Ohio Administrative Code
Title 5101:2 - Division of Social Services
Chapter 5101:2-42 - Substitute Care
Section 5101:2-42-65 - Caseworker visits and contacts with children in substitute care
Universal Citation: OH Admin Code 5101:2-42-65
Current through all regulations passed and filed through December 16, 2024
(A) The public children services agency (PCSA) or private child placing agency (PCPA) that holds custody of a child is to comply with the provisions set forth in this rule regarding caseworker visits and contacts with the child and the substitute caregivers to ensure the child's safety and well-being, and to assess whether the placement and services continue to meet the child's needs in accordance with the case plan.
(B) Visits and contacts are to be conducted by a caseworker within the PCSA or PCPA that has full responsibility for case planning and case management of the child's case.
(1) If the caseworker responsible for the
child's case is unable to complete the visit, the caseworker completing the
visit is
to document in the child's case the reason someone other than the
assigned caseworker visited the child.
(2) The caseworker assigned to the child's
case is
to complete the majority of the required monthly visits.
(3) The PCSA or PCPA, as part of a managed
care agreement as defined in rule
5101:2-1-01 of the
Administrative Code, may contract with another agency to have the managed care
caseworker assume responsibility for the child's case and caseworker visits
required by this rule.
(C) The minimum frequency of visits will be as follows, with individual time for the child as appropriate to his or her ability to communicate:
(1) For a child placed
in a relative or non-relative home approved pursuant to rule
5101:2-42-18 of the
Administrative Code or a foster home certified pursuant to Chapter 5101:2-5 of
the Administrative Code:
(a) One face-to-face
visit with the child and substitute caregiver within the substitute care
setting during the first week of placement, not including the first day of
placement.
(b) One face-to-face
visit with the child and the substitute caregiver within the substitute care
setting during the first four weeks of placement, not including the visit
during the first week of placement.
(c) Monthly face-to-face visits with the
child and substitute caregiver within the substitute care setting, which may
include visits referenced in paragraphs (C)(1)(a) and (C)(1)(b) of this rule,
provided that at least one of the visits occurs within each month.
(d) In a home which has two or more
substitute caregivers, ensure that each caregiver receives at least one of
the face-to-face visits referenced in paragraphs (C)(1)(a) to (C)(1)(c) of this
rule in each three-month period. If a caregiver is out of the home for the
entire three-month period (e.g. military leave or extended hospital stay) the
caregiver is exempt from the visits for that time period.
(e) If the circumstances of the case require
more than one monthly visit, the additional visit(s) may be conducted by a
caseworker employed by an agency contracted by the PCSA or PCPA to provide
services for the case.
(2) For a child for whom a special,
exceptional, or intensive needs difficulty of care payment is made pursuant to
rule 5101:2-47-18 of the
Administrative Code and placed in a treatment or medically fragile foster home
certified pursuant to Chapter 5101:2-5 of the Administrative Code:
(a) One face-to-face visit with the child and
substitute caregiver within the substitute care setting during the first week
of placement, not including the first day of placement.
(b)
One face-to-face visit with the substitute caregiver and child should occur
twice monthly, but not within the same week.
(c) At least one of the
monthly visits is to occur within the treatment or medically fragile
foster home.
(d) In a foster home
which has two or more substitute caregivers on the certificate, assure that
each caregiver receives at least one of the face-to-face visits referenced in
paragraphs (C)(2)(a) to (C)(2)(c) of this rule in each three-month period. If a
caregiver is out of the home for the entire three-month period (e.g. military
leave or extended hospital stay) the caregiver is exempt from the visits for
that time period.
(e) At least one of the
monthly visits is to be conducted by a caseworker within the PCSA or
PCPA that has full responsibility for case planning and case management of the
child's case. Any additional visit(s) may be conducted by a caseworker employed
by an agency contracted by the PCSA or PCPA to provide services for the
case.
(3) For a child
placed in a residential facility or substance use disorder (SUD) residential
facility as defined in rule
5101:2-1-01 of the
Administrative Code:
(a) One contact with the
residential facility or SUD residential facility and the child as
developmentally appropriate within ten days of placement, not including the
first day of placement.
(b) Monthly
face-to-face visits with the child, within the residential facility or SUD
residential facility. Visits will be conducted by a caseworker within the PCSA or
PCPA that has full responsibility for case planning and case management of the
child's case.
(i) If the caseworker
responsible for the child's case is unable to complete the visit, the
caseworker completing the visit is to document in the child's case the reason someone
other than the assigned caseworker visited the child.
(ii) The caseworker assigned to the child's
case is
to complete the majority of the required monthly visits.
(c) The caseworker within the
residential facility or SUD residential facility, performing casework duties,
will not
conduct visits on behalf of the PCSA or PCPA.
(4) For a child who is sixteen years of age
or older and placed in an independent living arrangement in which he or she has
responsibility for his or her individual living environment:
(a) One face-to-face visit with the child
within the living environment within the first week of placement, not including
the first day of placement.
(b)
Monthly face-to-face visits with the child, within the living environment,
which may include the visit referenced in paragraph (C)(4)(a) of this rule.
Visits are
to be conducted by a caseworker within the PCSA or PCPA that has full
responsibility for case planning and case management of the child's case.
(i) If the caseworker responsible for the
child's case is unable to complete the visit, the caseworker completing the
visit is
to document in the child's case the reason someone other than the
assigned caseworker visited the child.
(ii) The caseworker assigned to the child's
case is
to complete the majority of the required monthly visits.
(D) Contacts and visits for children in the custody of a PCSA or PCPA are to be documented in the child's case record as outlined in rules 5101:2-33-23 and 5101:2-33-70 of the Administrative Code and address the following:
(1) The child's safety and well-being within
the substitute care setting. In assessing the child's safety and well-being,
the caseworker is to consider the following through observation and
information obtained during the contact or visit:
(a) The child's current behavior, emotional
functioning and current social functioning within the substitute care setting,
and any other settings/ activities in which he or she is involved. The
caseworker will also document evidence that the caregiver is
following the reasonable and prudent parent standard in allowing the child
regular opportunities to participate in age or developmentally appropriate
activities.
(b) The child's current
vulnerability.
(c) The protective
capacities of the child's caregiver(s).
(d) Any new information regarding the child,
the substitute care setting, and impact on the substitute caregiver's
willingness or ability to care for the child including but not limited to:
(i) Changes in the marital status.
(ii) Significant changes in the health status
of a household member.
(iii)
Placement of additional children.
(iv) Birth of a child.
(v) Death of a child or household
member.
(vi) A criminal charge,
conviction or arrest of any household member.
(vii) Addition or removal of temporary or
permanent household members.
(viii)
Family's relocation.
(ix) Child's
daily activities.
(x) A change in
the caregiver's employment or other financial hardships.
(e) Any supportive services needed for the
child or caregiver to assure the child's safety and well-being.
(2) The child's progress toward
any goals in the case plan as applicable from information obtained from the
child and caregiver.
(3) Permanency
planning in accordance with the child's case plan.
(E) For a child who is placed through the
"Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children" into a substitute care
setting outside of Ohio, the agency is to follow the
directives in Chapter 5101:2-52 of the Administrative Code, and the regulations
of the interstate compact, located at
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Ohio may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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