Ohio adoptive parents can apply for up to $20K to offset costs

Adoptive parents in Ohio can now apply for up to $20,000 to offset the costs of growing their families.

Parents who have finalized an adoption since Jan. 1 can apply for money at adoptiongrant.ohio.gov under the state's new Ohio Adoption Grant Program.

Applicants can receive a one-time payment of:

• $10,000 for anyone adopting a child, except a stepparent.
• $15,000 if the parent was a foster caregiver or kinship caregiver for the child prior to adoption.
• $20,000 if the child has "special needs," such as a developmental disability or a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits the child's life.

The grant applies to families that adopt through private agencies or through public children's services. There is no income requirement. The grant is available per child, not per parent.

Applicants must provide two forms of identification and documents from the finalized adoption. Additional documentation would be required for children coming from foster care or children with disabilities.

The grant replaces an adoption tax credit that required parents to submit receipts to receive the entire $10,000 benefit. In the 2020 tax year, 2,133 filings claimed that credit.

The change was added to House Bill 45, which Gov. Mike DeWine signed in January and took effect Friday.

"This grant will provide needed resources for families looking to grow their family through adoption," DeWine said in a statement.

Ohio has allocated $15 million for these payments. As of noon Friday, 16 people had already applied.

“More than 3,000 youth in foster care are awaiting adoption, and this grant will support those welcoming a new member of their family," Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Matt Damschroder said in a statement.

Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.