Adoptive Families Allege Warren County, OH’s Lack of Subsidies ‘Wildly Out of Line’

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Two plaintiffs identified as “Adoptive Family #1 and Their Daughter A.” and “Adoptive Family #2 and Their Children B. and C.” have filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Warren County, Ohio and its board of commissioners over an alleged lack of statutorily required subsidies available to families who adopt special needs children.

“Warren County’s actions are wildly out of line with the rest of the state,” the lawsuit claims.

The complaint states that as of October 2017, roughly 40 percent of eligible adopting families were receiving no subsidy, while another 40 percent received $250 or less per month. The plaintiffs allege the defendants have failed to hold up their end of the bargain under the Title IV-E adoption assistance program, established under the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act to provide aid to families “who adopt difficult-to-place children from the public child welfare system.” The alleged lack of monetary help from the defendants, the lawsuit argues, significantly hampers foster children’s chances of adoption into a permanent home; disincentivizes foster parents who may be interested in permanently adopting their foster children; and places additional stress on families who have already adopted special needs children.