Who are waiting children?
Sibling groups who need to find a home where they can stay together
Children who may have been victims of physical or sexual abuse and neglect.
Children who may have emotional, medical and/or physical disabilities
Children who have been in the foster care system, possibly having experienced many moves.
Children who are school age
Children of minority heritage.

Where are these children?
These children are waiting all over the country. The Wyoming Children’s Society works with surrounding states in an effort to find permanent homes for all waiting children. As an approved special needs adoptive family, your completed home study will be sent to these states for their consideration when a child is identified.

How do I meet the child?
If a child is located out-of-state, you will travel to meet the child. This will give you the opportunity to meet their foster parents, social worker, counselor, teachers and other significant people. Often times the travel expenses will be reimbursed to the adopting family by the state where the child resides.

Why do these children need families?
Children become available for adoption for several reasons. Parents may voluntarily relinquish their parental rights simply because they are unable to care for their children. The court may terminate parental rights due to abuse or neglect. This will leave the child in a foster home awaiting adoption.

Who can adopt a special needs child?
Parents of all ages.
Couples who have been married for at least two years when they apply to adopt
Single parents
People of any racial background
People who can make a lifelong commitment to a child
People who can accept differences in children
People who are flexible, yet can provide structure for a child
People who have a sense of humor
People who have a support system to help them successfully parent
Parents who have realistic expectations for the child they adopt
Parents who can fill a child’s emotional and physical needs
Parents who can wait for a child to attach and bond

How can I start the process of adopting a waiting child?
To start the application process you will need to complete the necessary paperwork, such as medical information, personal references and autobiographies. Once the application is received and reviewed, a caseworker in your community will begin a home study. This will involve several home visits to help you fully understand adoption and to help the caseworker write an in-depth study which will be used to match you with a child. When completed, your study will be sent for consideration by social workers in and out of Wyoming who select families for waiting children.

The Wyoming Children’s Society is not responsible for selecting families for specific children; therefore, length of time from application to placement will vary.

Is Special Training Required?
Training will be required of all applicants who wish to parent a child with special needs. The Wyoming Children's Society will provide training to help you prepare for meeting the challenges a child will bring you.

What will the adoption of a special needs child cost?
The only fees associated with special needs adoption will be your application, home study and post placement supervision fees. Placement fees are not assessed for special needs adoption. Financial assistance may be available to help you adopt a child. Special needs children are often eligible for medical assistance, and possibly a monthly subsidy to help you with the costs of parenting. In addition, the state placing the child may reimburse the adoptive family for their application fee, home study fee, travel costs and legal fees.

What is the legal process?
You will need an attorney to represent you in court to finalize your adoption. After approximately one year, a final court hearing will be held to finalize the adoption. During that year, Wyoming Children’s Society will supervise and support the placement of the child in your home.