The 6 Step Process
of Adoption
Step 1: Application Process
Welcome to Adoption by Gentle Care! Below are links to information and forms contained in our general adoption information packet. Please read and fill out all applicable forms along with all literature. Once completed, simply return the forms to Adoption by Gentle Care's office and put them attention to Adoptive Family Department along with any necessary fees.
- General Adoption Information
- ODJFS Discrimination Complaint Form
- Ohio Adoption Guide: Handbook for Prospective Adoptive Families
You can also contact us at Adoption By Gentle Care via e-mail or call us at (800) 824-9633 to have the packet sent to you.
Having trouble viewing the file? You will need a free Adobe Reader to view.
Download Adobe
Step 2: Completion of Required Paperwork
• Once your application is received, you will receive an acknowledgement letter and you will be placed on the waiting list for the next available training listed below.
Step 3: Education and Training
Adoptive parents are invited to our first available informational/educational meetings, which are:
• Group & Assessment
this meeting deals with the steps in the adoption process.
• Adoption Issues Seminar
This seminar deals with post-placement adoption issues.
Once you have confirmed your attendance, Adoption by Gentle Care will send you the required paperwork for beginning the adoption process.
Step 4: Home Study
• The Home Study is a cooperative effort between Gentle Care and the applicant to assess the applicant's ability to successfully parent an adopted child.
• A Gentle Care counselor is assigned to the adoptive parents. She will perform the Home Study by visiting the adoptive parents in their home and collecting accompanying required paperwork.
• View our Home Study Procedure Outline
Step 5: Placement
• Upon notification of completion of their approved Home Study, the adoptive parents should prepare for placement of their child.
• Adoptive parents will be notified when they have been selected by a birth mother and will receive all social and medical information concerning the birth parent(s).
• Adoptive parents will be informed when the baby is born and when and where placement will occur.
• Placement of the baby cannot occur until a minimum of 72 hours after the birth of the child. At this time the adoptive parents will sign documents acknowledging their responsibility to care for the child and acknowledging receipt of the background information on the birth mother and on the child.
Step 6: Pre & Post Finalization Services
• Monthly post-placement supervisory visits will be made by a Gentle Care counselor with the adoptive family and the child from the time of placement until finalization, a minimum of 6 months later.
• Adoptive parents are required to provide letters to the birth mother and photographs of the child monthly for the first year following placement and twice per year after that until the age of 18.
• Gentle Care will refer the adoptive parents to an attorney experienced in obtaining Final Decrees of Adoption through Franklin County Probate Court for finalization.
• Adoptive Parents will be notified of the court date for finalization of the adoption, at which time they and the child will appear in court and the adoption will be finalized.
