On May 24, Open Arms Adoptions officially moved into their new space in Kent.
Due to unprecedented growth over the past year, Open Arms Adoptions has found it necessary to hire more staff and social workers and we outgrew our other office.
We are excited to move into downtown Kent and think clients will find the location convenient.
Open Arms Adoptions recently welcomed Doreen, a social worker and certified adoption assessor. Doreen has worked in a variety of social service settings for almost 30 years now. We also welcomed Athena, our new licensing and training coordinator, and Jennifer K., is our new contract specialist. Tina is our new development specialist. You can learn more about our staff here.
Open Arms Adoptions currently employs eleven social workers, six support staff, and a temporary assistant.
Jackie Smigel, founder and Executive Director cannot believe how much the agency has grown since she started it in 2015.
Keep it honest, simple, and age-appropriate. Tell them a new brother or sister is joining your family, invite their questions, and validate all of their feelings. Match the details to their age, and protect the new sibling’s private story when you talk with others, including children already in your family.
Readiness looks different for everyone, but some common signs include feeling genuinely curious about adoption, imagining parenthood outside of pregnancy, and noticing that hope is slowly returning. You don’t need to feel fully healed. Emotional readiness is a gradual shift, not a sudden decision.
There is no required waiting period; readiness is personal, not time-based. What matters most is that you’ve had space to grieve and feel genuinely open to exploring a new path. Some families move toward adoption within months; others take years. Both are valid.
Open Arms Adoptions is 501(c)3 non-profit agency licensed by the State of Ohio.