Adoption creates a lifetime commitment between parents and children not born to them. Adoptive parents assume all legal, moral, and financial responsibility for the child entrusted to their care.
Reasons for adopting are multifaceted. Some families feel they have many gifts and strengths that would benefit a child whose life has been impacted by abuse and neglect. They are committed to helping children achieve their maximum potential for success and providing them a permanent home.
If attempts to work with the birth family have been unsuccessful to resolve the issues of concern, parental rights are terminated by the court. Parents may also choose to relinquish their parental rights. It then becomes the legal responsibility of Clermont County Children’s Services to find a permanent home for the child.
When a relative is not available or identified then an adoptive placement is pursued. The child’s current caregivers are given preferential consideration when making permanent placement decisions.
Waiting Children
Boys and girls of all ages are waiting to be adopted. Children who have experienced abuse and neglect often have special needs and come from a variety of cultural, ethnic, religious and racial backgrounds. They are in need of a family who can provide stability, nurturance, guidance and unconditional love.
There is a critical need for foster to adopt families however Clermont County does not exclude adopt only parents.
Things to Consider
Does your family possess...
- a belief in adoption and an ability to commit
- patience and perseverance
- a good sense of humor and talent for keeping life in perspective
- a love of children and parenting
- the ability to roll with unexpected changes, stresses and challenges
- the ability to deal with rejection without taking it personally
- the ability to accept without judging
- tolerance and understanding for your child’s conflicting feelings and your own
- an awareness that healing doesn’t come quickly, all wounds cannot be healed, and your child may not attach to your family
- the strength to be consistent and set limits
- a willingness to learn new parenting techniques and advocate for your children’s educational and medical needs and resourcefulness.
If you have all or most of these qualities, then ask yourself these questions:
- Do I clearly understand why I want to adopt?
- If applicable, do my partner and I work as a team? Are we both committed to adoption?
- Does my lifestyle allow me the time necessary to meet the needs of a special child?
Download our Adoption Policies. (1.33 MB PDF)