Use of Advertising and Facilitators in Adoptive Placements - Ohio

Use of Advertisement

Citation: Rev. Code § 5103.17

The term 'advertise' means a method of communication that is electronic, written, visual, or oral and is made by means of personal representation, newspaper, magazine, circular, billboard, direct mailing, sign, radio, television, telephone, or otherwise. A 'qualified adoptive parent' is a person who is eligible to adopt a child and for whom an assessor has conducted a home study to determine whether the person is suitable to adopt a child, if required by § 3107.031.

No person or government entity, other than a private child-placing agency, a private noncustodial agency certified by the Department of Job and Family Services, or a public children services agency, shall advertise that the person or entity will adopt children or place them in foster homes, hold out inducements to parents to part with their offspring, or in any manner knowingly become a party to the separation of a child from the child's parents or guardians, except through a juvenile court or probate court commitment.

The birth parent of a child may advertise the availability for placement of the parent's child for adoption to a qualified adoptive parent. A qualified adoptive parent may advertise that the qualified adoptive parent is available for placement of a child into the qualified adoptive parent's care for the purpose of adopting the child. A government entity may advertise about its role in the placement of children for adoption or any other information that would be relevant to qualified adoptive parents.

No person shall offer money or anything of value in exchange for placement of a child for adoption. No birth parent may request money or anything of value in exchange for placement for adoption of the parent's child with a qualified adoptive parent.

Use of Intermediaries/Facilitators

Citation: Rev. Code § 3107.011(A)

A person seeking to adopt a minor shall utilize an agency or attorney to arrange the adoption. An attorney may not represent with regard to the adoption both the person seeking to adopt and the parent placing a child for adoption.

Any person may informally aid or promote an adoption by making a person seeking to adopt a minor aware of a minor who will be or is available for adoption.