b'Waiting ChildrenWaiting children are those in the U.S. foster care system or children who are living in orphanages in other countries who need, want, and are legally eligible to be adopted but have not been. All of these children have been determined to have special needs.Special Needs Helping children to be adopted is a major step in addressing the systemic issues ofSpecial needs covers a wide range ofincarceration, homelessness, substance medical, physical, cognitive, and emotionalabuse, unemployment, and an underlying conditions requiring anything fromlack of education and hope for a better life. short-term help to a lifetime of medical and therapeutic support. Examples of the needs of children we serve includeInternational Children emotional and physical trauma fromwith Special Needsabuse and neglect, missing limbs, heart conditions, in utero alcohol and otherGlobally, thousands of children are in need drug exposure, slow physical or brainof an adoptive family who can support development, autism, and cerebral palsy.their special needs. Many of these special needs conditions are manageable or In some cases, special needs means onlycorrectable with appropriate care that is that the child is part of a sibling group, allwidely available in the U.S. of whom are physically healthy. Some countries have children with special Foster Care needs due to ADHD, anxiety, depression, or vision or hearing impairments, all of There are more than 400,000 childrenwhich are commonly treated in the U.S., currently in U.S. foster care; 120,000 ofbut may not be in their birth country. them are waiting to be adopted. ChildrenPlease consider donating today to not adopted from foster care are destinedhelp support our efforts to help these to live without family support and love.children who desperately need a home 22,000 children age out of the system eachto escape horrific odds and outcomes. year. When children age out, they are left on their own with little to no support, and their likely outcomes are abysmal. 50% willClick the video to playserve time in prison. In addition, 1 in 8 will become homeless. Many others will suffer from substance abuse, unemployment, and a future with their own children in the child welfare system.Scan the code to donate 8BARKER ADOPTION FOUNDATION'