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OLDER AND SPECIAL NEEDS - FAQs
What do you mean by
Special Needs?
The name “Special Needs” can be somewhat misleading. It refers to
the adoption of children who come to adoption through the child
welfare system because of reported conditions of abuse and/or
neglect. Some agencies prefer to use the term “waiting children.” Usually these children become available for adoption after a period
of time while social workers try to help their birth parents change
the conditions that caused them to come into care in the first
place. When, after six months to a year, those conditions don’t
change, a court process takes place to terminate birth parent rights
so that another permanent family may be found for the child. This
legal process can take from six months to two years to complete
before a child is fully free to be adopted. Many children are placed
for adoption during the process in what is known as “legal risk”
placement.
“Special Needs” does not necessarily mean that these children are
handicapped or developmentally delayed, although, as with all
populations of children, some are. Primarily it means that these
children are older than infant or toddler age, may have siblings,
may be children of color, probably have histories of abuse or
neglect or parental substance abuse and may not yet be completely
legally free for adoption. Most of these children require therapy
and/or medication.
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There are no fees for any part of this type of adoption.
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The average age of special needs adopted children is around seven.
Children who are both younger and older are also available in lesser
numbers. Younger available children may have more serious medical
issues or developmental difficulties. Because of the higher
proportion of children of color who are waiting, there may be
younger children who are African American or Latino descent.
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Most waiting children are in foster families. Some are in
residential group placements.
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All children placed within the system have experienced loss and
abuse and/or neglect in varying degrees. They all require parents
who have a strong degree of commitment and skills and knowledge to
help them overcome the effects of earlier trauma and deprivation.
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There is comprehensive and free training for prospective adoptive
parents and for those who have already adopted.
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There is a system of post adoption services in place in
Massachusetts for all adoptive families.
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Prior to placement, adoptive parents are given complete
information about the child, or children, which includes medical,
social and emotional information so that an informed decision can be
made.
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Unlike the other forms of adoption, the transition into the
adoptive family can be done gradually with increasing visitation
over a period of up to three months.
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For most special needs adoptions,
an adoption subsidy is available
which provides both financial assistance and health care coverage
until a child reaches adulthood. *Subsidy is subject to annual
review/change.
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For families open to older children or siblings, special needs
adoption is an excellent choice that provides both the experience to
parent as well as a chance to make a real difference for a child in
their community.
What is MAPP Training?
MAPP (Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting) training is an
eight week (24-hour) course in which both a trained social worker and an
adoptive/foster parent work with families to teach them about the
needs of children in the foster care system and how best to parent
children with these specific needs. The course delves into
behavioral and emotional needs, legal issues with adopting them from
foster care and other important topics. Once MAPP training is
complete, a social worker will be assigned to a family to complete a
home study.
New Bedford Schedule
Adoption Services, New Bedford, runs MAPP group as needed, on eight
consecutive Mondays from 5-8 PM. Classes are held downtown, at 800
Purchase St. The next eight-week group starts Monday, 6/2, and
continues on: 6/9, 6/16, 6/23, 6/30, 7/7, 7/14, concluding on 7/21.
Limited space is available. Please contact Melissa Azevedo,
mazevedo@cfservices.org
, 508 990-0894 x128, for additional information in order to attend.
Merrimac Valley Schedule
Adoption Services, Lawrence, runs MAPP group as needed normally on
Mondays from 6-9 PM. Classes are held at 439 South Union St. The
next eight-week group tentatively starts Monday, 7/7, and continues
on: 7/14, 7/21, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11, 8/18, concluding on 8/25.
Alternately, we're considering an intensive two-week
group starting Thursday, July 17, 6-9 PM, continuing on Friday, July
18, 6-9 PM, Saturday July 19, 9 AM - 4 PM, Thursday July 24, 6-9 PM,
Friday, July 25, 6-9 PM, concluding on Saturday, July 26, 9AM - 4PM.
Limited space is available. Please contact Melissa O'Meara, momeara@cfservices.org
, 978 687-5852 x235, for additional information in order to attend.
