Volunteering FAQs

Why should I volunteer with Adoption Network Cleveland?

There are many agencies throughout NE Ohio that one can volunteer for, so why should you volunteer with us? Well, besides the pleasure of working with one of the best staff around, there are other benefits of choosing us, including:

The opportunity to help others dealing with adoption and foster care and being a partner in fulfilling Adoption Network’s mission to connect, empower, and support those impacted by adoption and foster care.
The opportunity to learn new skills and grow both personally and professionally.
Getting to serve in a supportive, fun, family-friendly, and mission focused environment.
Flexible schedules and a wide variety of opportunities; volunteers can serve once a year or a few times a week and do everything from direct office support to helping develop organizational policy.
Free parking and refreshments at the office.
The opportunity to meet new people and spend time with old friends.

How do I become an active volunteer?

There are three steps to becoming a volunteer at Adoption Network Cleveland. Additional steps and trainings may be needed dependent on the volunteer position.
1) Fill out the Volunteer Information and Interest Form (Click here to download now)
2) Meet with Laura Weber, Volunteer and Event Coordinator for an interview
3) Complete the required Volunteer Orientation

The volunteer is asked to attend orientation within 60 days and complete any required training or fingerprinting (provided by Adoption Network Cleveland) as described in the job description.

If I fill out an application, does that automatically make me a volunteer?

No, filling out an application does not automatically make you a volunteer with Adoption Network Cleveland. Because we value our volunteers' time and skills, we work hard to ensure a full orientation and good fit. The application begins this process and you become a prospective volunteer until we have finished the entire process of acceptance, placement, and orientation.

What if I have been volunteering for years but have never filled out an application?

This has been one of the results of our recent growth -- as procedures become more formalized we are facing the fact that we have valuable long-term volunteers who never went through our new processes. To help make sure you are informed of all your opportunities and resources, and to make sure all our volunteers are aware of the expanded Adoption Network Cleveland, we ask that you check with us if you are unsure whether you have filled out an application and completed the process. We need anyone serving on behalf of Adoption Network to have an assignment and application on file.

What kind of volunteer opportunities are available?

Here at Adoption Network Cleveland, we have both individual and group opportunities available. Click here to browse our individual volunteer opportunities. If you are interested in volunteering as a group, click here for more information.

If you have any more questions, please contact Laura Weber at (216) 482-2312 or Laura.Weber@AdoptionNetwork.org