Meet the Snider Family!

Scott and Susan Snider always knew they would raise a family. When faced with difficulty conceiving, they discussed adoption and decided to proceed. “We decided to adopt early in the process, as opposed to after other options were exhausted, because we never wanted our adopted children to feel they were our ‘last resort’,” Susan explains.

The couple was already well aware of the need for permanent homes for children in foster care. They reviewed profiles of “waiting children” from all over the country; their new son and daughters came from a state 2,000 miles away.

Now age twelve, Clareasa is an independent thinker. A talented vocalist, she participates in church choir, school choir and “The Singing Angels,” a Cleveland- based, internationally known choral group. Smart, sensitive and strong-willed, ten-tear-old Michael loves to understand how things work. He plays basketball and participates in Boy Scouts. Nine-year-old Aunna is playful and artistic. Her “dare-devil” personality emerges on outings to amusement parks, where she gravitates towards the roller coasters. 

When they joined the Snider family, Clareasa, Michael and Aunna were ages four, three, and almost two. The three siblings had been in foster care in their home state after being removed from their birth family due to severe abuse and neglect. 

Early childhood deprivation has long-lasting effects and brings challenges to adoptive parents. All three children needed occupational therapy to help them “catch up” developmentally and to address sensory integration issues. On-going therapy is helping them learn to form close and trusting relationships.

In spite of their earlier deprivation, the children have made considerable progress in the nurturing, attentive and stable environment their parents have provided them. When baby Elijah was born to Susan and Scott, his doting older brother and sisters enthusiastically welcomed him into the family. 

Susan says of post-adoption services, “I feel certain that without the support and education provided, our adoption would have disrupted. The children were very difficult to manage for the first several years. Ohio’s Post-Adoption Special Services Subsidy (PASSS) enabled us to have many needed services.” (PASSS is a state-funded subsidy to help stabilize and support adoptive families when other available resources are insufficient.)

Scott and Susan Snider ask members of Congress to understand that children shouldn’t be, and aren’t necessarily, “grateful” to have a home, especially at first. “They have been rejected; they are scared, worried and defensive. Please fund programs that educate and prepare adoptive parents for the specific challenges that this can bring to the home.”

When asked recently what adoption means to them, Clareasa responded, “having a home and someone to care for me.” To Michael, adoption means “having fun with everyone in our family.” Clareasa wants to tell others, “I wish for everyone to adopt children and bless children in the world who need a home.”