Cleveland Adoption & Foster Care Resources

Downtown Cleveland during spring day.
Whether you are interested in adopting or are considering an adoption plan for your baby in the Cleveland area, there are many local adoption and foster care resources available to you. The following provides information about Cleveland adoption agencies, home study providers and other useful services in and around Cleveland, Ohio.

Cleveland Adoption Professionals and Adoption Agencies

Most prospective birth parents and hopeful adoptive families work with an adoption professional to receive the services and support they need throughout the adoption process. Some adoptive and birth parents prefer to work with a local or regional adoption agency. The following adoption professionals are based in Cleveland and can ensure that you meet all Ohio requirements as you move through the adoption process:

American Adoptions
American Adoptions of Ohio 20 S. 3^rd Street, Suite 210, Columbus, OH 43215
Adoption Network Cleveland
Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland
Adoption Circle
Caring for Kids, Inc.

Become a Foster Parent in Cleveland

If you are interested in fostering a child in or near Cleveland, you will need to meet all Ohio requirements for foster parents and complete the home study process. The requirements to become a foster parent in Ohio include:

Be at least 21 years old
Participate in a training and assessment process
Complete the home study process, including criminal background and child abuse registry checks, as well as medical statements and a home safety audit

For more information about foster care and foster-to-adopt placements in Cleveland and throughout the rest of the state, visit the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The following local agencies and resources can also provide additional information about becoming a foster parent in the Cleveland area:

Northeast Ohio Adoption Services
Applewood Centers Inc.
Bellefaire JCB
Cuyahoga County Children & Family Services

Completing the Home Study in Cleveland

The home study is an important step in every foster care and adoption journey. The Ohio home study process includes personal interviews with all members of the household (as age appropriate), criminal records and child abuse registry checks, a safety inspection of the home, and collection of important documents. For more information about home study requirements in Ohio, visit our state adoption page.
When you are ready to begin the home study process, contact any of these legally qualified home study providers in the Cleveland area:
Near Cleveland:

Building Blocks Adoption Service, Inc.866-321-2367
Building Blocks Adoptions is an Ohio-licensed Christian adoption agency that offers services through its domestic, embryo and international adoption programs.

In Ohio:

Adoption by Gentle Care800-824-9633Adoption by Gentle Care is a state licensed, nonprofit, full service adoption agency whose accredited adoption assessors offer domestic adoption home studies throughout Ohio.
Adoption Circle800-927-7222
Adoption Circle is a state licensed, full-service, nonprofit adoption agency that provides home study and other services to adoptive families and birth parents in Ohio.
Adoption STAR
513-631-3900
Adoption STAR will conduct home studies for prospective clients in Ohio as well as New York and Florida.

Hospitals in Cleveland

If you are an expectant mother and you choose adoption for your baby, you will have control over your hospital stay when it is time to deliver. You will create a hospital plan, including your preferences for who is in the delivery room with you, how much interaction you will have with the adoptive family, and more.
Your adoption professional will inform the hospital of your plan ahead of time to ensure a smooth labor and delivery process. When you are ready to make your hospital plan, here are some local Cleveland hospitals that you may be able to work with:

Fairview Hospital
18101 Lorain Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44111
216-476-7000
Hillcrest Hospital
6780 Mayfield Rd.
Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
440-312-4500
Lakewood Hospital
14519 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
216-521-4200
Medina Hospital
1000 E. Washington Street
Medina, OH 44256
330-725-1000
UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital
2101 Adelbert Road
Cleveland, OH 44106
216-844-3941
Southwest General Hospital
18697 Bagley Road
Middleburg Heights, OH 44130
440-816-8000

Visit 1800HomeStudy.com to learn more about Ohio home study providers.

Adoption Laws and Qualifications

Many hopeful parents and pregnant women considering adoption have questions about Cleveland adoption laws, qualifications and processes. Adoption law is determined by the state and is the same in Cleveland as it is in Columbus, Cincinnati and anywhere else in the state. Below, learn about some of the laws impacting Ohio adoptions.
Laws For Birth Parents
Many birth mothers and fathers have questions about the laws, rules and qualifications for placing a baby for adoption in Cleveland. Information about adoption consent, relinquishment, Ohio paternity laws and more is included in our Ohio adoption information.
Laws For Adoptive Families
In Ohio, state laws determine the adoption expenses that can be paid by adoptive families, the requirements for finalizing an international adoption, the use of advertising and facilitators, and more. An outline of laws and regulations for adoptive families in Ohio is available on our state adoption information page.
County Courts
If you are adopting a child in Cleveland, Ohio, your adoption will be finalized in court. Find your local courthouse and other information about finalizing your adoption in your county:

Things to do in Cleveland

Many parents who adopt from Ohio end up spending some time in Cleveland, either visiting prospective birth parents or waiting for their ICPC paperwork to be processed. If your adoption plan brings you to the Cleveland area, consider visiting:

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
West Side Market
Cleveland Botanical Garden