With the majority of foster kids being eventually returned to their birth families, foster children who are up for adoption are special cases with unique needs.

Of the more than 520,000 foster kids in the United States, roughly 117,000 of them are currently up for adoption. The circumstances that have them permanently separated from their birth families cause emotional and mental challenges.

Some children are in the foster system and up for adoption because they’ve been sexually abused, physically abused, emotionally abused or neglected. The effects of such abuse is long lasting and requires years of counseling, mental health treatment and patience and love from the adoptive family.

Foster care often leaves children moving from foster home to foster home. After being separated from his birth family, this transient life can cause severe emotional problems in a child.

How Adoptive Parents Can Meet the Unique Needs of Foster Kids

• Join support groups, network and talk to other parents who have adopted foster kids to learn about their experiences.
• Have your child assessed for mental health issues, educational and scholastic problems and medical needs. Know early on what challenges you and the child face in providing him a normal lifestyle.
• Take advantage of the services your state’s child welfare agency provides, including counseling and mental health services for your adoptive child and monetary subsidies. If your child is a special needs child, the state may offer financial resources to help you pay for required services.
• Get involved in your child’s schooling. Work with his teachers and guidance counselors to be sure his unique educational needs are being met.
• Be prepared for challenges in the child’s adjustment to your family. Don’t expect the child to show storybook-like gratitude for a new start in life. Some foster kids act out, become aggressive and don’t warm up to a new family due to earlier trauma.