COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order to launch the Ohio Adoption Grant Program. It will provide up to $20,000 to parents adopting a child.
Kara Binkley and her husband, Travis, have always loved babies and want to grow their family.
Binkley tried to get pregnant for several years, and even had success, but ultimately faced difficulties with her two pregnancies. She tried several medical treatments that included IVF, but still did not have success with pregnancy.
Binkley told Spectrum News they plan to adopt, however, the process could be expensive, which is one of the many reasons they are thankful for the new adoption grant program.
“I think that the new grant for adoptive families is wonderful,” Binkley said, “It helps take a lot of that extra stress off the plate to just know that, you know, there’s extra money there that’s available that you can get back on that and maybe even make it possible to adopt more than one child is wonderful.”
The executive order includes privately arranged adoptions, as well as adoptions made through a public children services agency.
Kara said she has been praying to become a mom for a very long-time, and adopting will give Travis and her happiness, emotional support and even more love as they grow their family.
“You think about a major change of having a child,” Binkley said. “It’s something you definitely have to grow together and, you know, talk more about and think things through more in the future.”
“This grant will provide needed resources for families looking to grow their family through adoption,” DeWine said. “Our goal is to make Ohio the best state to start and raise a family.”
The Ohio Adoption Grant Program replaces the existing state adoption tax credit. This new program offers three levels of onetime payments per child. It will provide $10,000 to anyone except a step-parent adopting kids, and $15,000 if the parent was a foster caregiver. Families who decide to adopt a child with special needs could get up to $20,000.
