Ohio

ODJFS Ordered to Disclose Foster Care Provider Identities

By Cleveland Law Library

On April 9, 2008, the Ohio Supreme Court held that the Cincinnati Enquirer was entitled to records from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) identifying the names and addresses of certain certified foster care providers. The Court's opinion specifically stated that its decision did not require disclosure of information about public assistance recipients or information in a child welfare database, but that ODJFS had to disclose identities that were not otherwise protected. Interestingly, the Court's Press Release indicated that since the Newspaper's request was made in 2006, it was not subject to a new law excepting provider information under Ohio's new Public Records Act. A good summary of Ohio's public records and open meetings laws can be found in the Attorney General's brand new "Yellow Book." See also our prior post on the new public records law.

Full post as published by Cleveland Law Library Weblog on April 18, 2008 (boomark / email).