{"report_id":30,"form_id":"18","user_id":159,"organization_id":39,"question_id":"386","question_type":"Free_Text","text_answer":"Subject child remaining in OOHP from 1\/1\/2019 to 12\/31\/2019 without finalization of permanency was influenced by children\u2019s special needs and services, recruitment efforts and also education for workers.\r\nChildren with special needs seeking adoption experience multiple factors that contribute to delays in adoption finalization. The specific needs of the children can influence available resources for that child (both service related and permanency). Often times the needs of the child(ren) can intimidate prospective families. This is manifested through a general lack of awareness of developmental disabilities and the services available for children and families of children with special needs. Barriers to receiving education and accessibility to mentors for families about developmental disability services include care beyond the age of 18 for children and also the understanding of waivered and related services. These barriers contribute to a reduced willingness and\/or ability to care for children with special needs and ultimately, a lack of available foster homes for these children. One factor that has influenced both recruitment efforts and selection of children with special needs for adoption is the initial introduction of the child to the family. Typically, a prospective adoptive family\u2019s first information about a child is the written summary on the child. This information includes the child\u2019s disabilities, if any, and the possible needs\/services that children may need. This written information, without the ability to see the child\u2019s personality, may prevent the potential adoptive parents from getting the full picture of who the child really is. The current Covid-19 pandemic has also hindered recruitment efforts as in-person meetings and events have been cancelled. Additionally, the age of and size of the child can be influencing factors in finding an adoptive home and finalization of that adoption. For children with special needs, including those that have physical outbursts, the size of the child and a parent\u2019s ability to intervene during an episode may be reduced. It is also common that the older the child, the harder it is to recruit adoptive homes.","created_by":159,"updated_by":159,"updated_at":"5\/3\/2021 11:04:13 am","created_at":"5\/3\/2021 11:04:13 am","id":3093}