In Florida, "Special Needs" children are those children in the care and custody of Florida’s Department of Children and Families or a licensed private child placing agency and who meet at least one of the following criteria:
- The child has significant emotional ties with foster parents or relative caregivers.
- The child is at least eight years old.
- The child is mentally retarded.
- The child is physically handicapped.
- The child is emotionally handicapped.
- The child is black or has racially mixed heritage.
- The child is a member of a sibling group being placed for adoption as a unit.
Hillsborough Kids recognizes the challenges and rewards presented by many of the children in our care. In the State of Florida, all children classified as "special needs" are adoptable by a qualifying family with little or no cost. All major expenses related to the adoption process are paid by the State and the family normally incurs costs only for outings with the child, the purchase of any gifts, etc. Adoptive families also receive a monthly adoption subsidy, Medicaid and college tuition exemption for their adopted child.
We invite you to submit our contact form to find out more about the special needs children in our care who are available for adoption.