You are joining the program with a family or youth from the Cuyahoga County Division of Children & Family Services (DCFS).

This agency trains foster caregivers, places children & youth in foster or kinship care with appropriate temporary living situations, helps prepare youth who will age out of foster care at 18 years old, and when warranted, facilitates adoptions of youth whose parental rights have been permanently severed. This agency has oversight of the foster home or youth you are matching with, and any Cleveland Angels volunteers who will be in person consistently with the family/youth must complete their agency-specific requirements.

DCFS AGENCY Requirements

1. Read & sign the DCFS Volunteer Agreement form.
2. Schedule a Fingerprinting Appointment with DCFS & let your Cleveland Angels Case Manager know when you are going.
3. Sign Up for your Program Orientation with Cleveland Angels (if you have not already done so).

Please complete these steps by the date in the email you received, and please reach out with any questions!

Division of Children & Family Services Level Requirements
1. Please download and sign this form. When complete, email the completed PDF versions to your Cleveland Angels Case Manager or [email protected]
Form: DCFS Volunteer Agreement

2. A Fingerprint Background Check is required by this placement agency.

This location completes fingerprints every Tuesday & Thursday from 5pm -7pm at Westshore. The phone number to the fingerprint line is 216-881- 4570. Please leave a message with your name and contact information and someone will call back and schedule an appointment.
Volunteers should mention they are Cleveland Angels volunteers.

Westshore Opportunity Center
9830 Lorain Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44102

NOTE -- Per DCFS, you may not spend time alone with a child/youth through our programs until these fingerprint results are returned. However you may visit them in their home with a caregiver present prior to your results. If you have trouble scheduling, please reach out to us ASAP and we will contact the agency. Your Case Manager will let you know when the results are in; this can typically take a few weeks.

3. Please make your Cleveland Angels Case Manager aware when you have completed your fingerprint appointment, and we will track the results with DCFS!

NOTE -- A Program Orientation with your Case Manager is required to complete before you begin. Orientation covers things like Foster Care 101, the way trauma affects the brain & behavior, the bounds and expectations of the program you're joining, and more. You'll have an opportunity to ask any and all questions!

If you have not scheduled Orientation, please communicate with your Case Manager as soon as possible, or sign up for an upcoming session here!

CONGRATS! You are getting close to meeting your Match!