Legislation would offer loan for costs

The costs of adopting through the county are minimal, an official said.
By SARAH WEBER
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
During the process of adopting their son, state Sen. Eric Kearney of Cincinnati and his wife, Jan-Michele, spent $50,000.
The Kearneys, both lawyers, were able to handle the expense that can be attributed to the private adoption agency they hired, health examinations, house modifications and classes. However, Kearney said he became concerned that middle-income families may be deterred from adoption because of the cost.
To help ease the financial burden, Kearney, D-8th, recently introduced legislation to the Ohio State Senate that would make a $2,000 low-interest loan available to families to help with the costs of the child adoption process.
Kearney said that most of the middle class adoptive parents he has talked to have expressed concern about the up-front costs of adoption.
County adoptions
Denise Stewart, executive director of Mahoning County Children Services, said that although the additional money might help families who use a private agency, the costs of adopting a child from a county agency are minimal.
"There are no costs," Stewart said. "We offer training at no cost, and any attorney's fees can be covered by the nonrecurring cost reimbursement."
Stewart said that nonrecurring cost reimbursement is a program through the state that compensates families up to $2,000 for costs incurred during the adoption process. She stressed that there are many children in need of a new home through the child agency and that people considering adoption should not be dissuaded by concerns about the cost.
Last year Mahoning County Children Services placed 10 children with new parents and finalized an additional 20 adoptions.
According to the U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services, the average adoption cost can range from $0 to more than $40,000 depending on the situation. Adoptive parents who hire a private adoption agency or who adopt children from overseas usually incur more significant costs than those who adopt through a county agency.
Kearney's bill is expected to have its first hearing on the Senate floor this fall.