CARING FOR KIDS INC

FOSTER CARE PROGRAM - DURING THE 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR, CFK PROVIDED CARE FOR 186 CHILDREN. FOSTER CARE HAS BEEN THE FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAM OF CFK FOR OVER 20 YEARS BY CERTIFYING FOSTER CAREGIVERS AND THUS, PROVIDING SAFE AND NURTURING HOMES FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN THE CUSTODY OF CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES. OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN COMING INTO FOSTER CARE RESULTING IN A CONSTANT NEED TO RECRUIT AND CERTIFY NEW FOSTER CAREGIVERS. OHIO CHILDREN ARE ENTERING FOSTER CARE AT A RATE NEVER BEFORE SEEN. THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE INCREASE IN NUMBERS OF CHILDREN COMING INTO CARE REVOLVE AROUND PARENTAL DRUG ADDICTION AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SOMETIMES, CHILDREN DO NOT RETURN HOME, AND FOSTER CAREGIVERS ARE NEEDED TO NOT ONLY FOSTER BUT TO ADOPT CHILDREN WHO ARE PLACED WITH THEM. 50 OF THE 186 PLACEMENTS SWITCHED FROM FOSTER TO ADOPTION STATUS.

ADOPTION PROVIDES A PERMANENT PLAN FOR A CHILD AND REPRESENTS A LIFELONG COMMITMENT. CHILDREN OF ALL AGES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION THROUGH PRIVATE DOMESTIC ADOPTION OR THE PUBLIC CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. PRIVATE DOMESTIC INFANT PROGRAM: DURING THE 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR CFK PROVIDED SERVICES TO 131 EXPECTING PARENTS IN OHIO. THESE PARENTS EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT MAKING AN ADOPTION PLAN FOR THEIR NEWBORN OR PREVIOUSLY MADE AN ADOPTION PLAN. CFK PROVIDES PRE-AND POSTADOPTION COUNSELING, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, EDUCATION ON THE STATE OF OHIO ADOPTION LAWS AND PREPARES THE SOCIAL AND MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE BIRTH PARENT(S). CFK WORKS WITH EXPECTANT PARENT(S) AND PRE-ADOPTIVE FAMILIES TO CREATE A PLAN RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE INVOLVED, AS WELL AS PROVIDE COUNSELING AND SUPPORT SERVICES. CFK IS COMMITTED TO A THOUGHTFUL PROCESS AND OFFERS EXTENSIVE SUPPORT FOR THE ADOPTIVE PARENTS, THE EXPECTANT PARENTS, AND THE CHILDREN. CFK BELIEVES WORKING TOGETHER ALLOWS FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE MATCH WHICH WILL BENEFIT ALL MEMBERS OF THE ADOPTION TRIAD. CFK PLACED 27 NEWBORNS DURING THE 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR. PUBLIC ADOPTION - CFK MATCHED 6 CHILDREN AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION FROM THE PUBLIC CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM DURING THE 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR. CHILDREN ARE MATCHED WITH ADOPTIVE FAMILIES BASED UPON THE ABILITY OF THE FAMILY TO MEET THE CHILD'S NEEDS.