Ten years ago, we witnessed history in the making as we celebrated Opening Day – the day 400,000 Ohio-born adoptees finally had the legal right to apply for their original birth certificates.

On March 5, 2025, three former foster youth—Jaleshia Brown, Adam Hassan, and Michael Outrich—testified before the Ohio Children and Human Services Committee in support of adding the Foster-to-College Scholarship Program to the pending Ohio Budget Bill.

I had moved to Korea as a lost and lonely man, struggling with life and not understanding how much my adoption weighed on me. But now, after everything I had experienced—meeting my biological mother, attending a transformative conference, and facing emotional truths I had avoided for so long—I was returning with a sense of renewal.

Mark your calendars and join us as we dive into these engaging conversations together! Your thoughts and stories are what make our meetings special.

Jeanne was a passionate advocate, a talented artist, and a source of unwavering support for those navigating the complexities of adoption. Her kindness, commitment, and impact on our community will always be remembered.

Together, we have the power to affect policies that impact the lives of our community. Join us as we travel in teams to lobby our state representatives and senators.

In November, Adoption Network Cleveland’s board welcomed five new board members: Denise Astorino, Tashyana Copeland, Cory Isler-Manzo, Nikki Lewis, and Andrew Mangels.

Adoption Network Cleveland needs YOU to become part of our public policy advocacy efforts! Let us know how you would like to contribute in the coming year by completing a quick survey so we can reach out on the issues you care about most!

Estes Turner has been a constant source of support, serving as a volunteer, donor, participant, and mentor since the early 1990s. Estes's commitment to helping others has been a gift, and we are honored to have had him participate in and help shape our community for so many years. Thank you, Estes!

This year, we are proud to recognize Sandy Croucher as our 2024 Volunteer of the Year. Sandy's dedication has made a real impact, helping to create a strong sense of connection and support among our members. Thank you, Sandy!

Lindsey Huling and John Zaranec complete their terms and retire from the Adoption Network Cleveland Board of Directors this month, but both will remain actively involved with the organization. Thank you, Lindsey and John!

As the keynote speaker of the 2024 Creating Futures Benefit & Silent Auction, Mark Cardwell shared his powerful journey with the guests. Mark was adopted at the age of five, after spending years in foster care, and he reconnected with his birth family decades later.

Each year, many workplaces run charitable giving campaigns through an organization such as United Way Services or simply through their Human Resources department. You can designate Adoption Network Cleveland as your charity of choice for a one-time gift or payroll deduction to support our programs and services all year long.

We are excited to announce our upcoming conference and invite you to respond to this Request for Proposals for workshops and presenters. Journeys of Discovery, An Adoption Network Cleveland Conference, will be held on Friday, March 21st, and Saturday, March 22nd, 2025.

September is recognized as National Kinship Care Month, a time to acknowledge and support families who have stepped in to care for their relatives’ children. In Ohio, approximately 124,000 children are being raised by relatives or close family friends, known as kinship caregivers.