A child with special needs is defined as a child that has at least one of the following needs or circumstances that may be a barrier to placement or adoption without financial assistance:

* Five years of age or older (if age is the only factor)
* Race
* Member of a sibling group of two or more children to be placed together and at least one of the children is three years of age or older,
* Diagnosis of a medical, physical, emotional, or mental disability or documented history of abuse/neglect requiring ongoing treatment intervention
* At risk of developing further problems due to documented factors in his/her background