|
Becoming an Adoptive Parent Every child deserves a chance to grow up in a safe and loving family. Yet in Cuyahoga County alone, approximately 4,600 children are in the permanent custody of the county. If not adopted, these children could spend the remainder of their childhoods in foster care or institutions. Since 1976, Beech Brook's Spaulding Adoption Program has specialized in finding families for children who need a special kind of parenting. Beech Brook provides a wide range of child-focused adoption services and support that begins before a child is placed in the home and continues through the post-legalization period. If you're thinking about adoption, we'd like to hear from you. Call Beech Brook at (216) 831-2255 or contact us at adoption@beechbrook.org. Frequently Asked Questions About Adopting a Child with Special Needs What kinds of children are available for adoption through Beech Brook? Beech Brook specializes in the placement of school-age children and sibling groups. Many of the children have special needs. "Special needs" may be defined as children who:
Beech Brook does not hold custody of the children. They are generally referred by other child-placing agencies, such as the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services. Who can adopt a child with special needs? There is no typical family. Anyone over the age of 18 who has an income adequate to meet financial obligations is eligible to adopt children. You may be:
The ideal family, whatever its form or lifestyle, must be willing to make a long-term commitment to meeting the needs of their adopted child with unconditional love and support. Are there any fees involved in adopting a child with special needs? No. There are no fees for families who adopt through Beech Brook. In fact, adoption subsidies are available to help families adopting children with special needs. Each child receives a monthly stipend until at least age 18. A Medicaid card, entitling the child to medical and mental health care, is also available until the child is at least age 18. How does the adoption process work? The first step is to call the Spaulding Adoption Program for more information. If you'd like to move ahead at that point, you'll be invited to attend a two-hour information session to learn more about adopting a child with special needs. If you'd like to move ahead with the adoptive process after that, you'll participate in 24 hours of adoptive parent training. The next step is the home study, which is usually completed within six months. Once the home study is finished, you'll be ready for the placement of a child or children in your family. (NOTE: Beech Brook home studies are completed only for families interested in adopting children with special needs.) Beech Brook also provides foster-to-adopt services for parents who choose to make their foster child a permanent member of the family. What kind of support is available from Beech Brook? Once a child or children are placed in your home, a Beech Brook adoption worker will be available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Beech Brook adoptive families also have access to:
You may also like to visit the statewide AdoptOHIO web site at http://www.state.oh.us/odhs/oapl/
|