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Home » Adoption » Special Needs Adoption » FAQs
Special Needs Adoption FAQs
Q: Who can adopt a child?
A: We encourage all stable, nurturing families, regardless of their composition, lifestyle, or sexual orientation, to consider adopting a waiting child or sibling group. Single parents are welcome!
Q: Can the adopting family live outside Oregon?
A: Yes. Once you have completed your home study with your state-licensed adoption agency and completed state-sponsored special needs training, we connect you to Oregon's waiting children.
Q: How do I get started with an adoption?
A: Call us at 503.542.2392 or 1.877.932.2734. Then, you can attend orientation meetings to help you learn about the adoption process and the waiting children. You are required to attend a series of pre-adoption classes and trainings to help you and your family develop further insight into the adoption of special needs children. All of these orientations and classes are free and require no obligation or commitment.
Next, your family will begin the formal evaluation process in which a home study is performed. One of our adoption clinicians will get to know your family and pass along the information to the caseworkers of children who might be a good match. You are also invited to view child photos and descriptions.
Finally, the state of Oregon schedules an adoption committee. Based on what is in the best interests of the child, the committee selects the family with whom the child will be placed.
Q: How does the Adoption Committee select the best family?
A: Once a family's adoption worker and the child's caseworker declare a formal and mutual interest in a waiting child, the state schedules an adoption committee. The child's caseworker generally selects 3 families to go to committee for each child or sibling group. An adoption committee is made up of unbiased adoption professionals who assess the child's needs and the strengths and abilities of the families.
Oregon believes this process is more democratic, objective, and likely to produce a better final decision than using a single decision-maker. The committee selects the family with whom the child will be placed. Oregon's extremely low disruption rate (approximately 7% according to DHS FFY 2005 Adoption Statistics) can be credited in part to the time and effort devoted to matching each waiting child with the best prospective family.
Q: What happens after adoption? Will my family and I have resources to help us?
A: Yes. The Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center (ORPARC) is a non-profit state organization that provides ongoing support, education, and referral services to adoptive families.
Q: How does your program differ from other adoption agencies?
A: Boys & Girls Aid is Oregon's leading professional adoption agency. For twenty years, we have led the Special Needs Adoption Coalition, a public-private cooperative effort with the Oregon Department of Human Services and thirteen private adoption agencies.
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