Adopting a Baby in Ohio

If you are interested in adopting a baby in Ohio, you likely have many questions about what types of adoption are available to you and what kinds of assistance to expect.

No two adoptions are exactly the same, and there are many factors to consider when making your choice about the type of adoption you will pursue. Your family structure, life situation, and priorities in life will all be a part of your decision. There are adoption specialists in Ohio with the expertise and experience to meet you where you are and to help you grow your family.

This guide will help you find the right type of professional if you are considering adopting a baby in Ohio, and give you guidance on taking your next steps.

Adoption Agencies in Ohio

Adoption agencies in Ohio are comprised of adoption specialists, lawyers, social workers, and other professionals who are well-suited to guide you through your adoption. They are licensed and regulated organizations whose assistance increases your chances of completing an adoption in Ohio.

The three main types of adoption agencies are:

• Foster Care Adoption Agencies
• International Adoption Agencies
• Private Domestic Adoption Agencies

If you want to adopt a newborn in Ohio, then you’ll most likely need to work with a private domestic adoption agency.

Who Works with Private Domestic Adoption Agencies

The most common form of adoption is private domestic adoption, which is ideal for the following people:

• Those who want to begin bonding with a child at the beginning of its life: The average age of an adopted child in the other types of adoption is two years old. Many hopeful adoptive parents desire a relationship with their child from the onset of their life, and this is a primary motivation for them to choose private domestic adoption.
• Those who want to adopt from within the United States: International adoption can be complicated, uncertain, and expensive. Additionally, there is complexity involved in parenting a child from another culture or country. For many, their preference is to adopt a newborn from the US, and maybe even from Ohio.
• Have an open relationship with the child’s birth parents: Today the majority of adoptions are open or semi-open, which is beneficial for all involved. For many parents, knowing that they were chosen as adoptive parents for a child offers them a sense of purpose and confidence in their new role.

National Versus Local Agencies

After you have determined that private domestic adoption is right for your family, there is one more distinction between agencies to consider. You will find that agencies feature expertise in specific types of adoption (like single-parent or same-sex), but it is important also to distinguish between national and local agencies.

National agencies: National agencies offer an unparalleled range of services and of adoption opportunities for those wanting to adopt a baby in Ohio. They partner with birth mothers all over the country. This alone decreases your wait time. They are a one-stop shop for all your adoption needs and, unlike many local agencies, do not require you to utilize services outside their agency to complete an adoption.

National Private Adoption agencies are equipped to offer the following:

• Guidance while completing the APQ: The Adoptive Planning Questionnaire (APQ) is an important document that those wanting to adopt an infant in Ohio fill out. It helps identify adoption opportunities that would be the best fit for their family. Adoption specialists from an agency support adoptive parents as they ask themselves sometimes difficult questions about the kind of adoption opportunity that is right for them.
• Legal guidance: Adoption is a legal process and, therefore, requires the assistance of legal professionals to complete. Private domestic agencies in Ohio will employ the services of an attorney (or refer you to a trusted lawyer) who is an expert in Ohio adoption law to ensure that legal requirements are met.
• Advertisement to prospective birth mothers:– Adoption agencies foster a relationship with both prospective birth mothers and hopeful adoptive families, and they use their resources to support the matching process. With the help of a private agency in Ohio, you will create a family profile that will serve as an introduction to the group of prospective birth mothers they serve. This, in large part, will guide the birth mothers’ decision.
• Adoption Education and Support: At various points in the process of adopting a newborn in Ohio, questions will come up, and you will want guidance from a professional. Agencies have adoption specialists available to give you the information you need.
• Home studies: A home study is a necessary step to adopt a baby in Ohio. It is an evaluative tool used to gain insight into the quality of life that will be offered to an adopted child. This process involves assessments of a hopeful adoptive family’s home and finances, background checks, and interviews.

For more information about national agencies, contact the following:

• American Adoptions
• American Adoptions of Ohio 20 S. 3^rd Street, Suite 210, Columbus, OH 43215
• Gladney Center for Adoption 
• Nightlight Christian Adoptions 

Local agencies: What often draws those wanting to adopt a baby to local agencies is the personal touch and face-to-face meetings they can often offer. Additionally, since they work with birth mothers from Ohio or an Ohio region, travel time is often less. The downside is that their list of services is often shorter, and families often must seek assistance from third parties to complete parts of the adoption process.

For more information, contact one of the following private domestic agencies in Ohio:

• Adoption by Gentle Care
• Building Blocks Adoption Service Inc.

How to Start Your Private Domestic Adoption in Ohio

It is common to feel overwhelmed after scratching the surface of adoption opportunities in Ohio. A helpful first step is to fill out our contact form. This will alert an adoption specialist to reach out to you and offer their expertise.