Putting a Sick or Special Needs Baby Up for Adoption in N.C.

If you’re asking, “Can I put a sick or special needs baby up for adoption in North Carolina?” you’ve come to the right agency. At A Child’s Hope, we believe there is the perfect family for every prospective birth mother and her baby, no matter what the circumstances.

It’s important to know that the process for giving a special needs baby up for adoption is very similar to an adoption with a healthy infant. You will still be in charge of your adoption plan, and your individual counselor will work closely with you to help you find the perfect adoptive family for your baby and make sure you’re receiving all the medical assistance you need. While it may seem overwhelming to place a sick or disabled baby for adoption, know that we will find the perfect family for your baby, regardless of any special needs they may have.

How We Find the Perfect Family

When you’re asking “Can I place a special needs baby up for adoption in North Carolina?” you’re probably worried that you might not be able to find a family who will be able to adopt your baby. At A Child’s Hope, we believe the exact opposite; we have plenty of families waiting to adopt, and we will do whatever kind of outreach we need to find the perfect adoptive family for your baby.

When you start the process of putting a special needs baby up for adoption, we will send your adoption information to every prospective waiting family that we have. Ultimately, it will be up to them to decide if they are prepared to adopt a baby with special needs, but we have many waiting adoptive families who are open to a variety of adoption situations and circumstances. If necessary, we will also reach out to any past placed families or other adoption professionals to find qualified, loving families who are interested in a special needs adoption. Because we believe that there is a perfect family for every child, we will do everything we can to find them for you.

How We Prepare You and the Adoptive Family for a Special Needs Adoption

While the process of putting a sick or disabled baby up for adoption is very similar to the placement of a healthy infant, there may be additional steps that are needed to prepare prospective birth mothers and prospective adoptive families for the unique challenges ahead.

We will work closely with your chosen adoptive parents to make sure they’re fully prepared for what it will be like to raise a child with special needs. For example, if a prospective birth mother is placing a Down syndrome baby for adoption, we’ll refer the adoptive parents to appropriate Down syndrome medical professionals, education programs and support groups so they know what to expect from raising an adopted child with these particular special needs.

To help prepare you as a prospective birth mother, we’ll provide you the same services as any other prospective birth mother, including free counseling and financial assistance throughout the adoption process. In addition, we’ll refer you to a medical professional who can fully explain your baby’s condition, the challenges of raising a child with special needs (if you’re still considering parenting) and any additional medical procedures you might expect when you give birth.

Our counselors will also work with you to determine an open adoption communication schedule that works for you and the prospective adoptive parents. If you desire, you can receive photos, emails and letters over the next 18 years, or even meet with the adoptive family and your child in person. Your counselor can help you prepare for the challenging emotions that may come with an open special needs adoption and any special considerations you may need to make.

Remember, like any other adoption, you will be in charge of every step of the process of putting a special needs baby up for adoption. You can decide what you’re comfortable with, and we’ll make sure that you have the support you need as you go through this adoption process.

Final Thoughts

While we believe there is the perfect family for every child, we recognize that we may not be able to provide all of the assistance you need as a prospective birth mother considering a special needs adoption. That’s why we’re happy to refer you to a specialized adoption agency that is tailored to the process of placing a special needs child for adoption, or organizations that provide additional information about children with special needs. Here are some professionals you may wish to contact for more information about special needs adoption:

• National Down Syndrome Adoption Network
• Spence-Chapin

No matter whether you’re sure you want to place a special needs child for adoption in North Carolina or are still exploring your unplanned pregnancy options, call our Pregnancy Hotline: (919) 971-4396, or Text: Pregnant to (919) 971-4396, or email ach@achildshope.com.  Our counselors can give you the unbiased information you need to make the best decision for you, especially if you’re asking, “Can I put a special needs baby up for adoption?” Because we truly believe there is the perfect adoptive family for every child placed for adoption, we will work closely with you to complete an adoption process that you’re comfortable with the whole way through.

Click a star near where you live on the NC map to see what counselor would be assigned to you

Kelly Dunbar

Adoption Counselor/Homestudy Supervisor - Triangle

As an adoptive parent I truly have a passion for adoption. There is no greater joy than helping to create a family! I love this job and I love working with adoptive parents as well as the birth parents. When it all comes together it is an awesome experience! Kelly is a graduate of NC State University where she earned a Bachelor of Social Work. She also received her Master of Social Work from the University of South Carolina. Kelly has been working with children, families, in the home and in communities for 18 years. Kelly has been working with birth mothers and adoptive parents for the last 5 years.  Besides working, she has a great husband and three fabulous children, Landon, Parker and Ansley. Kelly and her husband adopted their daughter with the help of ACH and feels as though her personal experience helps her relate to other adoptive families.

Sloane Mosley

Greensboro

Sloane completed her undergraduate degree in Human Services Counseling at Old Dominion University and holds a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California. Sloane has been working with children, birth mothers and adopting families for more than 10 years. She loves advocating for children and helping women during pregnancy.

Lakisha Brown

Winston-Salem

Lakisha completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology with a concentration in Social Welfare at Winston-Salem State University. She received her Master of Social Work from Syracuse University. Lakisha has worked with children, individuals and families for more than 12 years. Her experience includes working with at-risk youth, homeless children and families, child mental health, as well as school social work and case management. She is also a long-time basketball fan, a former player and coach. She played at Winston-Salem State University and coached women’s basketball at Elon University and Syracuse University. Lakisha and her husband reside in Alamance County, with their young son.

Jessica Otolinsky

Asheville

Jess completed her undergraduate degree in Communication at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and earned her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Messiah College. Her professional experience includes case management, education, women’s behavioral health including a focus on pregnant mothers, and working with kinship and domestic adoptive families who have experienced trauma. Jess is a native of central Pennsylvania though loves living in Asheville with her significant other. When she is not working, she is likely caring for her puppy and dog, painting, practicing yoga, camping or planning her next road trip to see family and friends or have an adventure in some new place!

Sylvia Senbel

Charlotte

Sylvia is a graduate of Western Carolina University, where she earned a Bachelor of Social Work. She also received her Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina. Sylvia has been working with children and families for more than 19 years. She enjoys gardening, reading, hiking, and spending time with her husband and three boys. She also loves animals, especially her dog Jazzy.

Nicole Barnes

Jacksonville

Nicole completed her undergraduate studies at Chowan University in Psychology with a concentration in Alcohol & Drug Studies and a minor in Criminal Justice. Nicole has provided services to adolescents, teens, college students, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Parole and Probation, the NC Division of Motor Vehicles, the Division of Transportation, and the Department of Defense. She is a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor and has been working in the mental health field for 15 years.

Suzanne Mangum

Triangle

Suzanne was the primary pregnancy care manager stationed at Duke high-risk perinatal clinic for 20 years. She has a BS in Social Work at UNC Pembroke and is a licensed School Social Worker. She recently worked as a case manager in a substance abuse disorder residential program for women with young children. Suzanne is a “Durhamite” but has resided in Wake County since graduating. Her biggest accomplishment has been happily raising her 14 yo daughter and 3 poodle mixed pups. 

Hope Brown

Triangle

Hope completed her undergraduate degree in Social Work at North Carolina Central University. She has worked with children and families for more than 20 years. Hope experience includes working in foster care, CPS as well as a school social worker. Hope loves exercising, football and spending time with her family. Hope resides in Durham County with her son, daughter and her dog Penny.