Join our public policy advocacy efforts to make change.
Adoption Network Cleveland needs YOU to become part of our public policy advocacy efforts! We are bringing together like-minded people to advocate and be a voice for individuals who have a connection and are impacted by adoption, foster care, kinship care, DNA discoveries, and donor conception. Let us know how you would like to contribute in the coming year by completing a quick survey here so we can reach out on the issues you care about most!
Making lasting change in our community and Ohio takes individuals willing to roll up their sleeves and raise their voices. Adoption Network Cleveland has a long history of gathering passionate people who care about making real change for individuals and families impacted by adoption, foster care, and kinship care, as well as those who are donor-conceived or have experienced a DNA discovery. We have been active in public policy for over 35 years and understand that it takes consistency and patience to make change happen.
Julia Barton and Patrick Turner are two such people who have joined the long game to make change for other families like theirs.
We were foster parents for six years—now adoptive parents—and we have struggled to find “our people” in the foster and adoption community. Differences in perspective, views, and geography impacted our ability to connect and find support. We followed various foster and adoption groups online, and participated in some on social media. We attended trainings. But still we largely felt like we hadn’t found a group that shared our values and priorities for change.
It wasn’t until reading Adoption Network Cleveland’s blog by Executive Director Betsie Norris on Facebook last winter that we thought we had finally found a fit. Betsie documented the long-game in public policy. The years of consistent and community effort it takes to build and sustain a strong organization that serves the whole adoption constellation—birth families, adoptees, foster youth and alumni, foster families, and adoptive families. This organization is a powerhouse of volunteer-driven support groups, resources, and advocacy work—work that has won concrete improvements in Ohio for adoptees and adoptive families over time. We wanted to be a part—and Adoption Network Cleveland made it easy to become part—of this work and to learn from this community. Navigating the spaces of foster care and adoption can be tricky, but the good news we found was that we didn’t have to do it alone.
Participating in Adoption Network Cleveland's Lobby Day last spring and the online Policy Committee have provided accessible opportunities for our family to connect with others who care about similar issues and seek real changes. We are grateful to ANC for facilitating such important work in so many different ways. –Julia Barton and Patrick Turner
Julia and Patrick both participated in Adoption Network Cleveland’s Lobby Day in Columbus in 2024, meeting with legislators and sharing their family’s story, advocating for changes that would improve lives for adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, children in care, and families. Julia is now an active member of Adoption Network Cleveland’s Public Policy Committee, helping the organization determine our advocacy priorities for the coming year, providing testimony on bills in both the Ohio Senate and House, and consolidating and organizing volunteer advocacy efforts.
We are so glad to have them as a part of our organization – but we need your help, too!
Do you want to create change for this community? Do you have ideas, gifts, and talents to share in winning real improvements for those impacted by foster care and adoption? Whether you are willing to write letters, meet with legislators, provide testimony, or do any of the multitude of tasks it takes to make an advocacy effort successful, we want you with us!
Take this 2-minute survey to get yourself on ANC’s action list. Let us know what areas of advocacy you feel the most passionate about and what skills you have to share. That way, we can reach out when urgent action is needed on the issues you care about most.
Adoption Network Cleveland is here to connect and support in multiple ways.
Find out more about our past public policy efforts, position statements, and current public policy agenda: Advocacy & Public Policy Overview | Adoption Network Cleveland
Learn about our current programs and services: Overview | Adoption Network Cleveland - serving all those who are impacted by adoption, kinship and foster care
Register for upcoming events: Adoption Network Cleveland Calendar of Events and Programs
Become a member! Become a Member | Adoption Network Cleveland
You can also email us at hello@adoptionnetwork.org or call us at 216-325-1000 to connect with a staff member who can answer your questions.
