What We Do :: Interested in Adoption? :: Adoption FAQ
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......People who use an Adoption Navigator are almost twice as likely to successfully complete their adoption than people who don't.
Interested in Adoption?
Call (216)325-1000 and ask for an Adoption Navigator.
Adoption FAQ
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 sessions Adoption 101:Where do I begin? or Adoption 201: Adopting from the Public System.
What does it take to adopt?
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 homestudy (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 (may include 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
In addition, some agencies will have fees or other requirements related to where you live and prior history of abuse or neglect.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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. While domestic infant adoption has declined due to fewer available babies, the number of children awaiting a permanent family through the public child welfare system has risen steadily. There are currently over 3,500 children waiting for an adoptive family in Ohio -- most over age 5. Adopting internationally is another growing alternative. Fees and waiting periods vary greatly depending on the type of adoption you choose and which agency you work with; allowable adoption fees are regulated by Ohio adoption law, and may be reimbursed through adoption subsidy for the adoption of children who meet the requirements.
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 agency. Private agencies handle most international and domestic infant adoptions and mostly deal 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. There are no direct costs for public adoption, and some Ohio counties (like Cuyahoga) provide a monthly subsidy for some children adopted from the public system. Private adoptions almost always include substantial fees.
What is Open Adoption?
Open adoption is the term for when the adoptive parents and birthparent(s) (or other birth family members, in some cases) meet and exchange identifying information sometime prior to the finalization of the adoption. It is then up to the adoptive and birthparents (or birth family members) to decide whether and to what extent to continue contact. 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 to relinquish their rights. Once the probate court approves this relinquishment, 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 the birthfather’s permission was not correctly obtained. This situation is easily avoided by making sure that your agency has correctly identified a child’s birthfather and fully obtained his relinquishment of parental rights.
I have so many more questions!
Contact an Adoption Navigator at (216) 325-1000, or use our contact form.
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