Foster Care and Adoption in Ohio [5 Things to Know]
If you’re not sure if infant adoption is the right choice for you because you want to adopt an older child or sibling group, foster care adoption in Ohio could be the best decision you make.
Even though American Adoptions is a domestic infant adoption agency and does not specialize in foster care adoption, we want you to be aware of all your options. Even if you decide not to pursue adoption through us, your happiness and comfort is our top priority. We can point you in the right direction of agencies that can help you adopt a foster baby in Ohio.
We’ve created this helpful guide for prospective adoptive parents who are interested in fostering to adopt or adopting a foster baby in Ohio. Continue reading below to learn more, or get connected with an adoption specialist online.
1. Ohio Foster Care Adoption Facts
The goal of foster care is to give children a safe place to reside if their biological family cannot currently support them or provide them with a safe and stable environment. When the conditions have improved, the child or children will be reunited with their family.
On average, there are 16,000 children in the Ohio foster care system. An estimated 9,000 of these children are living with foster parents and at least 2,600 of these children will not be able to reunite with their families, making them eligible for adoption. Over 1,000 of these waiting children are teenagers, with many of them being part of a sibling group.
If, for whatever reason, a judge determines that the child will not be able to be reunited with their biological family or a relative, the child will then become eligible for Ohio foster care adoption. While American Adoptions does not facilitate foster care adoptions in Ohio, we want you to be able to have the family you have always dreamed of, and if you believe Ohio foster care adoption is the right choice for you, we support you wholeheartedly.
2. There are Two Paths you can Take
If you feel that adopting from foster care in Ohio is the right way for you to start or grow your family, you have two main options:
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Fostering to adopt in Ohio
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Adopting from foster care in Ohio
Here’s what each option looks like.
Foster to Adopt in Ohio
If a child’s biological family cannot currently care for them to the best of their ability, the state will temporarily place them with loving foster families. They will remain with a foster family until they can be returned to their biological family in a safe and stable environment, or if this isn’t possible, until they are permanently placed with an adoptive family.
While fostering a child is a wonderful way to give them a safe and loving home, the uncertainty of fostering to adopt in Ohio can be difficult for some hopeful adoptive parents. There’s no way of knowing if or when the child will be reunited with their biological family. Even so, it’s an incredibly selfless act and could be the start of something beautiful.
Adopting a Child from Foster Care in Ohio
The second and more permanent option is adopting a child from foster care in Ohio. If a child is not able to be reunited with their biological family, they will become eligible for adoption. This option appeals to many hopeful adoptive parents because it’s more likely to result in a placement than fostering to adopt in Ohio. This is because the children you are matched with are already eligible for adoption. This option is more direct, and is a fantastic way to grow or start the family you have always wanted.
To learn more about how to adopt a child from foster care in Ohio, reach out to foster care agencies to learn more.
3. Foster Care Adoption Costs in Ohio
One of the many upsides to Ohio foster care adoption for hopeful adoptive parents is that adopting an older child has less associated costs than adopting an infant through private adoption. Whether you foster to adopt or adopt through foster care in Ohio, you will likely qualify for adoption financial assistance through state-funded subsidies. The cost of adopting from foster care in Ohio will vary depending on the agency and the amount of financial aid you are eligible for. The amount of financial assistance you receive will depend, in part, on the needs of the child (or children) you adopt.
4. Adoption and Foster Requirements in Ohio
When you adopt from foster care in Ohio, you will be asked to complete a foster care adoption home study. The home study will generally include:
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Background checks
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Relative and non-relative references
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In-home visit
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Interviews
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Review of important financial and medical documents
Even though American Adoptions does not specialize in foster care adoption in Ohio, we can connect you with reputable home study service providers in your area.
Adoption and foster requirements in Ohio may vary depending on the foster to adopt agency in Ohio that you are working with. To get more information on what requirements you will need to meet, reach out to your foster care agency.
5. Who you can Adopt from Foster Care in Ohio
If you’re wondering how to adopt from foster care in Ohio, there are a few things that need to happen before the child can be eligible for adoption. The parental rights of the biological family must be terminated. This can happen voluntarily or involuntarily if the biological parents fail to regain custody of the child.
Once the biological parents have relinquished their parental rights, the child will be eligible for you to adopt. From here, you will be able to begin the Ohio foster care adoption process.
Foster to Adopt Agencies in Ohio
Ohio foster care adoption is a beautiful way to expand your family and give a child the loving and stable home they’ve been waiting for. If you feel adopting from foster care in Ohio is what’s best for you and your family, you will need to contact a foster care agency to begin the Ohio foster care adoption process.
While American Adoptions specializes in private infant adoption and not foster care adoption in Ohio, there are many helpful foster adoptions in Ohio. You can learn more about these agencies below:
Begin Your Ohio Foster Care Journey
If you are considering fostering to adopt or adopting from foster care in Ohio to expand and add to your family, you’re making a wonderful choice.
To get more information on how to adopt from foster care in Ohio, reach out to any of the agencies listed above or do research of your own until you find the agency that’s right for you. If you’re still trying to decide which type of adoption is right for you, you can get more information about private infant adoption from American Adoptions today.
Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.