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Special Needs Adoption Planning

The Special Needs Adoption Program at Spence-Chapin began in 1995 to help ensure that children with severe medical challenges have the opportunity to thrive in a permanent, loving family who can care for their ongoing needs. The program offers the following: free counseling and support services to parents who are considering adoption for their child and no professional service fees to adoptive families. It is the only program of its kind in the country.

Free, confidential, and available 24/7

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Special Needs Adoption Support

If your baby has a medical diagnosis, genetic condition, developmental disability, or other special healthcare need, you are not alone. Whether this pregnancy was unexpected or deeply wanted, learning that your child may have needs you are not prepared or able to manage can bring difficult questions about what comes next. Spence-Chapin helps expectant and birth parents explore adoption and connect with families prepared to provide permanent, loving care.

Our team has experience supporting adoption plans involving conditions such as Cornelia de Lange syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Alagille syndrome, anoxic brain injury, Cutis Laxa, Pfeiffer syndrome, giant melanocytic nevus, and Moebius syndrome.

More than 500 children placed with loving families in over 40 states.

Historically, 99% of children in our special needs program have been placed within three months.

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The Children in Need of Adoption

The infants and children we serve have a variety of special needs, from significant developmental delays 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
  • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) 

Children may be eligible for early intervention services, Social Security Disability, Adoption Subsidy, and Medicaid.

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Real Stories

Birth Parents

Expectant parents who are given an unanticipated diagnosis, or who experience a complication during pregnancy or after birth and are unsure about parenting may not be aware of all their options. Spence-Chapin is available to help families consider and explore all permanency options for their infant or child. Our social workers will meet with parents in a confidential and convenient location in Arizona, New York, New Jersey, or virtually. Spence-Chapin’s services are confidential and we can work with any client regardless of age or immigration status.
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Already a parent and considering adoption?

You do not have to be pregnant to reach out to us. If you are a parent considering adoption for a child you are already raising, Spence-Chapin can help you understand your options and support you through every step of the process.

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Why birth parents trust Spence-Chapin

Since 1908, Spence-Chapin has supported birth parents through one of the most significant decisions of their lives. For over a century, we have been guided by a simple belief: that every person who comes to us deserves honest information, compassionate support, and the freedom to make the choice that is right for them.

Our process is birth parent-led from beginning to end. That means you are always in control. You choose whether to explore adoption or other options. You choose the family. You have your own independent attorney provided at no cost. And you can change your mind at any point before the adoption is finalized.

All of our services are completely free and confidential. We are licensed in New York, New Jersey, and Arizona, and our counselors are available around the clock, every day of the year. Whatever you are facing, you do not have to face it alone.

Learn more about us
  • Birth Parent Led Process
    You make every decision. We Support you.
  • Since 1908
    Over a century of compassionate support.
  • Always Free
    Every service, at no cost to you.
  • Licensed in NY, NJ and AZ
    In-person and virtual options.
  • Available 24/7
    Day or night, every day of the year.
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Waiting Children Profiles

Thank you for your interest in adopting through Spence-Chapin! We are able to share the profiles of children who are considered to be the most in need and are waiting internationally to be matched with an adoptive family. The children featured on this page have been waiting for the longest to find families and consist of children who are older, part of a sibling group, or children with a diagnosed medical condition. In order to respect the privacy of these children, this page has been password protected.

Spence-Chapin takes the privacy rights of the children that we are seeking to place very seriously, and share the profile with you under the following conditions:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PASSWORD ACCESS
That you acknowledge and understand that

1. Misuse of the content, and/or linking to any sites that reflect practices that involve the sale, abduction, exploitation, or trafficking of children is strictly prohibited.

2. You have been given limited access to confidential information in the form of images that you will not disclose to any person or in any manner that is inconsistent with applicable policies and procedures of Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children.

3. The confidentiality obligation shall continue indefinitely, including at all times after my association with Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children.

4. You are not permitted to release, copy, distribute, or sell any of these images to third parties in any form.

5. Impermissible disclosure of the images may result in legal actions being taken against you, by or on behalf of that person.

6. You are doing this freely, voluntarily and with a full understanding of what you are agreeing to by entering/accessing this blog.

7. Thank you for your interest in providing a loving home for a waiting child! We look forward to connecting with you soon to continue discussing adoption paths at Spence-Chapin. We hope that you like us on Facebook, follow us on twitter, and keep up with our families through our adoption blog!

Warm regards,
The Adoption Team at Spence-Chapin

Phone: 212-400-8150
Email: [email protected]

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