Adoption Info -> Domestic Adoptions -> Special Needs Infant

Special Needs Infant

PLAN Loving Adoptions Now has developed a program that will prepare adoptive families for the placement of babies exposed to drugs and/or alcohol before birth. The use of methamphetamines and other drugs, including alcohol, continues to grow in Oregon. Because of this growing problem, more and more babies are born prenatally exposed to toxic substances. 

This program will prepare families to adopt newborn infants prenatally exposed to various substances or with more severe health and/or mental health histories in the birth family. We are recruiting families who want to adopt newborns and are open to prenatal drug and alcohol exposure as well as possible health and mental health issues. These families will take special needs training classes, attend PLAN’s Waiting Families Seminar (offered twice a year in April and October), and complete our infant adoption training program as well as an additional class on caring for medically fragile infants.  Families who have completed this training will be prepared to adopt either through our DHS Special Needs program or be presented to birth mothers in the Loving Options program.   

We are pleased to offer this new program that will benefit waiting families, birth mothers, and the infants who will find their forever families. We will have a pool of families prepared to adopt babies with possible special needs who are being born in increasing numbers to birthmothers wanting to make private adoption plans. We will also be able to serve more families who want to adopt newborns and are open to placement through our DHS program or private placement with a baby born to one of our Loving Options birth mothers. 

This program is open to Oregon couples who have been married for a least one year and to Oregon singles. The program is also open to childless couples and couples who are currently parenting children.

Steps to Adopting through the Special-Needs Infant Adoption program

Special Needs Pre-adopt Training: This training is free and requires no obligation or commitment.  Contact Beth Edens 503.472.8452 (or bethe@planlovingadoptions.org) to learn more and to sign up for introductory orientation meetings offered by the Special Needs Adoption Coalition (SNAC) and by local DHS branches.  The orientation meeting provides an opportunity to become acquainted with the adoptive process, to learn more about the children who wait, and to further explore special needs adoptions. A series of pre-adoptive classes and trainings is then offered as a means of helping prospective parents develop deeper insight into their capacity for adopting special needs children.

Waiting Families Seminar: The Waiting Families seminars are designed to provide additional support and education. These seminars are held on a Saturday in the spring and fall of each year. Participants may choose from a variety of workshops including transracial parenting and dealing with racism, understanding birth parent issues, grief and loss in adoptions, and openness with birth families. The workshops also include panel presentations and the opportunity to interact with counselors and other PLAN staff.  Attendance either prior to or immediately after placement is a requirement of the program.

Application: The next step is to complete a PLAN Application.  The following documents must be included with the agency application: photocopies of your current federal tax return, birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree(s) if applicable, two family photos, and the fee on the application form.

Special Needs Home Study: Once the necessary documents have been completed and submitted, you will be assigned a PLAN social worker who will be your advocate, helping you prepare for your adoption. The home study will include topics such as trans-racial parenting, prenatal and medical background risks you are willing to accept, your style of parenting, your understanding of the grief and loss issues in adoptions, etc.

Matching Process: Your social worker and the Program Director will work with you to discover what type of child you prefer to parent and what child would be the best match for your family. 

Post Placement: After your child has come into your home, your social worker will make post placement visits until your adoption finalizes.

Adoption Fees:

Because PLAN has an agreement with the State of Oregon to place children from the foster care system, families will be reimbursed $1,845.00 if a placement is made through the DHS program. In this instance, the family pays a total of $3,000.00 to PLAN and the State of Oregon covers additional fees. Adoption Assistance through the state may be available on a case by case basis. 

In the case of a mother relinquishing birth rights to PLAN or a networking agency, families who receive a PLAN placement through the Loving Options program will pay the usual placement fee of $16,000.00.