Special Needs
Sometimes children have special placement needs. They may be infants born with addictions to a controlled substance, or they may be physically or mentally challenged. Some special placement needs arise because the child may be older or part of a sibling group. Bethany searches to find loving homes for all children, no matter what their individual needs.
Definition of a Special Needs Child
Although adoptive placement resources may be limited for children having one or more of the specific factors or conditions of special needs children, the definition requires that all three of the following stipulations be met:
- The State has determined that the child cannot or should not return to the home of the biological parents.
- The State has determined that the child cannot be placed without an adoption subsidy because of a specific fact or condition. The specific factors and conditions in South Carolina are:
- An African American or biracial child, six years or older.
- A member of an African American or biracial sibling group of two children being placed together, one of whom is at least six years of age or a member of an African American or biracial sibling group of three or more children of any age
- A white child, 10 years of age or older
- A member of a white sibling group of three children being placed together, one of whom is at least six years of age, or a member of a sibling group of four or more white children of any age.
- A child with a physical, mental, or emotional handicap because of genetic or environmental conditions.
- A member of a sibling group being placed together, one of whom is a special needs child.
- Reasonable, but unsuccessful efforts have been made to place the child without subsidy expect where it would be against the best interest of the child because of such factors as significant emotional ties with prospective adoptive parents while in their care as a foster child.
Starting the Process
- Contact Bethany with your questions and express your interest in adopting. A staff person will fill out an intake form to further determine your interest and eligibility.
- Bethany will send you a preliminary application packet.
- Mail the preliminary application back to Bethany.
- You will receive an invitation to attend an information meeting in the Columbia area. Bethany staff will go over all of the upcoming steps with you. If you desire to proceed, you will receive an invitation to join Bethany’s family portal to complete a formal application and submit it online.
- After you have returned the completed packet to the West Columbia Bethany office, your counselor will contact you regarding attending educational meetings. Issues such as bonding and attachment, grief and loss, cultural sensitivity, effects of institutionalization on development, race, and adoption, infertility, networking, openness, and birthparents will be discussed. Your counselor will also recommend books for you to read to be prepared for the adoption experience.
- Your adoption counselor will be meeting with you in a series of family assessment appointments. A home visit will also be done where your house is reviewed for state legal requirements.