Indiana Department of Child Services
Indiana Special Needs Adoption Program
In 1989, Indiana established a program for hard to place children who are in the custody of the state. This is a federally mandated program that Indiana legislated under IC 31-19-27. Over 7,000 Indiana special needs children have been placed with adoptive families since 1990.
The Special Needs Adoption Program (SNAP) includes an Adoption Manager, a SNAP Supervisor and seven adoption specialists serving in Indiana's 92 counties. The SNAP Specialists assist in the adoptive placement of waiting children by working collaboratively with families, case managers and service providers.
What Your SNAP Specialist Can Do For You........
- Clarify DCS policy regarding adoption
- Assist in interviewing families for waiting children.
- Network and dialogue with various agencies, professionals and other states to help recruit families waiting for children
- Feature children at adoption fairs and public events to increase the pool of approved families and aid recruitment
- Help identify adoption resources available for children and families
- Provide support to waiting families
- Act as a liaison between families and the children's case managers
- Provide training, when needed, and support staff in their adoption work
- Participate in various educational settings, such as conferences and parent trainings, to promote current adoption practices and thinking
- Meet and photograph children needing recruitment
- Participate in case conferences relating to permanency when needed
Top FAQs I Want To...
- Make a child abuse or neglect report
- Get information about Indiana's Safe Haven Law.
- Get help for a child or family in my community (Community Partners)
- Find my Local DCS Office and Director
- Give money to the Kids First Trust Fund
- Contact a representative of DCS regarding child protection
- Apply for a Job with DCS
- Find the guidelines for Child Support
- Collect or pay child support
- Establish Paternity
- Contact a Child Support Representative
