My research shows me that I can, in fact take the adoption credit for a family member such as a nephew, particularly in light of the fact that the child is considered to be special needs, given that it was determined he could not live with the parents and was placed in foster care.

I do know that a taxpayer cannot take the credit for the adoption of a step child, but for some reason I thought it also applied to family members. (I don't know why I thought that, I think I had read it once, but I cannot find it anywhere, lol.)