Older/Special Needs


Older Special Needs Adoption provides services to children who become available for adoption via the child welfare system. When children cannot be returned safely home from foster care, courts terminate parental rights. Relatives or foster parents may apply to adopt these children, but when no family is available, Bethany looks to recruited families for these children prior to their photolisting with the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE).


Description of Waiting Children
Children are usually older, often between 10 and 15 years old, siblings needing placement together, and racial minorities. Characteristics often include emotional and behavior impairments, physical and mental challenges, and removal from biological families due to severe neglect and abuse.

Qualities Sought in Adoptive Families
  • Experience with special needs children
  • Ability to delay gratification and work openly with agency and community resources because parenting these children can be very challenging
  • Mature adults, single or married, with or without other children
  • Stable family life with a capacity to offer acceptance, love, affection, and guidance

Adoption Costs
In Michigan, the cost to adopt an older special needs child is payment of a minimal county court filing fee. Almost all children are eligible for support and medical subsidies, which are designed to actively assist families adopt special needs children.

Adoption Process
Call 616.224.7550 or email to initiate the process and attend an orientation, which is followed up by a multi-week education and preparation group series. Subsequent to the completion of the group series, families will be seen for pre-adoptive assessments. Upon approval, families may begin the matching process for specific children and be placed in our family resource pool, which seeks matches for specific children. After placement, a variety of educational, supportive events and activities are available through the agency and community resources.

Program Hours and Contact Number
Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (evening hours by appointment)
616.224.7550
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Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE)
At any given time, approximately 500 children in Michigan are waiting in foster homes or residential treatment programs for families to adopt them. These children are photo-listed in a "catalog of children" through the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE). Bethany recruits adoptive families and facilitates adoption of these children statewide. Love, unconditional acceptance, and a stable home are key to successfully adopting children with special needs.

Description of Waiting Children
  • Children who have been neglected or abused
  • Children who are older - especially between the ages of 10 to 16
  • Children of racial minorities
  • Children from one family who must be placed together
  • Children who have emotional or behavioral difficulties
  • Children who are physically or mentally challenged

Qualities Sought in Adoptive Families
  • Mature adults, single or married, with or without other children
  • Experience with special needs children
  • Ability to delay gratification and work openly with agency and community resources because parenting these children can be very challenging
  • Stable family life with a capacity to offer acceptance, love, affection, and guidance

Adoption Cost
Bethany Christian Services does not charge fees to families adopting children through the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange. Most of the children are eligible for an adoption support subsidy (financial assistance) until reaching 18 years of age - regardless of the adoptive family’s income. Medical subsidies are also available for qualifying children.

Adoption Process
Upon contacting the MARE program, families will be sent an information packet, which explains the program in greater detail. An invitation will be extended to attend an orientation to meet with our staff and learn more about the waiting children and their needs. All applicants must complete an application. A medical history and recent physical examination are also required, along with an adoptive family assessment.

Contact Information
Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
616.224.7540
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