“It was started for those who had these surprise circumstances come up,” said Karen Wyman, a program manager at the Adoption Network. She oversees the DNA Discovery Support Group established by the nonprofit. She specializes in helping people find family members.

For some, looking for your parents isn’t something everyone has to go through while for others, it can be an emotional journey that takes time and lots of resources.

Introducing JJ Rett who will co-facilitate a General Discussion Meeting which meets on the 1st Thursday of each month.

In November, Adoption Network Cleveland’s board welcomed four new board members: Corrine Gist, Tammara Humbert, Edie Sweeterman, and Amy Zlotnik. Glenn Cook joined the board earlier in 2022. We think, after reading, you will join us in congratulating our Board’s Leadership Development Committee for working to recruit such mission-centered, professionally diverse, and ready to serve individuals!

The Ohio Justice Bus will be on the Fairhill Partners campus on Friday, June 10, 2022, from 10 am to 2 pm to provide a FREE Legal Clinic for parents and caregivers. The bus is a mobile legal aid office and technology hot spot that allows legal aid and pro bono attorneys to travel to locations to provide legal services to Ohioans at no cost to individuals.

Thank you to Cohen & Co. for their continued support of Adoption Network Cleveland. We are pleased to have them as a Collaborator-level sponsor this year! Learn more about Cohen & Co. and their contributions to the Cleveland financial community on the blog.

We are so pleased to have CFNA join our Corporate Partners program this year, supporting programs that help children and families stay strong and resilient.

A BIG Shout Out to our Collaborator-Level Corporate Partner, Kaulig Giving! Thank you for supporting Adoption Network Cleveland! Kaulig Giving is committed to bringing enthusiasm, compassion, and support to every aspect of their giving and volunteer engagements, supporting the well-being of children and families in our community.

Thank you for supporting Adoption Network Cleveland! Meaden & Moore’s culture embraces and encourages active civic and community involvement.

Adoption Network Cleveland was grateful to be featured by Isabel Lawrence at WKYC Channel 3 - Cleveland on this #GivingTuesday, which took place this year on November 30, 2021. Executive Director Betsie Norris shared some of the fundraising challenges we have experienced during the pandemic, and why community support is so important this year.

Adoption Network Cleveland is thrilled to announce our 2021 Triad Advocate of the Year: Cloé Cooper! Find out a little bit more about Cloé and her work as an advocate for Ohio's youth in foster care and foster care alum.

Emergency Fund Helps Adoptive, Kinship, and Foster Families Maintain Stability Despite Challenging Times

Traci Onders, Search Specialist - Adult Adoptees & Birthparents at Adoption Network Cleveland, was interviewed in January 2021 by Severance Magazine about our new DNA Discovery Group. Traci shared information about the group and why it was important for Adoption Network to introduce this new group as a part of our General Discussion Meetings.

Maureen Heffernan has been connected to Adoption Network Cleveland since the beginning, and over the years has been a dedicated volunteer. She brings her wealth of knowledge and passion into her efforts, and currently facilitates the Adoption 101 workshop for prospective parents, and is active on the Program Committee.

Congratulations to our 2020 Triad Advocate of the Year! The public is invited to join Adoption Network Cleveland on Saturday, October 24 at 7:30 pm ET during a virtual Awards Ceremony to honor Holly Spencer-Trueman and her 20+ year career improving the lives of children through her work in adoption and foster care.

Action Ohio hosts 2020 Thanksgiving Together in November for current and former foster youth.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Adoption Knowledge Affiliates and Adoption Network Cleveland have joined forces to present “Journeys of Discovery: Navigating the Intersections of Adoption,” a virtual conference to be held on Friday & Saturday, October 23 & 24, 2020. This amazing opportunity will bring together the expertise of both organizations to offer presentations by national and state experts on adoption, providing opportunities for members of the adoption and foster care community as well as adoption professionals to receive support and skills, gain knowledge, and network with others. The conference delivers two full days of educational and supportive content. 

One of Adoption Network Cleveland’s veteran employees recently received a 2020 Angels in Adoption award. We can’t think of a more deserving individual who is devoted to helping families provide a loving family and permanency for children in need.

