Dayton adoption agency answers mistakes

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services called the allegations against adoptive father Kenneth Brandt of Troy  "horrific" and conducted its own investigation of the adoption agency involved to make sure no children were in harm's way.

Brandt pleaded guilty to raping his adopted children and faces a long prison sentence.  The adoption agency involved is ACTION Inc. in Dayton.  ACTION stands for Adopting Children Today Information/Option Network.  The Dayton agency remains open despite the state's discovery of violations there.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services found ACTION Inc. used college interns to conduct home visits by themselves.  Interns and volunteers are not to replace paid staff.  The investigation also turned up incomplete forms and records of training for adoptive parents being waived.

The Deputy Director of Communications for the department, Benjamin Johnson said, "We did not review a specific case or a specific employee, or a specific incident. We reviewed the entire operation. We found a handful of violations as I mentioned we certainly want those violations fixed but we didn't think they warranted revocation of the agency's certification."

Johnson said the agency has submitted an action plan to correct its mistakes and the state is satisfied with it.
ACTION's certification is good until February 18, 2014.

Johnson added, "When we reviewed their adherence to state and federal rules and regulations we found no reason to revoke their certification and they remain in good standing with state of Ohio."

Of course if complaints come to the department's attention an investigation will follow.  Johnson could not and would not say if the violations found in this most recent review had any impact on the adoption of children by Kenneth Brandt,  the Troy man pleading guilty to raping the boys he adopted through ACTION.

There had been complaints before about ACTION, but never did the state revoke the agency's certification.  
Most of the agency's problems have had to do with lack of documentation.