Become a foster / adoptive parent
What is the difference between foster, foster-to-adopt and adopt-only?
Foster/Adoptive Parent Eligibility Requirements
Foster and Adoptive Parent Pre-service Training Sessions
What our foster and adoptive parents say about us...
Thank you for your interest in adoption and fostering through Stark County Job and Family Services, Children Services Division! We are excited to work with your family as you begin the process to become a foster and/or adoptive parent. Parenting is a big step and our job is to help your family every step of the way.
To be considered as a potential adoptive parent for a waiting child, you MUST have a completed and approved homestudy on file with an agency. Out of state homestudies are welcome!
Our Program
What is the difference between foster, foster-to-adopt and adopt-only?
Foster-only and foster-to-adopt families obtain a license from the Ohio Job and Family Services. Both types of families may take children who are in the temporary or permanent custody of SCJFS into their home. The difference between these types of families is foster-to-adopt families have the ultimate goal of adoption. However, regardless of being foster-only or foster-to-adopt, your family is expected to work with SCJFS to reunify children with birth families.
An adopt-only family obtains an approval, with no license that needs renewed. Adopt-only families may only take children who are in the permanent custody of SCJFS into their home.
Please feel free to speak with our SCJFS Recruitment Specialist at (330) 451-8789 to determine what program will work best for you and your family.
Foster/Adoptive Parent Eligibility Requirements
If you have specific question regarding foster and adoptive parenting in Stark County, please call our foster/adoptive parent recruitment line at (330) 451-8789 or email us at STARK_CS_INQUIRY@odjfs.state.oh.us.
General Requirements
You may apply to be a licensed foster/adoptive parent through Stark County JFS if you:
- Are at least 21 years of age
- Single or married, with no change in marital status for at least one year
- Able to provide proof of sufficient income to meet the needs of the household
- Complete BCII, FBI, and Children Services background checks with no prohibitive offences
- Provide a safe and healthy home for a child
- Complete 38 hours of Pre-service training. Click here to see a list of pre-service trainings available.
Foster and Adoptive Parent Pre-service Training Sessions
Stark County Job and Family Services, Children Services Division is committed to providing the highest quality of training for prospective foster and adoptive parents. All trainers are certified by the State of Ohio and possess the knowledge, experience and skills to teach and guide prospective foster and adoptive families.
Pre-service Topics:
PS1-S: Orientation and Overview
PS2-S: ODJFS Rules & Team Building
PS3-S: The Effects of Child Abuse/Neglect & Development
PS4-S: Attachment, Separation & Placement
PS5-S: Managing Behavior (Discipline)
PS6-S: Preventing & De-Escalating Crisis
PS7-S: Cultural Issues
PS8-S: Understanding Primary Families
PS9-S: Sexual Abuse
PS10-S: The Effects of Care giving
PS11-S: Permanency for Children
PS12-S: Permanency for Families
SCJFS Policies and Procedures (3 hours)
These Pre-service training sessions are mandatory to complete the foster and adoption licensure/approval process.
*Newly licensed /approved families are required to complete the following workshops within the first year of licensure/approval:
- ”Recovering and Responding to Children Who Have Been Sexually Abused”
- CPR/First Aide
Why We Need You...
At times, there are events that happen in the lives of children that jeopardize their safety and well-being. It is sometimes necessary for those children to be removed from their home. If at all possible, SCJFS strives to place children with family members or friends prior to searching for a foster home. However, when this is not possible, placement in a foster home is needed. Currently, there is a great need for both foster and adoptive parents, and an even greater need for foster and adoptive parents who are willing to accept placement of teenagers, special needs children, sibling groups and minorities.
What our foster and adoptive parents say about us...
“ I would say the most rewarding experience of being a Foster/Adoptive parent is the progress that each child makes with a little attention and a lot of love. There is nothing better then hearing them tell you ‘I love you’ after three months earlier they said they hate you.”
~Jennifer (SCJFS foster and adoptive parent)
“I call this the hardest job I have ever had in my entire life. The rewards are awesome though, when you see the happiness on the children’s faces…It doesn’t take a lot of money to make these kids happy…It takes a lot of hugs, a lot of ‘It’s okay,’ and a lot of being a family.”
~Marge (SCJFS foster and adoptive parent)
“I didn’t think I would be able to handle this. Some days it seems overwhelming, but as the story goes… ‘A little boy was walking on a beach and saw millions of starfish stranded on the beach. One by one he began to throw them back into the water when a stranger yells to the boy, “You’re wasting your time! What does it matter…you can’t save them all.” The little boy replied, “It matters to this one”, as he threw it into the ocean.
~Greg (SCJFS foster and adoptive parent)
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