in a defacto relationship, or single people can all apply. Likewise, there may or may not be other children in the family.
In considering the suitability of a family, the Special Placements team takes into account the following factors:
- an applicant's capacity to meet the emotional, psychological, physical and social needs of the child
- an applicant's health: applicants must have a reasonable state of health as the children generally require energetic parents who may need to look after them well into their adult years
- if applicants are married or living in a defacto relationship, the length and stability of their relationship (the minimum length is three years)
- an applicant's age (because of the children’s increased years of dependency, it is unlikely an infant with a normal life expectancy would be placed with a person over 45)
- the number and ages of the other children in the family
- the readiness of the applicant to adopt (eg applicants must not be participating in a fertility program)
- an applicant's good character and repute.
See the list of standard eligibility criteria for all adoptions arranged by DoCS.
avoiding disruptions
It's important to acknowledge right at the start of the process that some adoptive or permanent care placements don't work out or are "disrupted". Disruptions can occur because of a "mismatch" between the child and the adoptive family.
Disruptions are devastating for the children and the adoptive family.
We need to match the child's special needs, care demands and background with the long term parents' capacity to parent, their understanding of the child's disability, their expectations and own needs, and the needs of any other children in the family.
process of special needs adoptions
The special needs adoption process differs from local and intercountry adoption. See the Thinking about adoption page.
The program is designed to provide interested families with as much information as possible about the task they are taking on -- through newsletters, the seminar program and the family assessment visits.
- Contact the Special Placements team - ph 02 9716 3003 or email adoption@community.nsw.gov.au.
Alternatively, the other approved agency for special needs adoptions is Anglicare Adoption Services, which places children with special needs with a family who have a Christian commitment, ph 02 9890 6855. - You will receive a special needs adoption information package.
- Complete the Expression of Interest form in the information package.
- You will receive information about children requiring adoption or permanent care. Interested families are included on a mailing list and sent newsletters about the children needing adopting or permanent care families. If you believe you may have the skills, motivation and resources to care for one of the children described in the newsletter, contact the child’s caseworker (caseworker’s details will be included in the newsletter) in order to receive further information on the child.
- Attend a preparatory seminar. Before their suitability for a child is assessed, interested families must attend a three day educative seminar.
- Attend an initial interview with a special placements program caseworker.
- Assessment of you and your family will take place.
- DoCS will consult with the child's medical specialists.
- DoCS will decide whether to proceed with the placement of the child with your family.
- The child will be placed gradually with you and your family.
- If the child is available for adoption, you make a formal application to adopt.
- Further visits will be made to your home to discuss how you are adjusting to the placement.
- The Supreme Court makes an adoption order.
- If the child is available for permanent care, the child will continue to be under the parental responsibility of the Minister and the placement will be supervised by your local Community Services Centre.
Annual reviews will take place in order to discuss the child’s ongoing medical, social and educational needs, ongoing contact with the child’s birth family and financial arrangements.
cost of special needs adoption
There are no fees if you choose to proceed with the Special Needs Placement Program, beyond a small cost to attend the educative seminar.
adoption subsidy
DoCS can help you adopt a child with special needs through an payment of an adoption subsidy. Assistance can include:
- financial assistance equivalent to the foster care allowance
- particular assistance, eg with aids or equipment such as wheelchairs or catheters or with remedial tuition, orthodontic work etc.
The need for payment of a subsidy is evaluated during the adoption assessment process. Adoption allowances are subject to annual review.
