Please Lend Your Voices to the Initiative to "Strengthen and Standardize" the Negotiation of Adoption Assistance in Ohio
On August 24, I discussed an initiative by the the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) aimed at “Strengthening and Standardizing” the negotiation of Title IV-E Adoption Assistance in Ohio. I have been told that around 56 people filled out the online form to participate. See the letter below for information.
I have been asked to participate as an interested party. I have also written a review of federal law and policy pertaining to Title IV-E Adoption Assistance that will be distributed to other interested parties including representatives from ODJFS and advocates.
I believe this initiative represents a real opportunity to relate your experiences, voice your concerns and offer recommendations for reform. I believe that adoptive parents across the state encounter the same kinds of incorrect information and the same kinds of obstacles in negotiating fair adoption assistance agreements for their children. This is an invitation to join your voice to a powerful chorus for reform of practices that have plagued the adoption assistance program for decades. I will be there with you.
In the letter below, you will note there is a session scheduled for Thursday September 28 from 5:00 to 6:00 P.M. Registration must be completed by 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday September 27. Please participate if you can.
But even if you can’t make it, I urge you to register with ODJFS and submit comments. Tell your story. You can also send comments, concerns and recommendations to me and I will pass them on. I will preserve whatever anonymity or privacy that you wish. Please let me know if you want me to include the county agency.
For example, you might want to touch on all or some of the following:
How you were treated. Did the agency take your concerns seriously?
Did the negotiation include a serious consideration of your particular family circumstances?
What are the best aspects of the negotiation of adoption assistance that should be preserved?
What needs to be changed?
These are just examples. Please don’t hesitate to convey your own experiences and your most pressing concerns regarding the negotiation of adoption assistance, whatever they may be.
Once again, here is the official letter announcing the initiative.
OFFICE OF FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
Families and Children Letter FCL #119
TO: Directors and Administrators, Public Children Services Agencies, Directors and Administrators, Private Child Placing Agencies.
Directors and Administrators, Private Non-Custodial Agencies
FROM: Jeffery Van Deusen, Deputy Director
Office of Families and Children
DATE: August 23, 2023
SUBJECT: Adoption Assistance (AA) Negotiation Information Sessions: Stakeholder Input and Feedback
Background
The Governor’s Children Services Transformation (CST) Final Report recommended Ohio strengthen and standardize the adoption subsidy negotiation processes. As part of this work, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) increased the state match effective January 1st, 2023. The next stage of work is the engagement of stakeholders to ensure all impacted voices are heard and feedback included in the development and implementation of a new process.
ODJFS is requesting your assistance with helping to enhance adoption services in Ohio. We are working to improve adoption subsidy negotiations in Ohio by looking at how to standardize and strengthen the AA negotiation process. We are seeking stakeholder input as we begin looking at a structured AA process that will make negotiations less challenging. The subsidy negotiation process should be a simplified, consistent process prioritizing necessary long-term support, while preserving children’s permanency without being burdensome on PCSAs and families. We hope to receive a variety of input and feedback from agencies, as well as foster and adoptive families across the state. We want to learn from a variety of experiences and hear suggestions on how we can improve the process.
Purpose
The purpose of this Families and Children Letter (FCL) is to inform agencies and foster/adoptive families of upcoming Information Sessions.
ODJFS is facilitating four information sessions, via virtual Teams meetings, to obtain input and feedback on a structured AA process that will be standardized across the state. The sessions will be an opportunity to hear feedback and recommendations from foster/adoptive parents and agency stakeholders as well as brainstorm creative and exciting possibilities for AA negotiations in the future.
We are also asking agencies to forward this FCL on to their foster/adoptive families to ensure families are well represented.
Intended Audience
The intended audience for the AA Negotiation Information Sessions are PCSAs, private agencies and foster and adoptive families.
Information Sessions
Session 1: Tuesday, September 12, 2023 – 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Agency Attendance). Registration ends on September 11th at 5:00 PM.
Session 2: Thursday, September 14, 2023 – 5:00 pm – 6:00 PM (Foster/Adoptive Families). Registration ends on September 13th at 5:00 PM.
Session 3: Monday, September 18, 2023 – 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Agency Attendance). Registration ends on September 17th at 5:00 PM.
Session 4: Thursday, September 28, 2023 – 5:00 pm – 6:00 PM (Foster/Adoptive Families). Registration ends on September 27th at 5:00 PM.
Participants who are interested in attending one of these sessions will need to complete the registration through the following link: Adoption Assistance (AA) Negotiation Information Sessions: Input and Feedback
Please note sessions are limited to the first 40 people who register using the above link.
Your registration will be confirmed with an Outlook appointment invitation to join the Information Session via Microsoft TEAMS.
We Want to Hear from You
If you are unable to attend one of the Information Session for any reason or simply prefer to provide written feedback, please feel free to use the Strengthening and Standardizing the Adoption Assistance Negotiation Process Feedback form.
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa V. Howard, Lisa.Howard@jfs.ohio.gov or Latricia Henry-Dunkin, Latricia.henry-dunkin@jfs.ohio.gov.