Special Needs Adoption

Since 1995, Spence-Chapin has found adoptive families for more than 550 children who are medically fragile. In order to reduce barriers to special needs adoption, all professional service fees are waived for this program. The Special Needs Adoption Program is able to find incredible, permanent families across the nation for the children in this program. Learn more about how birth families help to drive the matching process and how adoptive families are chosen on our blog.

Our Special Needs Adoption Program relies on the generosity of our supporters. We invite you to learn more about becoming a supporter of this unique and critical program.

Baby Matthew is a beautiful little boy with gorgeous brown eyes. Matthew was diagnosed with Alagille Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that impacts the liver and heart and often requires a myriad of interventions and surgeries throughout the individual’s life. Matthew was placed with an extraordinary family who received extensive training on how to care for Matthew’s unique needs. Matthew is currently doing well, and his parents are vigilant to get him the best possible care for his various medical interventions and therapies. He is settling in well with his brothers and sisters, who absolutely adore the youngest member of their family, and they all celebrated his first birthday together last June.

Angela, a beautiful, sweet baby girl, had a rough start. She was rushed into neonatal intensive care immediately after birth with acute respiratory distress, and was diagnosed with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome with Chromosome 4p deletion, an extremely rare genetic condition that can cause a variety of symptoms, including delayed growth and development, unusual facial features, seizures, and other congenital abnormalities. Now a happy three-year old with a big personality, Angela continues to receive treatment and has undergone several surgeries, but is thriving with the love and support of her family.

Charlie’s giggling is contagious, but his journey to toddlerhood has been a remarkable and challenging one. Charles was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome, an incurable condition that affects cognitive function, appetite, and growth. Spence-Chapin was able to identify a wonderful adoptive family for Charles who is caring for his ongoing needs. Now a rambunctious toddler, he loves spending time with his parents and older sister and has had several visits with his birth parents. Both families are delighted at the progress Charles has made and how well he adapted to his forever home.

Keagan’s mom fell in love at first sight upon seeing his photo on Spence-Chapin’s website. She knew immediately that she was meant to care for this baby boy. Keagan was born with Giant Nevus which causes mole-like birthmarks to cover the body, and in Keagan’s case, they were also present in his brain, a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. When she arrived at the hospital to meet him in person for the first time, she brought with her a bag full of clothes that were Giant Nevus-friendly, meaning they did not irritate the mole-like birthmarks that covered 50% of Keagan’s body. She had also already identified a Nevus expert in her area, and had connected with support groups online. Since that day at the hospital three years ago, Keagan has made remarkable progress, and has even been the poster child for an international Nevus conference!

For Families looking to adopt

Spence-Chapin’s Special Needs Adoption Program is a matching and advocacy program for children born or residing in New York, New Jersey, and Arizona who have special and medical needs and are ready to be matched with their forever family. This program works with home study approved families, across the United States, who are already working with an adoption agency or attorney for their adoption journey.

Spence-Chapin is currently accepting home studies and pre-applications from families who are open to adopting a child with significant medical needs. Complete our free pre-application below to be considered. Please send us a copy of your current home study (completed within the past 12 months), conducted by a licensed adoption organization. Home studies can be emailed, mailed, or faxed to the following:

Email: [email protected]
Mail: Special Needs at Spence-Chapin, 120 E 16th St 11 Floor, New York, NY 10003

We encourage you to read through our FAQs which provide more detailed information about our Special Needs Adoption Program.

Children in need of adoption

The children in our Special Needs Adoption Program are born in New York, New Jersey, and Arizona and are from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. The infants and children in need of adoption have a variety of special needs, from significant developmental issues to serious medical and congenital conditions.

The conditions usually require therapeutic and/or medical interventions during the child’s entire life. These non-correctable conditions can include:

Genetic Disorders
Brain Anomali
Neurological Disorders
Rare Syndromes
Cardiac and Pulmonary Disorders
Shortened Life Span
Excessive Drug and/or Alcohol Exposure
Significant Risk of Psychiatric Disorders

Many children are eligible for Early Intervention Services, Social Security Disability, Adoption Subsidy, and Medicaid.