If you are looking for an adoption agency in Lancaster, Ohio, Open Arms Adoptions works with families across the city and throughout Fairfield County. We are a nonprofit, licensed organization by the State of Ohio, and we support prospective adoptive parents throughout their adoption process and provide free, confidential assistance to expectant and birth parents.
Our team covers every adoption pathway available in Ohio: infant adoption, foster care adoption, sibling adoption, special needs adoption, independent and identified adoption, and adoption by LGBTQ+ families.
You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out. If you are ready to explore your options, contact us today. We will answer your questions, explain what comes next, and help you move forward at your own pace.
Adoption Services We Offer in Lancaster
In Ohio, over 3,000 children in foster care are waiting for an adoptive family. Many are older or part of sibling groups that need to stay together. Likewise, there are expectant parents seeking loving families who can raise their baby. Lancaster families can help give these children their forever home.
Infant Adoption
Open Arms works directly with expectant parents who are making an adoption plan, so matches happen through our agency rather than through a third party. We assist you in preparing your family profile, handle matching, and coordinate hospital planning and legal steps.
Foster Care Adoption
About two in three of our placements come through foster care. These children have experienced abuse, neglect, or other circumstances that led to their placement in foster care and can benefit from adoptive parents prepared to meet their needs. We provide training, certification, and post-placement support.
Sibling, Special Needs, Independent, and LGBTQ+ Adoption
We place sibling groups together wherever possible, support families adopting children with medical or developmental needs, and handle independent and identified adoptions. We also welcome single parents, LGBTQ+ couples, and families of every background.
While most adoption agencies in Ohio serving the Lancaster area handle one of these pathways, Open Arms Adoptions handles all of them, allowing you to change direction without changing agencies. If you are still exploring your options, getting started with adoption in Ohio can help you understand the steps and decide which questions to ask next.
Confidential Support for Birth Parents in Lancaster
If you are pregnant and considering placing the baby for adoption, you can talk with us without committing to anything. Our support is free and confidential, and you can stop at any time.
Our support may include:
- Counseling before and after birth
- Legal representation at no cost to you
- Coordination of prenatal and delivery care
- Guidance about open adoption in Ohio, as well as semi-open and closed adoption
If you decide to go through with this journey, here are some things you can expect:
- You have a say in choosing your baby's family. You can review profiles of waiting adoptive families and take as much time as you need to make a decision.
- The birth mother’s expenses can be covered. Ohio law allows certain living expenses to be covered during pregnancy and for a period after birth. Your certified adoption assessor can explain which expenses may qualify under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3107.
- There’s a 72-hour waiting period. The required consent to adoption generally cannot be executed until at least 72 hours after the child's birth. Once signed, consent generally cannot be revoked except in limited circumstances under Ohio law.
Learn more about our birth parent services and reach out when you’re ready. You can ask questions without making a commitment.
Why Lancaster Families Choose Open Arms Adoptions
Choosing an adoption agency in Ohio is a big decision. And with us, Lancaster families can find experienced support close to home.
A Licensed Nonprofit
Open Arms Adoptions is a licensed nonprofit, not a for-profit placement business. Our certified adoption assessors work with you from your first conversation through finalization, providing consistent support throughout the process.
Local Support
Our Columbus office at 1733 Lane Avenue is about 33 miles from Lancaster, roughly a 35-minute drive via US-33. Meetings are available by appointment. Home studies and post-placement visits take place in your Fairfield County home.
Support Throughout the Adoption Process
We work with both birth parents and adoptive parents, giving our team experience with the different needs involved in adoption. This allows us to provide needed coordinated support throughout the process, from matching through post-placement.
One of our adoptive families put it this way:
"Throughout our process of certifying with and adopting through Open Arms Adoptions, I have been blown away by the level of support."
- Benjamin and Elizabeth
Fees, timelines, and requirements are laid out in writing before you commit to anything. Take a closer look at why families trust Open Arms Adoptions.
How the Adoption Process Works in Fairfield County
In Ohio, adoptions may be handled through licensed private agencies such as Open Arms or through county Public Children Services Agencies (PCSAs). In Fairfield County, the public agency is Fairfield County Job and Family Services (FCJFS).
For families working with Open Arms, the process generally includes:
1. Inquiry and consultation:
We discuss your options, costs, and realistic timelines.
2. Orientation and training:
You complete required coursework on child development, trauma, and adoption rules.
3. Home study:
A certified adoption assessor conducts interviews, background checks, and home visits.
4. Matching:
Your family is presented to expectant parents or matched with a child waiting for an adoptive family.
5. Placement and post-placement visits:
Required visits take place after placement.
6. Finalization:
The adoption is finalized through the probate court.
For families searching for “adoption agency near me” online, Open Arms Adoptions may be the one you’re looking for. We can help you understand these steps to make the process feel less overwhelming. On top of that, we also handle the home study, matching, and post-placement visits, so families do not need to coordinate between multiple agencies.
Adoption Costs
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.
Lancaster and Fairfield County Communities We Serve
Lancaster is home to about 42,000 people, with more than one in five residents under 18. It’s a working city with deep roots and a strong sense of community.
Local anchors include Fairfield Medical Center, Ohio University Lancaster, Rising Park, and the AHA! Children’s Museum and the Sherman House Museum. With Columbus close enough for commuting, Lancaster families have access to both a larger metro area and their own local community.
We serve families throughout Fairfield County, including:
We also work with families in neighboring Hocking, Perry, Licking, and Franklin counties, as well as in Pickaway County, where you can read about our adoption services in Circleville.
Local Adoption Resources in Lancaster, Ohio
Several local and state offices may be involved in the adoption process:
Open Arms coordinates with these offices, so you do not have to track paperwork and run back and forth between agencies.
Ready to Take the Next Step Toward Adoption in Lancaster?
You do not need a plan to begin. Many families and expectant parents reach out while still deciding whether adoption is right for them. Starting with a question is okay.
Contact Open Arms Adoptions by phone, text, or the form below. You can take the next step from there.
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Open Arms Adoptions?
Frequently Asked Questions
For families in Lancaster and throughout Fairfield County, we offer infant adoption, foster care adoption, sibling adoption, special needs adoption, independent and identified adoption, and LGBTQ+ adoption. Open Arms Adoptions is a licensed nonprofit agency serving Central Ohio.
Costs vary by adoption type. Foster care adoption typically costs families very little, while private infant adoption costs vary by case. Eligible families may qualify for adoption subsidies, Medicaid, the Ohio Adoption Grant Program, or the federal adoption tax credit.
It depends on the pathway. Infant adoption commonly takes 12 to 24 months or longer, since matching depends on expectant parents choosing your family. Foster care timelines depend on a child's availability and court proceedings. Ohio requires at least six months of placement before finalization.
Yes. Open Arms Adoptions welcomes LGBTQ+ individuals and couples and provides the same adoption services and support throughout the process, from the adoption home study to finalization.
A home study assesses your household, background, and readiness to adopt. It typically includes interviews, background checks, and a home visit. Open Arms certified adoption assessors conduct home studies throughout Fairfield County.
Ohio requires a waiting period of at least 72 hours after birth before a birth mother can sign a permanent surrender. Once signed, consent generally cannot be revoked except under narrow circumstances defined in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3107.
