What is SNAP?

SNAP is the Special Needs Adoption Program within the Department for Community Based Services that operates statewide to recruit families to adopt and/or foster Kentucky's waiting children.

SNAP was started in 1979 in response to the increasing number of children who were spending too long in foster care without the benefit of a permanent, adoptive home. At that time, it was believed that "older children with special needs" were unadoptable. Through a variety of methods, including the media, families across Kentucky have been made aware of the tremendous need for foster and adoptive homes - and Kentucky's families have responded! Since its inception, SNAP has been involved in the adoptive placement of over 2,500 special needs children!

Working together with the Recruitment and Certification teams (usually called "R and C") across Kentucky's 9 service regions, interested families are recruited and prepared to adopt and/or foster our waiting children. The R and C teams have a social worker in every county who works to prepare and approve families for fostering and adopting. Every family with a child or children in their home has an R and C worker assigned to them. This person is trained to work in partnership with you. Help is a phone call away.

Toll Free Numbers: 
1-800-928-4303
1-800-432-9346

Frankfort Office:
(502) 564-2147

Cabinet for Health and Family Services
DCBS/Adoption Branch
275 E. Main Street, 3 C-E
Frankfort, KY  40621