Foster and Adoptive Parents and Applicants:
How to solve a problem with Children’s Services
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As a foster or adoptive parent or an applicant, you may not always agree with the decisions or actions taken by the agency. If you disagree with a decision or action, we encourage you to try and settle the issue with the worker first. However, when that does not resolve the problem, you may ask for a review through the agency’s 3-step Problem Resolution and Grievance Procedure, which is described below.
If your concern is related to the foster or preadoptive child, contact the child’s worker.
If your concern is related to your foster or preadoptive home or family, contact your support worker, adoption worker. or homestudy assessment worker.
Share your concerns and ask the worker to explain why the decision or action was taken. Listen to the worker’s answers. If you and the worker cannot solve the problem, follow the steps listed below.
NOTE: Certain very serious complaints, as described on the back of this Fact Sheet, can be addressed through a formal hearing with the Foster and Adoptive Parent Grievance Board. You are encouraged but not required to resolve serious complaints at the supervisor and section manager levels before requesting a hearing with the Grievance Board.
Step 1: Talk with the Supervisor
Call 946-1000 and ask for the name and telephone number of the worker’s supervisor.
Contact the worker’s supervisor. You can talk with the supervisor over the phone or ask for a meeting.
Describe your concerns and tell the supervisor why you’re not satisfied.
Listen and ask questions.
The supervisor will listen and work with you to solve the problem.
You will receive a letter from the supervisor. The letter will explain your concerns and what actions the supervisor will or will not take.
If you are not satisfied with the supervisor’s response, take step 2.
Step 2: Talk or Meet with the Section Manager
Call 946-1000 and ask for the name and telephone number of the supervisor’s section manager.
Contact the section manager. The section manager will either talk with you on the phone or schedule a meeting.
The section manager will listen to your concerns and work to solve the problem.
The section manager will send you a letter. The letter will list your concerns and what actions the section manager will or will not take.
If you are not satisfied with the section manager’s response, take step 3.
Stay of Action:
The agency will stay any planned action related to your complaint pending the outcome of the Director’s meeting or grievance hearing, unless the responsible section manager documents that such a stay would be clearly detrimental to the child or clearly not in the child’s best interest.
Step 3: Meet with the Director or Director’s Representative
Call 946-1000 and ask for the Director’s Office. In an effort to serve you quickly, the Director may appoint a representative.*
The Director/Representative will schedule a meeting.
You and either the section manager or supervisor will be asked to attend. You’ll be asked to explain your concerns.
The supervisor/section manager will explain the decisions or actions taken on the case and why they were taken.
The Director/Representative will listen to everyone’s concerns and work to solve the problem.
The Director/Representative will send you a letter. The letter will explain your concerns and the actions the agency will or will not take. The decision of the Director/Representative is final.
*If the problem you have with Children’s Services is listed below as a serious complaint, the Director’s representative will be the Foster and Adoptive Parent Grievance Board.
Grievance Board for Serious Complaints:
The Foster and Adoptive Parent Grievance Board acts as the Director’s representative if your complaint is one of the following:
You have been denied approval as a foster or adoptive parent.
The agency will not use your foster or adoptive home
A foster or preadoptive child is being removed from your home.
The agency is recommending that your foster parent license be revoked or your recertification be denied.
The Foster and Adoptive Parent Grievance Board serves as the Director’s representative ONLY on the issues noted above. If you want to schedule a hearing with the Foster and Adoptive Parent Grievance Board, call the Children’s Services Consumer Services Office at 946-2138. If your problem is related to any other issue, simply contact the Director’s Office.
MEPA Complaint:
If you believe you have been denied a foster or adoptive placement or approval as a foster or adoptive parent based on the race, color or national origin of yourself or the child, you may file a formal complaint alleging MEPA discrimination with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency’s Foster and Adoptive Parent Grievance Board is unable to hear a MEPA complaint. See the MEPA Formal Complaint Procedure (HCJFS 3291) for information on filing a formal MEPA complaint or call the HCJFS MEPA Monitor, Shirley Norman, at 946-1488 for more information.
Do I have any other options for resolving problems?
Yes.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services in Columbus makes sure all public children’s services agencies follow state rules. You can contact the Customer Help Line at:Ohio Department
of Job and Family Services Call
toll
Free: 1-866-635-3748, Option 2, Extension 3
If you believe you have been a target of discrimination because of age, gender, national origin, race, color, religion or disability, you can contact any of the following:
Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services
Consumer Services, (513) 946-2138
OR
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Bureau of Civil Rights
150 E. Gay St., 18th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Toll Free: 1-866-227-6353
OR
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights, Region V
233 North Michigan Ave., Suite 700,
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 353-1640
Communication of This Grievance Procedure to Individuals Who Have Limited English Proficiency or Who Are Hearing or Visually Impaired:
If you have limited English proficiency, HCJFS will provide a qualified professional interpreter. If you are hearing or visually impaired, HCJFS will make appropriate accommodations to ensure this procedure is reviewed and discussed with you and that your questions are answered to your satisfaction.
Formal Problem Resolution and Grievance Procedure:
For a copy of the formal Foster and Adoptive Parent Problem Resolution and Grievance Procedure, call the Children’s Services Consumer Services Office at 946-2138. This procedure can also be found in the Foster Parent and Adoption handbooks and on-line at the following web sites:
Adoption: www.hcadopt.org. Go to “Adoption Information”, then click “Download the Adoption Handbook”
Foster Parent:: www.hcfoster.org. Go to the “Licensed Foster Parent” section, click “Information,” then “Procedure Manual.”
Revised 11/17/06