About the Nonprofit
Visit Our Website
Adoption Network Cleveland (ANC) is a non-profit established in 1988 to address the unfulfilled needs of the adoption community. Our mission is to connect, empower, and heal individuals, organizations, and communities impacted by adoption, kinship, and foster care. ANC’s services meet our community’s needs and aim to reduce intergenerational trauma, educate, and promote healing. Our innovative and inclusive organization has impacted the lives of tens of thousands of individuals in Cuyahoga County via mission-focused programs and services facilitated by expert staff and trained volunteers, and public policy advocacy.
We acknowledge the trauma of all who are impacted by family separation that leads to adoption, foster, and kinship care. Our services are designed and delivered by experts in the field and are based on the latest research in trauma-informed care. Adoption, kinship care, foster care, and unknown parentage/DNA discoveries impact people of all cultures and backgrounds. We also acknowledge disproportionality, where Black children represented 14% of the total child population but 22% of all children experiencing foster care in 2021 (Annie Casey Foundation, 5/14/23). These acknowledgments are more than a reflection of our community’s need for support but what drives ANC to stay mission-centered.
ANC provides services and programs developed and delivered to support, educate, and advocate for all impacted by adoption, foster care, kinship care, donor conception and people who have experienced DNA discoveries.
We strive to meet our mission daily through the following programs and services,
- Adult Adoptees, Birth Parents & DNA Discoveries - Provides specialized programming, support, education, and advocacy for these populations, including:
- Search Assistance, Peer Support Groups, Search & DNA Assistance program, Helpline, DNA Discovery Support Group, and Birth Mother Support Group.
- Advocacy & Public Policy- Our organization advocates for social change and serves as a collective voice for those who may feel unheard. Our efforts are aimed at influencing public policy related to adoption, child welfare, and donor conception. We are dedicated to positively impacting the lives of those we serve.
- Education & Community Outreach – Provides educational and development opportunities for professionals, our constituents, and the community. Programs and services in this area include:
- Adoption 101: Where Do I Begin? and our virtual Monday Evening Speakers Series featuring national experts.
- Family & Youth Programs – provides guidance, services, and support for prospective and current adoptive, foster, and kinship families. Programs and services in this area include:
- Family Ties Parent & Youth programs including peer support groups, Parent Trainings, Family Mediation, Transracial Family Group, NAMI Family Support Group, Get Real Youth Group, Family Resilience Fund (basic needs emergency assistance), Helpline, and 1:1 support to navigate caregivers to various community and government resources through our OhioKAN navigators on staff.
