Some children have conditions that may need extra commitment or skill from parents. We encourage you to be open to parenting a child with special needs. Because of these children's special circumstances we, with the permission of the country and orphanage, will feature these special children from time to time.

Often times the host country's requirements are relaxed for these children. Please check with us at Hand In Hand and we will do all that we can to assist you.

If you would like to be sent email when we change this list please advise us with your address.

Philippine Program

Summer Hosting Program
Hand In Hand is working in cooperation with the Philippine Inter-Country Adoption Board to bring sixteen adoptable children who are between nine and 15 years old to the US for a three-week stay with a family considering adoption. Families in Colorado, Minnesota, Indiana, and northwest Ohio are being sought for this program. The children will be here during July, 2008. The families can spend time getting to know the children whom they host, and then later decide if adoption of the host child seems right for them. Even if the children do not end up being adopted, the hope is that they will at least have had a respite from orphanage life for a while and had a chance to visit America. We have photos and case studies on all the children. Contact us if you are interested in being a host family.

We maintain a Special Recruitment list of children in need of families.  Some have medical problems, while others are older or part of a sibling group.  For more information contact Vickie Truelove, Philippine Program Director, at indiana@hihiadopt.org or by phone at 260-636-3566.

China Program
Hand in Hand has been approved by the CCAA to be a part of a "Special Needs" adoption program. For more information, please contact Sonja Wendt, China Program Coordinator, at arizona@hihiadopt.org or by phone at 480-892-5550

United in Hope
Hand in Hand has recently launched the United in Hope Project, placing children with special needs from orphanages in Nanjing, China.  This program will operate separately from and differently than the current special needs program in China and is expected to take less time for completion.  For more information, please contact Sonja Wendt, China Program Coordinator, at arizona@hihiadopt.org or by phone at 480-892-5550