Open Arms Adoptions

Open Arms Adoptions works with women in crisis over an unplanned pregnancy as well as families hoping to adopt newborn babies. Our services to women/couples whose infants are diagnosed (either prenatally or at birth) with complex medical conditions has also continued and culminated in the placement of 4 medically complex children during the past fiscal year. Oaa provides pre and post-adoption counseling, case management services and education services regarding options and Ohio rules and regulations surrounding adoption. Additionally, we gather information necessary to complete a report of social/medical background related to birth families. We assume custody of children voluntarily placed with us for adoption and facilitate an adoptive placement. Oaa works with birth parents and adoptive parents on creating a plan all are comfortable with and that meets the needs of each individual child. For adopting families, we provide ongoing support and post-placement services as well as assistance with finalizing Adoptions once the statutory time period has passed. During fye 6.30.23, we provided services to over 72 expectant/birth parents, resulting in 22 adoptive placements, including the 4 with complex medical needs. Our goals for fye 6.30.24 include continued outreach to professionals who may treat women in need of our services. We continue to see a large number of women referred to out-of-state "facilitators- or adoption agencies who are unfamiliar with Ohio adoption rules and regulations and who are unable to provide the level of support we believe is essential to our clients.

Oaa provides both pre-service and ongoing training to foster and adoptive parents. Our pre-service training exceeds that which is required by Ohio rules for both adoptive and licensed foster parents. This training focuses on attachment and trauma-informed parenting strategies designed to assist families with the healing their children require. Additionally, we offer opportunities at least 3 times monthly for families to meet their ongoing training requirements.

Open Arms Adoptions provides a full range of services to families hoping to adopt from the foster care system. Specifically, we provide families with education and homestudy services to assist in preparing families to adopt from foster care. We search both within Ohio as well as throughout the us in an attempt to "match" families with children whose needs they are able to meet. Open Arms provides support, case management, referral and other services necessary to families as they transition children into their homes as well as for a minimum of 6 months following placement (most longer). During fye 6.30.23, oaa assisted in the placement of 25 children from foster care into their permanent families. This includes the placement of 7 sibling groups.