To appeal a decision for your child support case or benefit services, you must request a hearing.

Request an Appeal for a Child Protection Case
After a child abuse and/or neglect investigation, the alleged perpetrator of abuse and/or neglect will receive the investigation findings in a letter. If this letter states that abuse and/or neglect is “indicated” or “substantiated” you have the right to appeal.

• Only the alleged perpetrator(s) or their authorized representative can request an appeal.
• You must request an appeal within 30 calendar days of the date on the disposition letter.

Requests must be made in writing and must include:

• The name of alleged perpetrator.
• The mailing address and contact phone number for the alleged perpetrator.
• A disclosure of current or potential court activity involving the subject matter under investigation.
• A copy of the Disposition letter

Send appeal requests to:
Community Relations Unit
Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services
3955 Euclid Avenue, Room 112-W
Cleveland, OH 44115


Your request for appeal will be denied if:

• It’s received more than 30 calendar days from the date of the disposition letter, unless you can establish good cause for the delay.
• There are pending court actions or ongoing legal proceedings involving the same child abuse and neglect case. You can submit or resubmit your request for appeal within ten business days of when these court actions or proceedings finish.

What happens next

• The agency will write to let you know that your appeal request was received.
• You will be notified of the appeal date, time, and location. Your appeal will be held within 30 calendar days.

During the appeal hearing, you or your representative should present your new information calmly and respectfully.

The findings of the investigation will change if the senior supervisor or administrator decides that:

• The report disposition was incorrect.
• You did not engage in child abuse or neglect as defined by Ohio law.
• All the information that you or the agency present doesn’t support the report disposition.

Whatever the senior administrator or supervisor decides after hearing the appeal is final, and you will not be able to challenge the decision through a state hearing.

Read the full policy.