State Waiting Adoption Program

What is an Older Child Adoption?

An older child adoption is the adoption of a child that is typically age 5 and over from the state foster care system.

What is a State Waiting Adoption?

A state waiting adoption is the adoption of a child or sibling group that is in the custody of the state.  Children in state care will be legally available for permanent placement into an adoptive home.
The process to adopt these children can be long and emotional.  Many of the children have been victims of abuse and neglect. This does not mean that these children do not desire or need loving supportive families who will guide them to be the best they can be and to provide them with a sense of love and belonging.

Older Child Adoption 

Our adoption agency provides guidance and matching services to adoptive families seeking to adopt older children from foster care.
With this type of adoption numerous sibling groups of all sizes, older children, special needs children and individuals that are about to “age out” of the system are available for placement.
Children who reside in children service care often suffer many losses and do not know much about commitment, trust or the stability of a family. Often these children require more attention so they can transition into their new home.
When adopting an older child for adoption, the state will often provide access to:

• Medicaid for their medical needs
• subsidy to help fund:
  • tutoring
  • special education
  • camps and other activities that would aid in their transition to a permanent environment and help them to succeed.

All children deserve the right to belong to a loving family. No child has asked to be put in the situation where they lack permanency.

The Process for an Older Child Adoption

Building Blocks Adoption Service, Inc. will assist you with an homestudy to meet the requirements for this type of adoption.
Starting the Adoption process for Older Child Adoption

1. Complete our Application for Adoption
2. Obtain access into the adoption portal
3. Read and complete an adoption contract
4. When our staff receives all documents from the contract packet we will then release the next set of documents within the adoption portal to start your adoption process.
5. Start your homestudy
6. BBAS will provide you with the necessary information to locate children available for permanent placement.  You can search here in Ohio as well as Nationwide.
7. Matching Process:  If you see a child that you would like to inquire about, we will send your homestudy and any additional paperwork to the child’s specific caseworker for review and consideration.
8. Once you find the child that you would like to adopt, Building Blocks Adoption Service Inc. will work with that child’s caseworker and you, the adoptive family in completing the requirements to adopt the child you desire.

Our adoption agency can assist Ohio families with the necessary training, home study, paperwork requirements and legal direction/advice for an older child adoption.

It is time to make a difference in the life of a child waiting for a family in which he/she can belong.

Older Child from care Adoption Program

Fees

$6,500 not including finalization fees or multiple placements.
Subsidies may be available for children being adopted within the state programs.  Some states do pay agency fees once a family is matched with a child or sibling groups.
Building Blocks Adoption is licensed by the State of Ohio to perform adoption services including assisting with the match of an older child with adoptive families. Our adoption agency will be your advocate when seeking a placement of a child from state foster care systems.

 Parent Eligibility

• Ohio residents only
• Single women, single men, all married couples
• Good health
• No prohibitive criminal record *(additional details below)
• Meets state financial requirements
• No age restrictions
• One parent must be a United States citizen

Children Available

• Typically single children ages 6 and older are waiting
• Sibling groups of 3 or more. Ages of siblings groups can be ages 7 and younger.
• Special Needs Children
• Adoptable Children can be African American, Asian, Hispanic, Caucasian, or Bi-racial/Multi-racial
• Children in the state system typically can be victims of abuse or neglect

 Timeframe

Families have completed their adoptions within 6 months of homestudy approval to several months. Much depends on the family’s flexibility with characteristics of the child and the state/county response to inquiries.

Travel

Parents should expect to travel and visit the child according to the child’s needs. If the child resides outside the State of Ohio you will be required to travel out of state several times for visitation and bonding. Factors for visits is determined by the entity holding custody and will be dependent on the age of the child(ren), location and their situation.

Building Blocks Adoption will help Ohio residents seeking to adopt an older child by:

• Providing social services such as the homestudy assessment, prefinalizations, match meetings and court appearances
• Educate adoptive families on the needs of state waiting children
• Assist adoptive parents with locating a child from the state foster care system both in the State of Ohio and Nationwide
• Mail, fax or email your profile to county agencies with adoption programs here in the State of Ohio or Nationwide and advocate for a referral of a child that meets your criteria
• Provide links to photo listings of state waiting children
• View photo listings, flyer’s and mailings from county and state agencies and present waiting children with appropriate criteria to adoptive families
• Send your homestudy to state and county agencies
• Provide subsidy and tax credit information
• Guide families through the matching process
• Assist in arranging the meeting with the child
• Assistance with interstate compact documentation (ICPC) for children residing outside the State of Ohio
• Prefinalization and finalization services
• Most importantly: “Being there” during and after your adoption placement!

*Adoptive applicants who have been convicted of:

• felony child abuse or neglect
• spousal abuse
• a crime against children (including child pornography)
• or a crime involving violence
• including rape
• sexual assault
• homicide but not including other types of physical assault or battery
• or the applicant has been convicted of a felony for physical assault, battery, excessive alcohol related offense
• or drug-related offense within the past 5 years may not adopt.
• If you have questions about any type of criminal record, contact our office for a list of disqualifying offenses.

** Timeframes are estimated

• Online Forms and Contact Info

  • Application for Adoption Services
  • Request Information About Adoption Services 
  • Contact us!
  • Unplanned Pregnancy Help?
  • Pregnant? Have Questions? Text Us 
  • Call us! 866-321-2367
  • Seeking to place your child for adoption

  BBAS.org – Building Blocks Adoption Service Inc.