Mediations and State Administrative Hearings 2024

According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ (ODJFS) Office of Legal Services, more disagreements over the amount of adoption assistance were settled through mediation than state administrative hearings in 2024. Mediations were conducted on behalf of 26 children from January 1 through November 27, 2024, compared with 11 hearings. In the case of 21, or 81%, of the children, the mediation resulted in an agreement between the parents and agency. Of the 11 children involved in hearings concerning the negotiation of adoption assistance, the adoptive parents appeal was sustained in 8 hearings, or 73%, and the agency ordered to resume negotiations. The parents’ appeal was overruled in the 3 remaining cases.

Consistently, 95% or more of Ohio children adopted from the foster care system receive adoption assistance. Mediations take place in a tiny fraction of public agency adoptions in a given year.

Given the often contentious nature of adoption assistance negotiations, why are there such a small number of parents who opt for mediation? Are more parents satisfied with the negotiation process than I realized? Is the mediation option widely understood? I really don’t know the answer and would appreciate any insights that readers would like to share.

Mediations by Child, January 1 - November 27, 2024

26 - The number of mediations in 2024 by child.

21 - The number of mediations resulting in an agreement between the parties by child.

81% Percentage of mediations resulting in an agreement between the parties.

5 - The number of mediations in which an agreement could not be reached by child.

19% - The percentage of mediations in which an agreement could not be reached.

State Administrative Hearings Involving the Amount of Adoption Assistance, by Child, January 1 - November 27, 2024

11 - Number of hearings

8 – Number of hearings in which the parents’ appeal was sustained.

8 – Number of hearings in which parties were ordered to resume negotiations

73% - Percentage of hearings in which the parties were ordered to resume negotiations

3 - Number of hearings in which the parents’ appeal was Overruled

27% Percentage of hearings in which the parents’ appeal was overruled