Kinship, Foster & Adoption

Kinship Care

Kinship care is a temporary or permanent arrangement in which a relative — or a non-relative adult with a long-standing bond with the child or family — takes over full-time care of a child whose parents are unable or unwilling to do so. We help kinship caregivers understand their options and connect to supports and benefits.

Foster Care

Foster parents provide a stable, nurturing home for children who cannot safely remain with their families. Foster families receive training and ongoing support, and many help reunite children with their birth families.

• Open your home to a child in need of safety and stability.
• Receive pre-service training and continued support from our team.
• Help children stay connected to school, community and family when possible.

Foster parent qualifications

• Be licensed by the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services.
• Be at least 18 years of age.
• You may be married, single, or divorced — and may already have children.
• You may own or rent your home or apartment; each child must have their own bed.
• Have an income sufficient to meet your household’s basic needs.
• Complete fingerprinting and a medical exam (a psychological exam may be required).
• Be committed to caring for children, able to accept them as they are, and willing to work as a team with the birth family and agency staff.

Adoption

Permanency and stability are essential to a child. We work to bring together children — primarily those with special needs — who are available for adoption and people who want to build families through adoption. When reunification is not possible, adoption gives children a permanent, loving family, and we guide prospective adoptive families through each step.

Because adoption is a lifelong process, we also provide services to help adoptive families stay strong over the years, and we offer counseling and support to birth parents. Many of the qualifications for adoption are the same as those for foster and foster-to-adopt parents (see the foster parent qualifications above).

Frequently asked questions