Lighthouse Youth Services simplifies adoption process for foster parents

November is National Adoption Month, and Lighthouse Youth Services is celebrating by working with families to provide an easier transition into parenthood with its recent certification as a foster-to-adopt agency.
 
“For our current foster families, we’re dually certifying them as foster to adopt—that way, when a child becomes available to adopt, it lessens the length of time they have to wait,” says Jami Clarke, who serves as program director for Lighthouse Foster Care and Adoption. “There’s a six-month waiting period once a child’s been placed in the home, but if they’ve already been certified, they can go ahead and match. It speeds up the process.”
 
For children looking for a place they can finally call home, this new certification can make all the difference. “We’re helping children get out of the system at a quicker pace,” Clarke says.
 
Since the certification took effect, Clarke says 10 families have been approved for adoption. Ten more are in the process, and14 more finalizations will occur in the next couple months.
 
“Prior to the certification—from May to May of last year—we had 26 adoptions,” Clarke says.  “But for this year, we’re expecting that number to double. There are so many kids awaiting permanency, and we don’t want them just hanging out there.”

Do Good: 

• Support Lighthouse by giving.

• Learn about becoming a foster-to-adopt parent.

• Contact Jami Clarke if you're interested in mentoring or signing up for foster-to-adopt classes.
 
By Brittany York
Brittany York is a professor of English composition at both the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University. She also edits the For Good section of SoapboxMedia.