Adoption Subsidy Advocates provides free initial consultation and related policy information to adoptive families, attorneys, advocates and agency professionals. For ongoing assistance or more intensive services a negotiable fee will be charged based upon the scope of the work.

I am retired from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and have recently quit a part time job to devote more time to advocacy on behalf of adoptive parents. In fairness to my own family, I will charge a small fee for extended services such as helping parents engage in prolonged negotiations for adoption assistance and representing adoptive families at administrative hearings.

I am not an attorney, but may serve as an authorized representative on behalf of adoptive families in adoption assistance negotiations, state administrative hearings and administrative appeals. If a case is appealed to a court, I cannot legally represent the adoptive family, but may work with the family and their attorney as a consultant on policy.

Fee-Based Services:

• Assistance with negotiating an adoption assistance agreement.
• Preparation for administrative appeal hearings.
• Participation as an advocate at administrative appeal hearings.
• Training workshops on adoption assistance, reimbursement for non-recurring costs and state service subsidies.
• Detailed research and writing related to an appeal for adoption assistance. or other policy issues pertaining to adoption subsidy.

For these more involved services, I will charge:

• A fee of $50 for assisting with and participation in negotiations of adoption assistance agreements; and
• A maximum fee of $150 preparation and participation as the adoptive families' authorized representative in state administrative hearings. I will charge an additional fee of $50 if the hearing decision requires an administrative appeal and statement of errors and omissions in the hearing decision. If the case requires an additional hearing, the fee will be $50.
• I am also available to provide workshops on Negotiating Adoption Assistance Agreements, Preparing for Hearings and other pertinent topics. For speaking or training, I would charge travel expenses, plus $100 per day.

NOTE: The fees are always negotiable. No one will be denied assistance if they are unable to pay.

Free Services:

Other services such as answering policy questions anytime, providing information and references to applicable regulations and policies will continue to be offered free of charge. Parents are encouraged to contact me with questions and problems. I will do my best to provide answers, suggestions, strategies and a sense of direction. At that point if the family feels empowered to advocate for themselves, they may continue to contact me with periodic questions, all free of charge. I will only ask for a fee, if the parents want me to become involved as an ongoing advocate or representative.

My goal is to continue to make services and support available to any adoptive families and to keep any fees at an affordable level so no one will be denied access to help.

Contact Tim O'Hanlon by e-mail: tpohanlon@gmail.com