Special Needs Adoption

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Community Services operates the Special Needs Adoption program. Our goal is to find loving, adoptive families for children who are currently in foster care. Adopting a child through the Special Needs Adoption program brings great rewards.

The Heart Gallery provides information on children located throughout Wisconsin who are waiting to be adopted. 

Learn more about adoption resources.

Interested in learning more about adoption? Contact us.

What does special needs mean?

Special needs refers to the physical, behavioral and emotional needs that the children have stemming from the difficulty some of them have seen in their lives. Many of the children in the program have been in foster care and need a permanent, safe home with a loving family. All children who have experienced the trauma of child abuse and neglect and have been separated from their biological families have some special needs. Some children  may be part of a sibling group that needs to remain together.

Adoptive families can have a dramatic, positive impact on these children by providing a forever family. Training, information and referrals to community resources are provided for parents to help them deal with issues that their children may experience.

On any given day in Milwaukee County, 75-100 children are waiting for an adoptive home. Children of all ages and from diverse backgrounds need to be part of a forever family. Can you help them find a safe, permanent home?

How to become an adoptive parent

Adoptive parents must:

  • Be at least 21 years old.

  • Pass a criminal background and caregiver check.

  • Have no prior history of involvement with a child welfare agency due to an upheld accusation of child abuse and/or neglect.

  • Possess sufficient verifiable sources of income.

  • Meet physical home environment requirements and have homeowner's or renter's liability insurance.

  • Have vehicle liability insurance.

  • Participate in 36 hours of professional training provided during the licensing process. In addition, 10 hours of training per year is required.

  • Have love and patience to share.

  • Be invested in the future of our community's children.