Experience

• 

  Michael A. Neff, PC

  • Self-employed

    • Nov 1986 - Present

    representation of foster care and adoption agencies in termination of parental rights and other Family Court proceedings involving Judicial Surrenders, Review of Status of Foster Children and Kinship Guardianship; appeals; preparation of legal opinions on multitude of legal issues requested by agencies; training casework staff of agencies on law and practice of foster care and agency-sponsored adoption; representing foster parents in finalizing their adoption of more than 8,700 foster children; representation of agencies at Independent Reviews and Fair Hearings involving removal of foster children from foster/adoptive homes preparation and distribution of memoranda on Enhancing Foster Parent Effectiveness, Enhancing Caseworker Effectiveness, Transitioning from Foster Parent to Adoption Parent and Understanding the Structure and Mechanisms of the Foster Care System , The Foster Care Process and Its Procedure, Policies, Standards and Practices; Panelist for City Bar Center for Continuing Legal Education on What Every Lawyer Should Know About Adoption Law and Current Issues in Adoption Law

• 

  New York State Office of Children and Family Services

  • Adoption Legal Specialist

    • Apr 2008 - Feb 2013

    Representation of OCFS at subsidy rate Fair Hearings; respond to and resolve complaints by foster and adoptive parents; trainer on law and practice of agency-sponsored adoption of foster children; preparation of recommendations regarding renewal of OCFS authorization of adoption agencies; representation of OCFS at adoption-related meetings and committees of NYC Administration of Children Services and Family Court; legal research, preparation and distribution to adoption agencies of memoranda on developments in the law of adoptions; co-authored OCFS publications on adoption law and practice for attorneys and caseworkers; review of adoption programs of adoption agencies; lecturer on adoption related matters for Citizens Committee for Children Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents and on legal aspects of adoption for Mobilization for Youth Adoption Project; author of Empowerment-Oriented Casework: Facilitating Growth and Self-Determination of Birth Parents and Families;

• 

  Polier Tulin Clark & Neff

  • Partner

    • Jan 1974 - Dec 1975

    Legal research, representation of foster care agency, Family Court trials; appeals

• 

  Sage Gray Todd & Sims

  • Associate

    • Jun 1967 - Jun 1974

    Legal research, civil trials and appeals