Adoption and Foster Care - Main
Tuscarawas County Job & Family Services
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Placement Philosophy
When children are at risk with their birth parents, TCJFS first looks for safe relative/kinship
placement. When a relative/kinship placement is not available, TCJFS makes every effort to
place children in a substitute care placement that best meets the needs of the children, but
yet is in the same community/school district. Speedier reunification of the children with their
birth family can occur when children are placed in close geographic proximity to the birth
family.
TCJFS also recognizes the importance of the sibling bond. Therefore, TCJFS makes every
effort to place siblings with the same caregiver, unless there is a compelling reason to
separate the siblings. If siblings must be separated, continuous effort is made to reunite the
siblings. When siblings are placed separately, arrangements for frequent visitation between
siblings are a routine part of case planning.
Who can foster/adopt through TCJFS?
Tuscarawas County Job & Family Services jointly licenses all foster care/adoption
applicants. The geographic area within which the agency conducts adoption homestudy
assessments for families wishing to adopt domestic children with special needs is
Tuscarawas, Holmes, Carroll, Harrison, Stark, Coshocton and Guernsey Counties.
Families wishing only to adopt children under age 10 and/or children from other countries
will be referred to private adoption agencies specializing in those adoptions.
On a case-by-case basis, TCJFS may provide adoption services to foster families of other
agencies (who are not approved as adoptive parents) and who live outside the designated
geographic area, when they express the desire to adopt a child in the permanent custody of
TCJFS.
Requirements to be a foster/adoptive parent:
Foster parent supports:
Foster children have one thing in common – they need the love and support of a
foster family. Please consider the following:
“I’d be a foster parent if I thought I could really make a difference.”
All children need a safe and secure home. Becoming a foster parent—accepting abused
and neglected children into your home; providing a nurturing, safe and secure
environment—you could make a difference.
“I’m afraid I won’t want to let the child go home.”
TCJFS foster parents are expected to work towards reunifying foster children with their birth
parents. “Letting go” is the toughest part of being a foster parent. Many of our foster
parents build a relationship with the birth family that continues after the child goes home. In
other words…become “extended” family forever to the child and their birth family.
“I’d be a foster parent, but I’m not sure I have what it takes.”
Being a foster parent requires some very special qualities: flexibility, open-mindedness, a
commitment to working through problems that come with parenting abused and neglected
children, a willingness to share what you know with other parents. Pre-service training is
designed to help you decide whether being a foster parent is right for your family.
“I’d be a foster parent if I could choose the type of children I want to foster.”
Everyone wants a foster placement to be successful. We give you as much information as
we have about the child and try to match the child’s personality and needs with your family.
The agency will offer you opportunity to meet the child’s birth parents and share information.
Please call (330) 339-7791 and ask for
the Placement Unit for more information.
When children are at risk with their birth parents, TCJFS first looks for safe relative/kinship
placement. When a relative/kinship placement is not available, TCJFS makes every effort to
place children in a substitute care placement that best meets the needs of the children, but
yet is in the same community/school district. Speedier reunification of the children with their
birth family can occur when children are placed in close geographic proximity to the birth
family.
TCJFS also recognizes the importance of the sibling bond. Therefore, TCJFS makes every
effort to place siblings with the same caregiver, unless there is a compelling reason to
separate the siblings. If siblings must be separated, continuous effort is made to reunite the
siblings. When siblings are placed separately, arrangements for frequent visitation between
siblings are a routine part of case planning.
Who can foster/adopt through TCJFS?
Tuscarawas County Job & Family Services jointly licenses all foster care/adoption
applicants. The geographic area within which the agency conducts adoption homestudy
assessments for families wishing to adopt domestic children with special needs is
Tuscarawas, Holmes, Carroll, Harrison, Stark, Coshocton and Guernsey Counties.
Families wishing only to adopt children under age 10 and/or children from other countries
will be referred to private adoption agencies specializing in those adoptions.
On a case-by-case basis, TCJFS may provide adoption services to foster families of other
agencies (who are not approved as adoptive parents) and who live outside the designated
geographic area, when they express the desire to adopt a child in the permanent custody of
TCJFS.
Requirements to be a foster/adoptive parent:
- Over 21 years of age.
- May be married or single.
- Free of any physical, emotional or mental condition which would endanger a foster
child or seriously impair the ability to care for a foster child. - Safe, stable home with enough space for additional child(ren).
- Sufficient income to meet the needs of your family and make timely payment of shelter
costs, utility bills and other debts. - Accepting a child who is not your birth child.
- Attend pre-service training classes (36 hours).
- Attend annual training (20 hours).
- Criminal records check
Foster parent supports:
- Per diem board rate
- Foster child clothing allowance
- Foster child Medicaid card
- Foster child transportation reimbursement
- Support group
- Training
- On-call worker
- Case management
Foster children have one thing in common – they need the love and support of a
foster family. Please consider the following:
“I’d be a foster parent if I thought I could really make a difference.”
All children need a safe and secure home. Becoming a foster parent—accepting abused
and neglected children into your home; providing a nurturing, safe and secure
environment—you could make a difference.
“I’m afraid I won’t want to let the child go home.”
TCJFS foster parents are expected to work towards reunifying foster children with their birth
parents. “Letting go” is the toughest part of being a foster parent. Many of our foster
parents build a relationship with the birth family that continues after the child goes home. In
other words…become “extended” family forever to the child and their birth family.
“I’d be a foster parent, but I’m not sure I have what it takes.”
Being a foster parent requires some very special qualities: flexibility, open-mindedness, a
commitment to working through problems that come with parenting abused and neglected
children, a willingness to share what you know with other parents. Pre-service training is
designed to help you decide whether being a foster parent is right for your family.
“I’d be a foster parent if I could choose the type of children I want to foster.”
Everyone wants a foster placement to be successful. We give you as much information as
we have about the child and try to match the child’s personality and needs with your family.
The agency will offer you opportunity to meet the child’s birth parents and share information.
Please call (330) 339-7791 and ask for
the Placement Unit for more information.