Getting Started With Adoption

At NOAS, we pride ourselves in providing Northeastern Ohio kids with loving families like you!

 

The adoption program lies at the heart of NOAS

NOAS is dedicated to developing and supporting lifelong adoptive families for children who cannot be reunited with their families of origin.

Each year there are more than 4,000 Ohio children waiting for a forever family. You don’t have to be the perfect parent or have all the answers.

Our professional team is here to provide preparation, assessment, and ongoing support to families like yourself who to want to provide a lifelong connection to children and teens in foster care.

HERE IS HOW OUR TEAM WILL SUPPORT YOU

  • Preparing The Child

    Becoming part of a new family is exciting and scary for children. The children we serve have often waited for years for a permanent home. The NOAS team are passionate about their commitment to children and the importance of a forever family. They work closely with every child to help them understand their past and move toward a brighter future. We believe that knowing a child well prior to placing them in an adoptive home greatly increases the likelihood of success for all involved.

  • Child Specific Recruitment

    Our team members plan and implement a specific research-based strategy for finding families for kids. A recruitment plan is specifically designed for each child taking into account his/her unique personality. We use photos, videos, community events and word of mouth to advocate for each child’s right to a family to call his/her own. Special efforts are made to keep siblings together.

  • Training

    Potential adoptive families attend education groups. These classes are geared to help parents decide if adopting a waiting child is right for them. Potential adoptive and foster parents are trained together, and at the end of the groups, folks can decide to pursue adoption, foster care, or both. Click Here for a list of upcoming classes.

  • Family Assessment

    Along with NOAS Permanency Planning Specialists, parents will focus on assessing their own skills and deciding what type of child(ren) will be right for them. There will be ample time for questions. If a family chooses to be both foster and adoptive parents, a single assessment is all that is needed. Foster families who wish to adopt are given full consideration, as we recognize the importance of stability for children. Generally, a family assessment is completed within 5-6 months after the receipt of the family’s application. The assessment needs to be updated every two years.

  • Learning About Foster Youth

    Foster youth are what this is all about! From the first contact with NOAS, families can learn about children who are waiting for adoptive families. If parents are interested in a child on referral to NOAS there will be ample opportunity to talk with the NOAS worker who knows that child(ren) best. We feel this is an essential ingredient in the recipe for success. Click here to learn more about the foster youth who are waiting for a permanent family.

  • Matching

    Placements are not made based on how long a family has been waiting, but rather through a matching process. Through a team effort involving both parents and social workers, a match is made by considering the child’s needs and the family’s ability to meet those needs.

  • Visiting

    Visiting plans are developed with all the parties involved and vary due to the child’s age, travel distance, and other factors. During this time initial plans will be made for school enrollment and other services the child needs. The number of visits is based on the best interest of the child or children being placed in the home.

  • Placement

    Both before and after a child is placed with an adoptive family, the NOAS team are there to assist the family. The team is sensitive and knowledgeable about the process and the feelings all family members experience. They are available to offer help, support, and encouragement. Once a placement has occurred, a caseworker will continue to visit the home at least once a month.

  • Legalization

    When the family is ready to take the final step to make the new family permanent, (generally 6-12 months after placement) the NOAS team will be there to help. They work with the courts to complete the necessary paperwork and accompany the family on this most important day.

  • Post-Adoption Services

    After an adoption is legalized, our agency’s required involvement comes to an end, however, the NOAS team remain available to families whenever there is a need–whether it is 3 months or 3 years after legalization. A home visitor can assist families in locating needed services, linking them with respite, or just connect adoptive families with one another for support.

  • Openness

    Since many of the children placed are school-age or older and know their identifying information, NOAS supports the concept of openness in regards to adoption. Many children have important connections with foster parents or family members from their past which need to be maintained.

Ready To Take The Next Steps?

Download the information packet and attend a one-on-one orientation to learn more about what it means to be an adoptive parent.

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