Ohio Adoption Grant: Amounts, Eligibility, and How to Apply
Ohio provides one-time grants to eligible adoptive parents. The grant amounts are $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000, depending on the adoption and subject to available state funds.
Grant amounts
| Amount | Qualifying adoption |
|---|---|
| $10,000 | An eligible adoption that does not qualify for a higher grant. |
| $15,000 | You were a certified foster caregiver who cared for the child before the adoption was finalized. |
| $20,000 | The child had qualifying special needs diagnosed before the final adoption order, interlocutory order, or Ohio recognition of the adoption. |
The three amounts are alternatives; only one grant is available per child.
For the $20,000 grant, the diagnosis must come from a qualified professional with expertise in the child's condition. That professional cannot provide casework services to the child. The program has its own definition of special needs.
Who qualifies
Under the program's eligibility rules, all of the following must apply:
- The adoption was finalized on or after January 1, 2023, and the child was under 18 at the final adoption order, interlocutory order, or Ohio recognition of the adoption.
- You were an Ohio resident when the adoption was finalized.
- The adoption is not by a person whose spouse was already the child's biological or adoptive parent.
- No Ohio Adoption Grant has previously been paid for the child.
- You are not currently claiming the former Ohio adoption tax credit for the same child.
How to apply
The application and all required supporting documents must be complete no later than one year after the final adoption order, interlocutory order, or Ohio's recognition of the adoption. Starting an application is not enough unless the application process and required documentation are completed on time.
Use the official Ohio Adoption Grant page and select its Launch button to reach the application. You will need an OHID account. Follow the state's current instructions for completing the application.
If your application is denied, you may request a second review within 30 days of the denial.