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Adoptions
decreasing
June 7, 2006
By Kendall S.
Cable, kcable@advertiser-tribune.com
State and county
trends reflect a marked decrease in the number of children available
for adoption and who were adopted since 2004.
"The number of
children waiting for adoption decreased from 3,200 in FFY (federal
fiscal year) 2003 to 2,800 in FFY 2005," the Ohio Department of Job
and Family Services Web site states. "The number of adoptions
declined from 2,260 in FFY 2004, to 1,989 in FFY 2005. This was an
expected decline since the number of children waiting for adoption
decreased 7 percent from from FFY 2004 to FFY 2005."
In 2004, 11
children were adopted in Seneca County, according to Seneca County
Job and Family Services Director Kathy Oliver. In 2005, four
children were adopted - or a 64-percent decrease.
Why the decrease in
Seneca County?
"The number of kids
that are going to permanent custody - that varies from month to
month, from week to week, from year to year," said Jennifer DeWeese,
Seneca County DJFS adoption coordinator. "I think that we have had
less children come over to permanent custody.
"It has taken me a
good six to eight months to get a new case. I think the ongoing unit
is doing an excellent job in working with families and keeping the
kids out of custody and working on reunification."
But 10 adoptions
took place in Seneca County through DJFS between 2000 and 2002,
Oliver said. In 2003, three took place.
What caused the
spike in 2004?
Mike McLane, Seneca
County DJFS assessment coordinator, said the numbers could be
misleading because there could have been families of children
adopted in 2004 with more siblings than normal to cause the spike.
He said family size also could play into the appearance of a
decrease in the number of adoptions.
Another trend in
Seneca County is the increased number of juvenile delinquents going
through the family services department, according to Danielle Welty,
Seneca County DJFS family services supervisor.
DeWeese agreed.
"I have on my
caseload one child under the age of 13," said DeWeese, who handles
adoptions. "The rest are 13 and older."
How does a child
become adoptable in Seneca County?
Initially, McLane
conducts an intake assessment on the family in terms of risk for 30
to 45 days. He has completed 268 assessments this year. Many people
are screened out or offered help before this point, but others are
moved on to Welty.
Welty refers
families to resources in the community to help children remain in
the home. These resources can include avenues for parental behavior
modification. If the risk level still is too high, efforts are made
to place children with a friend or family member. Following this, if
necessary, 12 months are given for a family to reunify by law. If
this does not occur, adoption is the next step.
DeWeese receives
children when families do not reunify and after the children have
been in foster care six months. She said it only takes about two
months before an adoption can take place after she receives a child
- enough time to complete necessary paperwork. Finding the
appropriate adoptive parent, however, can take a couple months to
years, she said.
To become an
adoptive or foster parent, a license is required. No out-of-pocket
expenses are attached, and subsidies are available, DeWeese said.
What reasons do
people give as to why they chose to adopt?
"One reason -
without a doubt - is they cannot have children," DeWeese said. "The
second would be that they have a calling to do that."
Oliver said more
foster and adoptive parents are needed.
"We have so many
children that are placed outside of our county," McLane added. "It
is just really unfortunate. That hurts our efforts to reunify with
the family members."
DeWeese said many
children who are placed outside of the county are difficult to
place, not only because there may not be a family available, but
because there may be therapeutic or medical attention required.
DeWeese added - she
said, at the risk of sounding cliche - "It does take a community to
raise a child."
For more
information on adoption through DJFS, contact Missy Bennett at (419)
447-5011 x366. To view photos of children available for adoption in
Seneca County and elsewhere in Ohio, go to the Ohio Adoption Photo
Listing at:
www.odjfs.state.oh.us.
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