Ohio Adoption Services
PROVIDING ADOPTION SERVICES TO FAMILIES IN THE STATE OF OHIO
America World Adoption - Ohio is licensed and Hague accredited in the State of Ohio. America World provides adoption services to all families in Ohio. Although our primary role is to provide home study services for families adopting through America World, we are also able to prepare a home study and post-adoption reports for families using other placement agencies and who meet America World's agency requirements. Our office is located in Parma, but we are able to provide services for families living throughout the state.
Ohio Home Study Services
The Home Study is a major part of the adoption process designed to help you, America World, the US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), and the foreign government assesses your ability to provide a loving home for an orphan. A home study is an assessment process that provides a written report that is a comprehensive picture of your background, current family life, and how this new child will be integrated into your family. It is designed to be a non-judgmental, educational and fruitful process. Some of the topics discussed during the home study process are the motivation for adoption, expectations regarding adoption: short-term and long-term, attitude towards biological parents, type of child desired: age, sex, medical or emotional concerns, and attitudes of extended family and non-resident siblings. Your home study coordinator will also explore your values related to parenting, marriage, finances, spiritual beliefs, and child-care plans.
These discussions will all take place during four face-to-face visits, one of which must be in your home. For residents in the State of Ohio, state and federal criminal record checks, child abuse registry checks, and references will be obtained. You will need to provide a copy of your birth certificate, marriage license, financial documentation, and medical statements for all members of the family. You will need to take a 3-hour cultural class offered by the State of Ohio. You will also need a fire inspection and well water test if applicable. All of these items will be collected and reported in the home study. If you will have 5 or more children in your home after adoption an additional large family assessment will need to be completed.
Ohio Post-Adoption Services
America World - Ohio also provides post-adoption services for your adoption. Post-adoption visits are vital to helping an adoptive family adjust and transition to a new family unit. We will visit your family in your home to assess your transition and write a post-adoption report. Each country and even some states have its own post-adoption requirements. Your social worker will ensure that all state, agency, and country requirements are met in your post-adoptive reports. At a minimum, you will be required to have at least two post-adoption visits.
In addition to post-adoption visits and reports, we will be available to offer adoption support and referrals for special services, adoption education, and/or adoption training.
How to Begin
If you are adopting through America World, you will begin by completing an application online. Once your application has been approved and we have received your program agreements, Jennifer Knight will contact you to initiate the home study.
If you are not using America World as your placing agency but would like to use our local social services in Ohio, you may fill out the application online and choose "Social Services Only" under Application Type. The application fee for a social-service-only case is reduced to $295. The Post-adoption-only reports have an application fee of $95.
Once the application is processed, Jennifer will contact you and will work directly with you and your placement agency to ensure all requirements are met in your home study and post-adoption reports. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Knight.
Contact Info
America World - OHIO
Parma, OH 44134
9 AM - 5 PM ET
Phone: 703-215-8573
Fax: 888-466-8922
ohio@awaa.org
Jennifer Knight Ohio Director of Social Services