Adoption FAQs

Individuals and couples just beginning the adoption process have many questions. Following are few questions we are asked frequently along with brief general answers. We encourage you to contact an Adoption Navigator for more information or attend our information session Adoption 101:Where Do I Begin?

The State of Ohio has developed a series of requirements for every agency and social worker to follow before they can approve an individual or couple to become adoptive parents. Anyone who is interested in adopting must attend a series of training classes, complete an adoption home study (a process where a certified assessor from an adoption agency conducts a series of interviews), and fill out or provide the required paperwork.

Most people who complete the process are ultimately approved for adoption. To be approved, however, every individual needs to meet the following requirements:

Be at least 18 years of age, with no upper age limit
Have enough living and sleeping space to add a child(ren)
Pass a safety and fire inspection of their home
Agree to a background check (includes fingerprints, social service clearance, and FBI check)
Have enough income to cover household expenses before the addition of a child
Be able to provide personal and/or employment references
Have a doctor certify that they are able to meet the needs of a child until adulthood

Depending on the type of adoption you choose to pursue and the provider you use, there may be fees and other requirements of you.

I hear so much about how hard it is to adopt these days. Why is that?

There are many types of adoption available and some have more barriers than others. There are many more prospective adoptive parents interested in adopting infants domestically than there are infants available for adoption, but there are many more children and youth awaiting a permanent family through the public child welfare system than there are families to adopt them. There are currently over 3,700 children waiting for an adoptive family in Ohio -- most over age 5. Adopting internationally is also an option, although difficulties arise when countries open and close their countries for adoption, due to civil unrest or other relevant reasons. Whatever the barrier may be, adoption is definitely a process that requires patience and perseverance. If you enter the process with this in mind you will find yourself less frustrated overall.

What is the difference between public and private adoptions?

Adoptions can either happen through a county department of children and family services or through a private provider. Private providers handle international and domestic infant adoptions and work with birthparents who voluntarily relinquish rights to the child. The public agencies are responsible for adoption and foster care for children whose parents’ rights have been involuntarily severed through the courts. Many private providers also handle adoption cases from the public system. There are no direct costs for public adoption, and the State of Ohio provides a monthly subsidy for children adopted from the public system who qualify. Private and international adoptions almost always include substantial fees.

What is open adoption?

Open adoption is the term for the sharing of information between the adoptive parents and birthparent(s) (or other birth family members, in some cases). The spectrum of openness can be as minimal as sharing letters and pictures through the agency or as open as the adoptive family desires. Non-legally binding open adoption contracts are allowed under Ohio law. Adoption Network Cleveland has a number of members who are willing to share their experiences with open adoption with those who are interested.

Can a birthmother come and take away my adopted child?

Despite an unfortunate prominence in the media, it is extremely uncommon for a birthparent to regain legal custody of a child who has been adopted. Before a child can be adopted, there is an extensive set of legal procedures required for the birthparents’ rights to be terminated. Once the probate court approves this termination, the parents have irreversibly lost their parental rights to that child. In the rare instance where an adoption is disrupted by a birthparent, it is usually because of a procedural error in the legal process. This can be avoided by choosing a reputable agency to work with from the beginning.