What is the Special Needs Adoption Program?
The purpose of this program is to place school age children and sibling groups with parents who can give them a supportive, loving family. D.A. Blodgett’s objectives are to recruit, train, and prepare adoptive parents for these special children.

What does “special needs” really mean?
Generally, “special needs” just means the children are considered “too old” to be adopted -- or they may be pre-school age with older siblings who want to be adopted together. Children placed in this program may have some emotional, psychological or physical challenges resulting from abuse and neglect by their birth family. We place children of all ages, races and sibling group sizes. Almost all of these children have been in foster care and most are very capable of living a full and normal life if adopted by a loving family now.

Why should I consider adopting a Special Needs child?
Raising your adoptive children can be challenging, yet rewarding as you see them develop trust, a sense of security and love for their new family. Through screening, interviews and questionnaires, D.A. Blodgett seeks to find the best available family to fit the child’s needs. We also work with you to find which child seems to be the best fit for your family.

What kinds of people adopt a Special Needs Child?
We have found the best candidates to be everyday people who live life with its ups and downs. They can be single, married, or divorced. There is no income level required.

How much will it cost?
Costs are minimal and include court filing and birth certificate fees, which are usually reimbursable. This program is funded by the State of Michigan, so many adoptive families receive financial support and a medical subsidy to help with the cost. Your actual out-of-pocket adoption fees will be minimal.

What preparation and training do the adoptive parents receive?
A key component of the program is required training all participating parents receive. It consists of six two-hour sessions, which explain the typical needs of adopted children and how they become available for adoption. Following the training is an in-depth family assessment.

How long will it take?
The whole process can take anywhere on average from 6 to 18 months.

What services am I provided with after the placement?
Follow-up counseling and supportive services are provided to the adoptive family for a minimum of six months. But social work staff are available as needed throughout your child’s growing up years.

Do these adoptions work out?
We have received numerous awards for successfully serving children and families. Despite the challenges related to this kind of adoption, our commitment to adoptive parents has resulted in a 94% success rate, which is above state and national averages.

How do we begin adopting a special needs child?
You can begin by simply dialing
(616) 451-2021 and asking for the Special Needs Adoption Program to get more information and receive a current schedule of our orientation meetings. You may learn more about current waiting children by visiting our website at www.dablodgett.org.