What's a Home Study?
A
home study is an extensive document detailing the family's
composition, background, strengths and child interest
characteristics. This document will help other social workers match
children with families that would best meet their needs.
The home study is both a process and a document.
It involves a
series of interviews by an adoption social worker who helps with the
family’s submission of documents. The Home Study serves three purposes:
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It assesses a family’s appropriateness and skills to parent an
adoptive child.
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It helps inform and educate adoptive parents about adoption issues
and needed skills.
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It provides social workers who will be matching children with you
a good look at who you are so that they can make a good match.
Home Study Documents include:
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A written application.
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Autobiographies of the applicants.
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Photographs.
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A statement from a physician regarding
the physical and emotional health of the
applicants and of any children in the home.
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A statement from physician
regarding the applicant's fertility situation if considering an infant.
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Copies of
Birth, Marriage and Divorce Certificates.
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References from
employers, family and friends at the discretion of the caseworker.
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A criminal record review.
Mass. Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)
standards include:
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Motivation for fostering or adoption.
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Emotional and financial stability and compatibility of the
applicants.
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The social, education and health history.
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The family composition, a description of the home and the
adjustment of the applicants own children, if any.
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Have adequate living space for another child or children in
addition to any they have already, which conforms to the state and
local laws governing health, sanitation and fire. A separate bedroom
is not a requirement, but a separate bed is.
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The family’s attitude toward accepting a foster or adopted child,
relationship with extended family and their attitudes toward
accepting a foster or adopted child. Have demonstrated tolerance for
cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds dissimilar of their own.
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Parenting ability, including child rearing and discipline.
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The family’s attitude toward birth parents of the child.
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Expectations for child, including the family’s plans to discuss
adoption with the child.
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If single, be able to meet the needs of a child in ways usually
shared by two parents.
Additional Home Study Procedures
include:
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Attendance at a training series.
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Completion
of matching criteria for characteristics of the child desired.
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Physical
requirements and safety assessment for adoptive homes.
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In-person
interviews, joint and individual, with caseworker in home and office.
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Permission to solicit information from other agencies at the
discretion of caseworker.
The Agency may infrequently refuse or request the withdrawal of an
application for reasons, which include the following:
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Insufficient knowledge and consideration of the needs of children
generally and adopted children in particular, and unwillingness to
explore and learn.
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Demonstrated physical and emotional inability to provide a
suitable environment.
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Refusal to provide medical care under any circumstances.
This Agency wishes to be as flexible as possible in its requirement
regarding age, sex, race, religion, cultural heritage, national
origin, sexual orientation, locality and type of home, etc., in the
belief that the essential qualities of love, tolerance, sense of
purpose and maturity are of greater importance in the selection of
permanent families for children.
Results of The Home Study
Following completion of the Home Study process, the home study will
be reviewed by the Adoption Team and a decision will be made at that
time. Applicants will be notified of the result of the study in
writing within one month of completion of evaluation.
Applicants not approved for adoption should be offered an in-person
interview to explain reasons for this action. It is at the family’s
discretion whether to exercise this option.
Appeals Procedure
Prospective adoptive parents whose applications have not been
accepted and who believe they have a grievance, shall have the right
to appeal in writing to the executive director, and the right to an
interview with him or his designee to discuss their grievance. A
summary of the interview shall be provided to the applicants. After
the appeal, any decision made will remain final. Our adoption
program is fully licensed by the
Massachusetts Department of Early Education and
Care (EEC). Regulations require that this information be shared with all prospective adoptive parents before
an agreement is entered into between the Agency and yourselves.
OK, how do we get started?
Fill out an Adoption Information Form
online or contact us at:
Child &
Family Services, Inc. Outreach Office
800 Purchase Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Telephone: 508-990-0894
Fax: 508-990-0298
Child &
Family Services of Merrimack Valley
439 South Union Street, Suite 203B
Lawrence, MA 01843
Telephone: 978-687-5852
Fax: 978-678-5857
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