The Show Must Go On! We are going virtual!

We invite each of you to join us for Creating Futures: Home Edition from the comfort of your couch on May 29 from 7-9 pm to show your support for Adoption Network Cleveland and our mission.

View Silent Auction items and the Live Stream Event at: https://adoptionnetwork.home.qtego.net

Our Executive Director, Betsie Norris, shares a special message for our members and constituents during this difficult time, outlining program changes and Adoption Network Cleveland's commitment to our community.

Adoption Network Cleveland welcomes six new board members and one renewing board member to the 2020 Board of Directors!

Seven Adoption Network Cleveland Board of Directors completed their terms of service and retired from the board, including Denise Barone, Lisa Buescher, Mimi Data, Julia Dean, Tom Dent, JaNice Marshall, and Ellen Stephens. All seven were honored for their service at the 2019 Annual Meeting in November.

Adoption Network Cleveland Board of Directors elected new board officers for 2019 during our Annual Meeting, held on November 29, 2018, and welcomed five new board members and two renewing board members.

Daniel Gisser, a member of Adoption Network Cleveland’s board of directors, was nominated to be one of 180 honorees for the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s Angels in Adoption program.

Adoption Network Cleveland will celebrate its 30th anniversary at its 2018 Creating Futures Benefit and Silent Auction on April 20.

Robert Gibbons, Family Support Coordinator for Adoption Network Cleveland, speaks about the launch of the EMBRACE mentoring program, which serves youth in adoptive and kinship families.

Adoption Network Cleveland Executive Director Betsie Norris and adoptee Marni Hall talk about how a state adoption law has allowed adoptees to find out about their family history, health and geneology.

Linda Bellini, now a volunteer with Adoption Network Cleveland, retired from the nonprofit three years ago after working there for 13 1/2 years as a program coordinator for adult adoptees and birthparents. She will receive the Adoption Triad Advocate Award at the organization's Annual Meeting.

Adoption Network Cleveland Executive Director Betsie Norris writes in this op-ed to GRAND Magazine about her profound and emotional yearlong journey for her birthparents in her 20s, and how that led her to found Adoption Network Cleveland in 1988, in part, to overcome a misplaced societal shame on adoptees, birthparents and adoptive parents in unfounded myths.

Adoption Network Cleveland Executive Director Betsie Norris and Director of Programs Jennifer Zisk-Vitron spoke with The Word Cleveland (AM 1220) host Glenn Mertz about the work of Adoption Network Cleveland, and how it has grown in the 30 years since it was founded.

For local adoptive parents Lori and Bob McCarthy, who are members of Adoption Network Cleveland, the NBC hit show "This Is Us" offers insight, centered around one of its characters, into transracial adoption. The McCarthys take part in Adoption Network Cleveland's Weaving Cultures program for families who have formed through transracial adoption.

The emotional journey of adoptees begins as children but can continue through life. An upcoming retreat hosted by the Adoption Network Cleveland focuses on adult adoptees.

WCPN invited Adoption Network Cleveland's Traci Onders (Program Coordinator for Adult Adoptees and Birthparents) and Lisa Buescher (adoptee and Board Chair) to talk about the emotional journey of adult adoptees as they navigate choices that may include seeking out birth families.

In Cuyahoga County, more than 500 children are available for adoption, this week alone. One local family has opened their home to six adopted children.

Local author Barbara Raymond and Adoption Network Cleveland Executive Director Betsie Norris spoke with We The People, which airs on WKYC, about the book “The Baby Thief” that is currently getting major attention. This book brings awareness to a major historical event while also brining attention to the adoption world.

Three Northeast Ohio mothers share the stories of their difficult journeys to give up their babies for adoption — sometimes with the choice made for them — the reunion with their children, and support from Adoption Network Cleveland.

Adoption Network Cleveland, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, put out a call for help. The organization needs about $214,000 to fund the programs affected by the expiration of government contracts over six months.

In 2015, Ohio changed its law to give adopted children access to their birth certificates. For Julie Mooney, the result was like unlocking the door to her past.