Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(A) All currently certified foster homes
shall be recertified every two years from the beginning date of the current
certificate. If a homestudy is simultaneously approved for adoption and
certified for foster care by the same agency, the spans shall be the same for
both programs from the date of the foster home certification.
(1) If an approved adoptive home is
subsequently certified for foster care by the same agency that approved the
home for adoption, the adoptive homestudy shall be updated at the same time the
home is initially certified for foster care so that the spans will
coincide.
(2) If a certified foster
home is subsequently approved for adoption by the same agency that certified
the home for foster care, the next adoption update shall be completed when the
current foster care certificate is recertified so that the spans will
coincide.
(B) The public
children services agency (PCSA), private child placing agency (PCPA), or
private noncustodial agency (PNA) shall ensure that employees or persons under
contract with the agency to complete foster home recertifications comply with
the following requirements:
(1) The assessor
definition in rule
5101:2-1-01 of the
Administrative Code.
(2) Rule
5101:2-48-06 of the
Administrative Code.
(3) Section
3107.014 of the Revised
Code.
(C) The
recommending agency shall notify the foster caregiver of the date of expiration
of the foster home certificate not less than ninety or more than one hundred
fifty days prior to the expiration date. The notification shall:
(1) Identify any information or documentation
that is required for the recertification.
(2) Be completed on the JFS 01331, "Notice of
Expiration and Reapplication for a Foster Home Certificate or Adoption
Homestudy Approval" .
(D)
Following agency notification to the foster caregiver as required by paragraph
(C) of this rule, if the caregiver fails to either reapply or voluntarily
terminate prior to the expiration date of the certificate, the foster home
certificate shall expire. If the family wishes to become certified after the
expiration date, they shall reapply for initial certification pursuant to rule
5101:2-5-20 of the
Administrative Code.
(1) If a foster home
certificate expires because a caregiver has failed to reapply there are no
rights to appeal pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
(2) Following the expiration of a foster home
certificate:
(a) If the agency has access to
the statewide automated child welfare information system (SACWIS), the agency
shall enter the appropriate data into the system to recommend closure of the
home.
(b) If the agency does not
have access to SACWIS, the agency shall submit a JFS 01317 "Recommendation for
Certification/Recertification of a Foster Home" to the Ohio department of job and
family services (ODJFS) to recommend closure of the home.
(E) If a foster caregiver(s) has
re-applied for a foster home certificate at least thirty days prior to the
expiration of a current certificate, an assessor shall complete a JFS 01385,
"Assessment for Child Placement Update" , ensure that the foster caregiver(s) remains in compliance
with the requirements set forth in Chapters 5101:2-5 and 5101:2-7 of the
Administrative Code, and determine the continued suitability of the caregiver
to serve as a foster caregiver. The agency is to compile
and review the following documents, in addition to completing the JFS 01385:
(1) The most recent JFS 01653 "Medical
Statement for Foster Care/Adoptive Applicant and All Household Members"
completed for the applicant
and all household members . The agency may require a new JFS 01653 if the
agency deems it necessary.
(2) The
agency may require a report of a physical, psychiatric or psychological
examination or treatment of the caregiver or other household member in order to
ensure the safety, health or care of a foster child. The examination shall be
conducted by a licensed physician, psychologist, or other certified or licensed
professional.
(3)
Homes certified prior to June 1, 2020 do not have to
comply with immunization requirements.
(4)
Immunizations for
homes certified on or after June 1, 2020.
(a)
All household
members in a home caring for infants and children with special medical needs
are to have an annual influenza vaccine consistent with the recommendations of
the advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP), unless the
immunization is contrary to the individual's health as documented by a licensed
health care professional or for reasons of conscience, including religious
convictions.
(b)
All household members in a home caring for infants are
to be up to date on the pertussis vaccine unless the immunization is contrary
to the individual's health as documented by a licensed health care professional
or for reasons of conscience, including religious convictions.
(c)
Copies of the
immunization records are to be placed in the file of the home.
(5) The most recent fire inspection by a state
certified fire safety inspector or the state fire marshal's office using the
JFS 01200 "Fire Inspection Report for Residential Facilities Certified by
ODJFS" or other form used for
a local or state fire inspection. The agency may require a new fire inspection
prior to recommending the home for recertification if the agency deems it
necessary to ensure the home is free from conditions which may be hazardous to
the safety of a foster child.
