Watch an interview about the need for foster families and OOA’s annual Silks Bash! What a wonderful Derby event. Join us next year to raise funds and awareness!

Please show YOUR appreciation! On the volunteer page, enter a message for foster families.

Please show YOUR appreciation! On the volunteer page, enter a message for foster families.

“I was skeptical about using OOA.  I really didn’t know who else to turn to for help.  I didn’t have much local support.  I needed someone to help me with my child.  It was hard.  I don’t trust people and it meant I had to trust them, strangers.  I found a great job for myself and a new apartment.  A family took care of my child while I took care of both of us with my job and apartment.  OOA helped me with some items for my home, support, and a home for my child.  The staff and family genuinely care.  As they say, with courage I changed my circumstances.  I made a better life for me and my child, OOA helped us to be able to do that.  I am thankful.  I would tell others to trust and put the work in because with support you can change your circumstances.”

Anonymous Parent

Operation Open Arms mission is to improve the lives of children with incarcerated parents and vulnerable children by providing a loving, nurturing, and stable home environment, while concurrently coordinating essential services for parents.

  • Integrity

    We will conduct ourselves with the highest level of professionalism, carrying out our work with high quality, and following best practices.

  • Respect

    We value & respect all parties involved.

  • Children First

    We will always work to provide the best advocacy, safety, and outcomes for the children we serve.

  • Family Centered

    Our foster families are carefully chosen and trained to provide a personalized, family-centered approach to child wellbeing.

Why choose Operation Open Arms?

  • Operation Open Arms, Inc is a private child placing agency, licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky for twenty years. OOA began with a vision in 1995 when Frank and Sharon Neville received a phone call that would change their lives forever. The Co-founders, Irv and Cathy Bailey believed in the mission of the Neville family and created Operation Open Arms. Today, the founders, board members and staff work together with nationwide and local organizations providing foster care and adoption services. Passionate and dedicate employees and volunteers along with personal and professional experience come together to serve our community. Staff and volunteers consist of birth parents, adoptive parents, adult adoptees and professionals with over twenty years of experience in the field.

  • Operation Open Arms, Inc. is a private foster care and adoption agency licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

    We understand there are times a biological parent will be in need of voluntary foster care services as they seek to improve their situation. Our goal is to work with parents by providing support and a temporary home for your child(ren).

    If you are seeking adoption services we can also assist helping you match with a family, complete your adoption plan, provide you with support and reach your image of adoption.

    Being a foster family is a challenging and rewarding journey. If you are seeking more information about becoming a foster home please contact us for more information.

    If you need a home study or independent adoption services in Kentucky we are happy to assist and have been doing so for twenty years.

  • Operation Open Arms, Inc. is licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a child placing agency with foster and adoptive placement services.

    OOA is nationally accredited through the Council of Accreditation.

  • Operation Open Arms, Inc. seeks to collaborate with community partners to meet our mission. We recognize that this is not a mission we can meet alone and we recognize all the expert services in our community. We seek to partner with individuals, organizations and key stakeholders to fulfill our mission and provide individuals with the best possible individualized services.