OPEN ARMS ADOPTIONS INC

OPEN ARMS ADOPTIONS WORKS WITH WOMEN IN CRISIS OVER AN UNPLANNED PREGNANCY AS WELL AS FAMILIES HOPING TO ADOPT NEWBORN BABIES. OAA PROVIDES 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 ENSURE 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. THE AGENCY ALSO WORKS TO MATCH CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE WHO ARE AWAITING ADOPTION WITH FAMILIES EQUIPPED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IN THIS AREA IS KEEPING SIBLINGS TOGETHER. MANY CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM ARE SEPARATED FROM THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS OR ARE AT RISK OF BEING SEPARATED UPON THEIR MOVE TO AN ADOPTIVE HOME. OPEN ARMS SEEKS FAMILIES WHO ARE OPEN TO A SIBLING GROUP AND PROVIDES SPECIALIZED TRAINING TO ASSIST IN THIS TRANSITION. AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, THE AGENCY PARTNERS WITH STATE AND COUNTY CHILDREN'S SERVICES AGENCIES WHO HAVE CUSTODY OF THESE CHILDREN. DURING FYE 6.30.24, OPEN ARMS PLACED 40 CHILDREN INCLUDING 11 INFANTS, 6 INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN FROM FOSTER CARE AND 10 SIBLING GROUPS (23 CHILDREN IN THOSE GROUPS). WE PROVIDED INFORMATION AND/OR COUNSELING SERVICES TO OVER 80 WOMEN. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDED TRAINING TO 43 FAMILIES HOPING TO ADOPT. OUR GOALS FOR FYE 6.30.25 CONTINUES TO BE TO INCREASE OUR OUTREACH TO PROFESSIONALS WHO MAY COME INTO CONTACT WITH WOMEN WHO NEED OUR SERVICES. THERE CONTINUE TO BE UNLICENSED AND UNREGULATED ENTITIES MARKETING THEMSELVES TO WOMEN IN OTHER STATES, INCLUDING OHIO. WE HOPE TO EDUCATE PROVIDERS AS TO THE VALUE OF A LOCAL LICENSED AGENCY WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH ESSENTIAL RESOURCES OUR BIRTH MOMS REQUIRE. IT IS ALSO OUR GOAL TO CONTINUE TO RECRUIT AND EDUCATE FAMILIES OF THE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO ADOPT CHILDREN FROM FOSTER CARE.

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 6.30.24, OAA ASSISTED IN THE PLACEMENT OF 29 CHILDREN FROM FOSTER CARE INTO THEIR PERMANENT FAMILIES. THIS INCLUDES PLACEMENT OF 10 SIBLING GROUPS.