Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores a brief look at federal initiatives that have influenced special needs adoptions practice. The term "special needs adoptions" is generally associated with older children; sibling groups; children of color; and children with physical, emotional, or mental problems. Many of the children needing adoptive placement have been physically or sexually abused and/or neglected in their birthfamilies and are in out-of-home care in the nation's child welfare system. About 63" of children in the American foster care system are children of color. About 47" are African American, almost three times the percentage of African American children in the population at large. Additional federal initiatives were introduced in the 1980s, including the Adoption Opportunity Grants and the National Resource Center for Special Needs Adoptions to provide training for workers involved in special needs placements.