(6) The most recent
JFS 01681 "Applicant Financial Statement." . The agency may require a new JFS 01681 if there have been
any substantial changes to the foster family's financial situation.
(7)
The most recent annual well water test approved by the health department, if
applicable.
(8) If the agency has the ability to complete the
search in SACWIS, the agency shall complete an alleged perpetrator search of
abuse and neglect report history through the system for each foster caregiver
and adult household member. If the agency does not have the ability to complete
the search in SACWIS, the agency shall request and
obtain a search of the system from ODJFS for each foster caregiver and
each adult household member.
(a) A report
with the results of the search shall be placed in the foster home
record.
(b) This report is to be
used to determine the continued suitability of the foster
family.
(9) The agency shall conduct a safety audit utilizing
the JFS 01348 "Safety Audit"
completed within six months prior to recommending a foster home for
recertification, documenting that the residence continues to meet all safety
standards. Any deficiencies noted on the JFS 01348 shall result in the
completion of a rule violation report and a corrective action plan in
accordance with paragraph (E) of rule
5101:2-5-28 of the
Administrative Code.
(10) The most recent criminal records checks for all
foster caregivers and adult household members. Once a foster caregiver is
certified, a new criminal records check shall be conducted, pursuant to rule
5101:2-5-09.1 of the
Administrative Code, for the foster caregiver(s) and each adult household
member every four years prior to recommending a foster home for
recertification. If an existing resident of the home, including youth placed in
the home, turned eighteen years of age during the current certification span,
the agency shall have criminal records checks completed at the time of the next
recertification and every four years thereafter at the time of
recertification.
(11) Documentation that the foster caregiver(s) has
completed the required ongoing training pursuant to rule
5101:2-5-33 of the
Administrative Code. If the foster caregiver has not completed the required
continuing training, the agency may recommend recertification if the situation
meets the specifications of the agency's good cause policy pursuant to rule
5101:2-5-13 of the
Administrative Code.
(F)
An assessor's recertification of a foster home shall include at least one home
visit and one interview with each member of the household (except foster
children) based on his or her age and development currently
residing in the home. This may be a joint interview or individual
interviews.
(G) If an agency
receives a completed JFS 01331 at least thirty days prior to the expiration
date of a foster home certificate, an agency shall follow the requirements
listed in this rule to complete the assessment for recertification.
(1) At the completion of the assessment and
prior to the expiration of the foster home certificate,
an agency is to enter the required data into SACWIS documenting one of the
following:
(a)
Recertification.
(b)
Denial of
recertification.
(c)
Closure, based on receipt of a voluntary
withdrawal.
(2) The effective date of a foster home
certificate shall be the first day following the expiration of the previous
certificate. For only those certifications in which paragraph (I) of this rule
apply, the effective date shall be the date that ODJFS receives the
recommendation for certification from the agency, which shall be no more than
thirty days past the expiration date of the current certificate.
(H) If an agency receives a
completed JFS 01331 less than thirty days prior to the expiration date of a
foster home certificate, the agency may complete the requirements listed in
this rule if they have sufficient time and resources to complete the assessment
and submit the requirements listed in paragraph (G) of this rule prior to the
expiration of the foster home certificate.
(1)
If the agency is unable to complete the recertification prior to the
expiration, the foster care certificate will expire on the date of
expiration.
(2) If the foster care
certification expires, the agency shall, within ten days after the expiration
date of the certification:
(a) Provide
written notification to the caregiver of the following:
(i) That the foster care certification has
expired.
(ii) That if the family
would like to obtain foster care certification, the family must reapply for
initial certification pursuant to rule
5101:2-5-20 of the
Administrative Code.
(b)
An agency shall enter
the required data into SACWIS to close the provider because the foster care
certification has expired.
(I) The determination
of the specific number, age, and gender of children the foster home is
certified for is the joint decision of the caregiver(s) and the assessor, based
on the caregiver's strengths and needs, and the physical structure of the
residence.
(1) All placements in a foster
home shall be in compliance with this determination and with the provisions of
rule 5101:2-5-32 of the
Administrative Code.
(2) Upon the
request from a foster caregiver, the JFS 1673-A "Child Characteristics
Checklist" may be updated as
often as needed.
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