Foster Care Adoption in Cleveland, OH | Open Arms Adoptions
Open Arms Adoptions helps families in Cleveland and across Cuyahoga County welcome children from the foster care system into their homes. We are a nonprofit, licensed organization by the State of Ohio, and foster care adoption in Cleveland is one of the pathways we know best.
To be clear about what we do: we are an adoption agency, not a foster care provider. We do not place children in temporary foster homes or handle respite care. We work with families interested in permanently adopting children who are legally available for adoption, including children in permanent custody. We handle the home study, the matching, the legal coordination, and the support that follows placement.
Contact us today, and we will show you how to get started.
Understanding Foster Care Adoption in Cleveland
On any given day, over 14,000 Ohio children are in foster care, and thousands are waiting for their forever family. Cuyahoga County, the state’s most populous county, accounts for a meaningful share of them.
Who Are the Children Waiting?
Most waiting children are school-age or older. Many are part of sibling groups that need to stay together. Others have medical conditions or needs related to experiences prior to entering care.
Children entering foster care have experienced circumstances that led to their placement, which may include abuse, neglect, separation, or loss. Families who understand this before beginning the process are better prepared for the realities of adoption.
How Open Arms Prepares Families
Roughly two in three of our adoptions come through foster care, making it a significant part of our work. We thoroughly prepare families to adopt older children and sibling groups, rather than rushing toward a match.
If you want to adopt a child in Cleveland, Ohio, it is important to understand how the county and your adoption agency work together. The Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) manages the public side, including:
- Custody
- Case planning
- The child’s file
Open Arms handles the family side of a Cleveland adoption directly. Learn more about foster care adoption and explore the options available through our programs.
How Foster Care Adoption Works in Ohio
Foster care adoption in Ohio involves the county agency responsible for the child and the agency supporting your family. In Cuyahoga County, the Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) manages the public side, while the Ohio Department of Children and Youth oversees the system statewide.
For families working with Open Arms, the process generally includes:
1. Inquiry and consultation:
We discuss your situation, the ages and needs you feel prepared to parent, and what to expect.
2. Orientation and training:
You complete required coursework on child development, trauma, and Ohio adoption law.
3. Home study:
A certified adoption assessor conducts interviews, background checks, and a home visit.
4. Matching:
We help you inquire about children through Cuyahoga County DCFS, other county agencies, and the Ohio Adoption Photo Listing.
5. Placement and transition:
The child moves into your home, usually following planned visits.
6. Post-placement supervision:
Your assessor conducts visits and completes required reports.
7. Finalization:
The adoption is finalized through the Cuyahoga County Probate Court.
Ohio generally requires a child to live with the adoptive family for at least six months before finalization. Foster care adoption in Cuyahoga County typically costs families very little. Eligible children may qualify for subsidies and Medicaid. Additional financial assistance for foster care adoption in Ohio may also be available.
Why Cleveland Families Choose Open Arms Adoptions
Foster care adoption typically costs less than private infant adoption. Depending on your circumstances, financial assistance may include the Ohio Adoption Grant Program, federal adoption tax benefits, adoption subsidies, or Medicaid coverage.
Learn about adoption costs in Ohio and the available financial assistance.
Local Support
Our headquarters in Kent is about 35 miles from downtown Cleveland, and we also have an office in Columbus. Much of the process can happen at home. Home study interviews, the walkthrough, and post-placement visits can take place in Greater Cleveland, making the process more convenient for local families, unlike other adoption agencies in Ohio.
Foster Care Experience
About two-thirds of our adoptions come through foster care. Our assessors have experience with:
- Older child placements
- Sibling group adoptions
- Families adopting a child they were already fostering
This experience better equips us to assist families in navigating challenges that may arise during the process.
Experience From Both Sides
We also work with birth parents placing infants, giving us experience across different types of adoption. Our fees, requirements, and timelines are provided in writing before you commit.
Open Arms understands that getting started with adoption can be overwhelming, so we do our best to keep things manageable.
Support for Children and Families After Placement
Placement day is not the finish line. Children adopted from foster care may have experienced multiple moves, so adjustment can take time. Testing, regression, and grief over people a child has lost are common and do not necessarily mean a placement is failing.
Support Before Finalization
Our assessors conduct post-placement visits prior to finalization as required by the state. These visits also give families an opportunity to discuss the transition and identify additional support.
Maintaining Important Connections
When safe and appropriate, we discuss maintaining connections with people important to the child, including:
- Former foster parents
- Grandparents
- Siblings placed in other homes
Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, with the child’s history and safety guiding the conversation.
Support After Finalization
Eligible children may continue receiving adoption subsidies and Medicaid coverage. Ohio’s Bridges program supports young people who leave foster care as older teens. We can also help families identify local therapists and support groups in Cuyahoga County. Contact Open Arms about support after finalization.
Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Communities We Serve
If you are searching for foster care adoption near me, Open Arms Adoptions serves families throughout Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. Cleveland is Ohio's second-largest city, home to about 361,000 people across neighborhoods with very different characters: the Victorian streets and Lincoln Park in Tremont, the West Side Market crowds in Ohio City, the lakefront in Edgewater, the Craftsman homes of Kamm's Corners.
We also serve the suburbs across Cuyahoga County, including:
Our work reaches beyond the county line as well, into Lake County toward Mentor and Willoughby, Lorain County toward Elyria, and Geauga and Medina counties. We also offer foster care adoption services in Akron.
Local Foster Care and Adoption Resources in Cleveland
Several Cuyahoga County and state offices may be involved:
- Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services manages custody and case files. You can find them at 1641 Payne Avenue, Suite 520, Cleveland.
- The Ohio Department of Children and Youth licenses agencies and administers the Ohio Adoption Grant Program.
- The Ohio Adoption Photo Listing profiles children waiting for families.
- The Cuyahoga County Probate Court finalizes adoptions.
Open Arms coordinates with these offices so you can focus on your family instead of tracking the required paperwork throughout the process.
Ready to Take the Next Step Toward Foster Care Adoption in Cleveland?
You do not need to be certain yet. Ask about the home study, available ages, timelines, or costs. We will give you straightforward answers so you can decide what feels right for your family.
Contact Open Arms Adoptions by phone, text, or the form below.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Frequently Asked Questions
Foster care adoption typically costs families very little. Eligible children may qualify for monthly adoption subsidies and Medicaid, while the federal adoption tax credit may offset remaining expenses. Contact Open Arms Adoptions for likely costs.
Generally, you must be at least 18 and complete required training, background checks, and a home study with a certified adoption assessor. We work with single parents, married couples, and LGBTQ+ families. You do not need to own a home.
Timelines vary based on training, the home study, and matching. Ohio requires the child to live with you for at least 6 months before finalization. Most families should plan for a year or more from inquiry to finalization.
Yes. We can submit an inquiry about a child whose profile interests you. You must have an approved home study, and the child’s county agency decides the best fit. An inquiry does not guarantee a match.
If you’re researching how to become a foster parent in Cleveland, Ohio, fostering is not required before adoption. You do not have to become a foster parent first to adopt a child already legally available for adoption. If you are already fostering a child who becomes available, Open Arms can support you through the adoption process.
Eligible children may continue receiving adoption subsidies and Medicaid after finalization. Ohio’s Bridges program supports young people who leave foster care as older teens. Open Arms also provides post-placement support and connects Cleveland families with local therapists and support groups.
