Ohio Admin. Code 5101:2-5-30 - [Effective 1/1/2025] Foster care amendments

(A) An assessor that meets the requirements of paragraph (B) of rule 5101:2-5-20 of the Administrative Code is to perform the duties of this rule.

(B) If the agency is notified of any of the following changes for the foster caregiver, the agency shall is to amend the homestudy:

(1) A change in the marital status of the foster caregiver(s).

(2) The death of a foster caregiver or household member.

(3) A change in household members, not including foster children.

(4) A change of address for the foster family that is different than the address listed on the foster home certificate.

(C) An amendment is a narrative of the assessor's evaluation of the change that has occurred in the foster home. The agency shall is to document the date of notification in the amendment.

(1) The amendment shall is to be completed within thirty days of the date of the change, or within thirty days of the date the agency became aware a change occurred if notification did not occur pursuant to rule 5101:2-7-14 of the Administrative Code.

(2) If the change is to add a foster caregiver to the certificate, the amendment shall is not to be completed until the preplacement training has been completed pursuant to rule 5101:2-5-33 of the Administrative Code.

(3) In completing the amendment, the agency shall is to, if necessary, redetermine the specific number, age, and gender of children the family is approved to foster. The amendment shall is to address sleeping arrangements, beds and bedrooms, and shall evaluate whether the foster family remains in compliance with all applicable requirements.

(4) The amendment shall is to be completed in the statewide automated child welfare information system (SACWIS) Ohio comprehensive child welfare information system (Ohio CCWIS).

(D) If the amendment is due to a new household member, the agency shall is to ensure the following:

(1) New household members residing with the foster caregiver shall are to have a JFS 01653 "Medical Statement for Foster Care/Adoptive Applicant and All Household Members" completed documenting they are free from any physical, emotional or mental condition which would endanger children or seriously impair the ability of the household member to care for the child placed in the home.

(a) If the new occupant is an adopted child who immediately prior to the adoption resided in the home as a foster child, a JFS 01653 is not required.

(b) The JFS 01653 shall is to be dated within ninety days of the date the person becomes a household member.

(c) If the agency was not notified of the new household member in accordance with rule 5101:2-7-14 of the Administrative Code, the JFS 01653 shall is to be dated within ninety days of the date the agency became aware of the new household member.

(2) New adult household members residing with the foster caregiver shall are to have a search of the national sex offender registry at https://www.nsopw.gov (2019), a bureau of criminal investigation (BCI) and federal bureau of investigation (FBI) records check, as outlined in rule 5101:2-5-09.1 of the Administrative Code.

(a) The criminal records checks shall are to be conducted within ten working days of the date the person becomes a household member.

(b) If the agency was not notified of the new household member in accordance with rule 5101:2-7-14 of the Administrative Code, the criminal records checks shall are to be conducted within ten working days of the date the agency became aware of the new household member.

(3) New adult household members shall are to provide the name of any agency they have applied to or had a homestudy approved for foster care or adoption, or any organization they have worked with in providing care and supervision of children. The new adult household member shall is to complete a written and signed release of information so that any such reference may be contacted.

(4) If the agency has the ability to complete the search in SACWIS Ohio CCWIS, the agency shall is to complete an alleged perpretrator search of abuse and neglect report history through the system for the new adult household member within ten working days of the date the person becomes a household member. If the agency does not have the ability to complete the search in SACWIS Ohio CCWIS, the agency shall is to request a search of the system from ODJFS the department for the new adult household member within ten working days of the date the person became a household member. If the agency was not notified of the new household member pursuant to rule 5101:2-7-14 of the Administrative Code, then the agency shall is to complete these requirements within ten working days of the date the agency became aware of the new household member.

(a) A report with the results of the search shall be placed in the foster caregiver record.

(b) This report is used to determine the continued suitability of the foster family.

(5) Pursuant to division (A)(2) of section 5103.18 of the Revised Code, an agency shall is to request a check of the child abuse and neglect registry of any other state the new adult household member has resided in for the five years immediately prior to the date of the criminal records check as required by division (A) of section 2151.86 of the Revised Code.

(6) If the new household member is the co-parent or spouse of the foster caregiver and shall therefore is to be added to the certificate, the agency shall is to ensure the following is completed in addition to the requirements listed in paragraph (D) of this rule:

(a) The agency shall is to contact all adult children of the new co-parent or spouse for a reference. If the adult children are unable or unwilling to provide a reference, this shall be assessed during the amendment process and the agency is to documented document this in the amendment.

(b) If the person has not previously completed the preservice training, the agency shall is to ensure the co-parent or spouse completes the preplacement training required pursuant to rule 5101:2-5-33 of the Administrative Code no later than one hundred eighty days after becoming a household member. The co-parent or spouse shall is not to be added to the foster care certificate until the training has been completed.

(c) Once the co-parent or spouse is added to the certificate, the required continuing training hours shall are to be prorated from the date the co-parent or spouse is added to the foster care certificate through the expiration of the current certification training span.

(7) New household members are to comply with the immunization requirements as described in rule 5101:2-7-02 of the Administrative Code. If the home was certified prior to June 15, 2020, the home does not have to comply with this requirement.

(E) If the amendment is due to a change of address of the foster home, the agency shall is to ensure the following:

(1) The agency shall is to conduct a safety audit documenting the new residence satisfactorily meets all safety standards.

(a) The safety audit shall is to be completed on the JFS 01348 "Safety Audit."

(b) The safety audit shall is to be conducted within ten working days after the change of address.

(c) If the agency was not notified of the change of address pursuant to rule 5101:2-7-14 of the Administrative Code, the agency shall is to conduct the safety audit within ten working days of the date they became aware of the change of address.

(2) The agency shall require is to ensure the foster caregiver to obtain obtains a fire safety inspection certifying the new residence is free from conditions hazardous to the safety of a foster child.

(a) The fire safety inspection shall is to be completed on the JFS 01200 "Fire Inspection Report For Residential Facilities Certified by ODJFS" or other form used for a local or state fire inspection.

(b) The fire safety inspection shall is to be requested prior to or within thirty days of the date of the change of address. If the agency was not notified of the change of address pursuant to rule 5101:2-7-14 of the Administrative Code, then the fire safety inspection shall is to be requested within thirty days of the date the agency became aware of the change of address.

(c) The fire safety inspection shall is to be conducted prior to or within ninety days of the date of the change of address. If the agency was not notified of the change of address pursuant to rule 5101:2-7-14 of the Administrative Code, then the fire safety inspection shall is to be conducted within ninety days of the date the agency became aware of the change of address.

Notes

Ohio Admin. Code 5101:2-5-30

Effective: 1/1/2025
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 9/11/2024 and 01/01/2030
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 5103.03, 3107.033
Rule Amplifies: 5103.02, 5103.03
Prior Effective Dates: 12/30/1966, 10/01/1986, 02/01/1988, 07/02/1990 (Emer.), 10/01/1990, 01/01/1991, 09/18/1996, 07/01/2000, 01/01/2003, 12/11/2006, 07/01/2009, 11/01/2015, 02/01/2021