Our Mission
Adoption Network Cleveland connects and empowers individuals, organizations, and communities impacted by adoption and foster care, providing a source of healing for those in need since 1988.
Upcoming Programs
Putting People First: A Journey of Rebranding to Prioritize Those Most Affected by the Child Welfare System
8:00 - 9:00 PM ET | Monday, December 4
Ligia Cushman, CEO of Families Rising (formerly NACAC). This workshop will explore the transformative journey of an organization that successfully rebranded itself to place a strong emphasis on the individuals most profoundly affected by the child welfare system. The presenter will delve into the strategies, challenges, and inspiring stories behind this rebranding process, gaining valuable insights into centering the focus on those directly impacted. Join us to learn how prioritizing people-first initiatives can drive meaningful change and foster more effective engagement within the child welfare system. Read more about Ligia here.
Adoption Unfiltered: What We Have Learned
7:30 - 9:00 PM ET | Monday, December 11
Adoptee Sara Easterly, birth parent Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard, and adoptive parent Lori Holden have been reaching “across the aisles” of adoption for several years. They’ve collaborated on articles, a podcast, and their forthcoming book, Adoption Unfiltered. Together, they have not only created ground-breaking work, but they’ve also built friendship and learned more about adoption and relationships than they could ever have imagined. In this session, they’ll share highlights of what they’ve learned through the process of both unfiltering adoption and through their unique working configuration. Read more about the book here.
Together we build community and help create a brighter future.
See how Adoption Network Cleveland changes lives.
-
CFNA -
-
-
NPK Construction -
Ockerman Consulting -
Fit Learning -
NRP Group -
-
Skylight Foundation -
OhioKAN Regional Partner
On the Blog
In the late 2010s in the USA, data and technology had led to easily accessible, reasonably reliable DNA testing and matching of biological relatives. My understanding and trust in data, coupled with the loss of my brother a few years prior, led me to spit in a tube and send it off to the leading ancestry companies at the time (there may also have been some wine involved, back then). It would be fun. I wouldn’t worry about it too much. And if anything materialized, it would be really neat to meet someone I shared blood with.
Four Adoption Network Cleveland Board of Directors completed their terms of service and retired from the board, including Molly Cissell, Daniel Gisser, Julie Lady, and Carlin Culbertson. All four were honored for their service at the 2023 Annual Meeting in November.
Aaron Ockerman and Carrie Lauterbach are our 2023 Advocates of the Year
