Champaign County Job & Family Services works to find loving families for children who need a safe, stable environment to grow up in.

Foster Care

When children are removed from their family due to safety issues, the goal is to bring the family back together by eliminating the dangers that caused the child to be removed from the home. Foster parents help support families by providing day-to-day care for children when their parents are unable to. Foster parents are a resource to the child and family.

Champaign County and the State of Ohio has a shortage of foster homes. Champaign County youth are often placed outside of the county when they must enter foster care. This means starting a new school, making new friends, joining new sports teams, all in addition to leaving their parents and their home. Help us build a network of Champaign County foster parents so our kids don’t have to change everything they know when they must go a temporary home.

Call an Adoption Specialist

Adoption

Sometimes the issues that caused a child to enter foster care cannot be remedied. When this happens, a child may become legally free for adoption and CCDJFS seeks an adoptive family for the child. CCDJFS will work with the prospective adoptive family to understand the child’s specific needs and, for children with special needs, negotiate adoption subsidy and medical assistance.

Ohio Adoption Grant Program

Ohio adoptive parents who finalized their child’s adoption after January 1, 2023 may be eligible for up to a $20,000 one-time payment through the Ohio Adoption Grant Program. Information about eligibility and the application portal can be found at: Ohio Adoption Grant Program | Foster Care and Adoption in Ohio

Post-Adoption Services

After a child is adopted, CCDJFS is still available to assist families post-adoption when a need arises. Navigating through local and statewide resources, services, and supports can be challenging. CCDJFS can assist families post-adoption in identifying and connecting with the resource best matched to fit their need.

Although CCDJFS discontinued direct foster care licensing in 2013, CCDJFS works with other public and private agencies when children need placed in foster homes. For more information about foster care, adoption, or post-adoptive services, please visit www.fosterandadopt.jfs.ohio.gov or call CCDJFS at 937-484-1500.