Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(A) Visits and contacts shall be conducted by
an assessor within the public children services agency (PCSA) or private child
placing agency (PCPA) that has full responsibility for case planning and case
management of the child's case.
(1) If the
assessor assigned to the child's case is unable to complete the visit, the
assessor from the same agency who is completing the visit shall document in the
child's case the reason someone other than the assigned assessor visited the
child.
(2) The assessor assigned to
the child's case shall complete the majority of the required monthly
visits.
(B) The
frequency of visits with the child and the adoptive parent(s) shall be as
follows:
(1) At a minimum, one face-to-face
visit with the child and adoptive parent(s) in the adoptive home shall be made
during the first seven days of the adoptive placement, not including the date
of placement.
(2) At a minimum, one
face-to-face visit with the child and adoptive parent(s) in the adoptive home
shall be made during the first thirty days of placement, not including the
visit during the first seven days of placement.
(3) After the first thirty days, a minimum of
one face-to-face visit with the child and adoptive parent(s) in the adoptive
home shall be made monthly.
(4) If
the circumstances of the case require more than one monthly visit, the
additional visit(s) may be conducted by an assessor employed by an agency
contracted by the PCSA or PCPA to provide services for the case.
(C) The frequency of visits with
any other household member shall be as follows:
(1) At a minimum, one face-to-face visit in
the home with any household member whose permanent residence is the adoptive
home shall be made every sixty days.
(2) At a minimum, two face-to-face visits in
the home prior to finalization with any household member whose permanent
residence is the adoptive home although he or she may temporarily reside
elsewhere. No less than sixty days between visits.
(D) During each visit, the assessor shall
gather information on how the placement is progressing from the child, as
appropriate to his or her ability to communicate, the adoptive parent(s) and
other household members, in applicable visits. All contacts and visits shall be
documented in the child's case record and address the following:
(1) The child's safety and well-being within
the adoptive home. In assessing the child's safety and well-being, the assessor
shall consider the following through observation and individualized interviews
with each person obtained during the visit:
(a) The child's current behavior and
emotional and social functioning in the adoptive home and any other
settings.
(b) The child's
adjustment to the placement.
(c)
The child's feelings around loss, separation and the reasons for being
adopted.
(2) Any new
information regarding the child, the adoptive parent(s) or the other household
members, including, but not limited to:
(a)
Changes in the marital status.
(b)
Significant changes in the health status of a household member.
(c) Placement of additional
children.
(d) Birth of a
child.
(e) Death of a child or
household member.
(f) A criminal
charge, conviction or arrest of the child, adoptive parent(s) or any household
member.
(g) Addition or removal of
temporary or permanent household members.
(h) Family's relocation.
(i) Child's daily activities.
(j) A change in the adoptive parent(s)
employment or any financial hardships.
(k) Any supportive services needs for the
child or adoptive parent(s) to assure the child's safety and
well-being.
(E) For a child who is placed through the
"Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children" into an approved adoptive
home outside of Ohio, the agency shall follow procedures pursuant to Chapter
5101:2-52 of the Administrative Code and the regulations of the interstate
compact, located at https://aphsa.org/AAICPC/AAICPC/ICPC_Regulations.aspx.
(F) If the adoptive parent(s) or other
household member(s) knowingly makes a false statement that results in the
reassessment of an approved or updated homestudy, the assessor shall report
incidents of falsification according to procedures pursuant to rule
5101:2-33-13 of the
Administrative Code.
(G) The
assessor shall complete the JFS 01699 "ODJFS Prefinalization Adoption
Assessment Report" prior to
the issuance of a final decree of adoption or finalization of an interlocutory
order of adoption. The report shall include the following information:
(1) Dates and location of contact with the
adoptive parent(s), the child and all other household members according to this
rule.
(2) Information regarding the
child, adoptive parent(s) and all other household members' adjustment to the
adoptive placement.
(3) Present and
anticipated needs of the child, the adoptive parent(s) and all other household
members for adoptive services, adoption subsidies assistance and
medicaid.
(4) Physical, mental and
developmental condition of the child.
(5) Biological family background of the
child, including identifying information about the biological or other legal
parent(s), if known.
(6) Reasons
for the child's placement with the adoptive parent(s) and the circumstances
under which the child was placed in the home of the adoptive
parent(s).
(7) Adoptive parent(s)
and all household members' attitudes toward the proposed adoption.
(8) If the child is an Indian child as
defined in
25
U.S.C. 1903(4) (1978), how
the placement complies with the "Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978",
25 U.S.C.
1901 (11/8/78).
(9) Prefinalization services which have been
requested, provided or agreed upon.
(10) Prefinalization services planned, but
not provided, and the reason the services were not provided.
(11) The child's psychological background, if
known, including prior history of abuse and behavioral problems of the
child.
(H) The assessor
shall file the JFS 01699 with the court where the adoption petition is pending
no later than twenty days prior to the date scheduled for the final hearing on
the adoption unless the court determines there is good cause for filing the
report at a later date.
(I) The
assessor shall provide a copy of the JFS 01699 to the prospective adoptive
parent(s) no later than twenty days prior to the date scheduled for the final
hearing on the adoption. All identifying information about the biological or
other legal parent(s) shall be deleted prior to providing a copy of this report
to the prospective adoptive parent(s).
(J) The agency having custody of the child
shall maintain in the child's case record a copy of the JFS 01699 provided to
the prospective adoptive parent(s), including the date the information was
provided, and the prospective adoptive parent's written acknowledgment of
receipt. The agency shall provide a copy of the acknowledgment of receipt to
the prospective adoptive parent(s).
(K) The adoptive family case record shall
contain a copy of the JFS 01699 provided to the adoptive family and written
acknowledgment of the family's receipt of the information.
(L) Unless a court determines that it is in
the best interest of the child and orders that an assessor conduct a
prefinalization assessment, the JFS 01699 is not required if the prospective
adoptive parent(s) is the child's stepparent.