Ohio Requirements | Foster Care & Adoptive Parents
All services provided to foster care/adoptive parents are without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, or religious affiliation.
Ohio Minimum Requirements to be a Licensed Foster/Adoptive Parent:
- Applicant(s) or at minimum, one applicant, must speak, read, and write English.
- Applicant(s) must be a legal U.S. Citizen.
- Applicant(s) must be at least 18 years of age.
- Applicant(s) may be married or single.
- Applicant(s) may own a home or rent and have a safe, stable home with enough space for additional child(ren).
- Applicant(s) must be accepting of a child who is not your birth child.
- Applicant(s) must have sufficient income to meet the needs of Applicant'(s) family and make timely payment of shelter costs, utility bills, and other debts.
- Applicant(s) will complete a home study assessment by a certified adoption assessor, which indicates the prospective parent(s) would be suitable and ready to provide foster/adoptive care.
Background Records/Checks:
- Applicant(s) and other household individuals must not have been convicted of any criminal offense(s) as referenced in current Foster Care/Adoption Rules.
- Applicant(s) will have a criminal records check(s) completed for each applicant and adult household member through the Bureau of Criminal Identification Investigation (BCII) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
- Applicant(s) will have a record check conducted for Ohio Child abuse/neglect investigations.
- Applicant(s) must be free of any physical, emotional, or mental condition which would endanger a foster/adoptive child or seriously impair the parent’s ability to care for a foster/adoptive child.
- Applicant(s) must have no changes in marital status twelve months prior to the time of application to foster/adopt.
- Applicant(s) stability of current marriage will be thoroughly assessed for prospective applicant(s) who have experienced a divorce.
Training Requirements:
- Applicant(s) must complete 24 hours of Pre-Placement training.
- Applicant(s) must complete First Aid/CPR training for certification.
- Applicant(s) must complete a Independent Living Training for the care of children who are 14 years and older.
Reasons for Denial of Initial License Certification:
- Criminal History
- Substantiated Abuse or Neglect
- Falsification of information during the process
- Insufficient income
- Lack of stable or safe housing
- Inadequate sleeping space
State of Ohio Adoption Financial Assistance:
Prospective adoptive parents may apply to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) for a loan from the State Adoption Assistance Loan Fund to assist with expenses related to adoption. This fund was created under Section 5101.143 of the Ohio Revised Code. ODJFS shall consider the financial need of the prospective adoptive parent in determining whether to approve a loan application, and the loan amount will not exceed $3,000. Reference ORC 3107.018 for more details. Additional Mahoning County Children Services minimum requirements to be a foster/adoptive parent.