Ohio Admin. Code 5101:2-5-33 - Foster caregiver preplacement and continuing training

(A) A recommending agency shall is to document that each person seeking certification successfully completes all preplacement training required by this rule according to the type of foster home for which certification is sought.

(B) A recommending agency shall is to document that each foster caregiver for whom recertification continuous certification is recommended successfully completes all continuing training required by this rule for the type of foster home operated by the foster caregiver, unless a waiver is approved by the recommending agency pursuant to paragraph (J) of this rule and appropriately documented according to paragraph (K) of this rule.

(C) A foster caregiver or applicant is to meet the following preplacement or continuing training requirements, as applicable to the type of home for which an applicant is seeking certification or for which a foster caregiver is certified.

(1) Pre-adoptive infant foster home:

(a) A person seeking certification to operate a pre-adoptive infant foster home shall is to complete a minimum of twelve hours of preplacement training prior to the agency recommending the home for certification. The required training topics are listed in appendix A to this rule.

(b) A foster caregiver certified to operate a pre-adoptive infant foster home shall is to complete a minimum of twenty-four hours of continuing training during each certification period every two years. If a currently certified foster caregiver has not completed infant first aid and CPR training, the caregiver is to complete the training by their subsequent recertification.

(2) Family foster home:

(a) A person seeking certification to operate a family foster home shall is to complete twenty-four hours of preplacement training prior to the agency recommending the home for certification. The preplacement training program shall is to consist of courses in the role of foster caregivers as a part of the care and treatment of foster children. To continue the certification process, prospective foster caregivers are to complete the full list of topics in appendix A to this rule.

(b) A foster caregiver certified to operate a family foster home shall is to complete a minimum of thirty hours of continuing training during each certification period every two years. A continuing training program shall is to consist of courses that a foster caregiver must is to complete in accordance with the caregiver's written needs assessment and continuing training plan. Effective January 1, 2023 a foster caregiver is to complete the resource readiness topics during the first certification period as specified in appendix A to this rule.

(c) No preplacement training received prior to certification shall is to be counted towards the completion of continuing training required by specified in this rule.

(3) Specialized foster home:

(a) A person seeking certification to operate a specialized foster home shall is to complete twenty-four hours of preplacement training prior to the agency recommending the home for certification. The preplacement training program is to consist of topics listed in appendix A to this rule.

(b) A foster caregiver certified to operate a specialized foster home shall is to complete a minimum of forty-five hours of continuing training during each certification period every two years. The continuing training program shall is to consist of courses in accordance with the caregiver's written needs assessment and continuing training plan and shall is to include additional topics specific to the types of children placed in the type of specialized foster home for which the caregiver is certified. Such training shall is to also include completion of a first aid training program and a child and adult CPR training program such as those training programs offered by the American red cross, the American heart association, or the equivalent. Effective January 1, 2023 a foster caregiver is to complete the resource readiness topics during the first certification period in the first two years as specified in appendix A to this rule.

(c) No preplacement training received prior to certification shall is to be counted towards the completion of continuing training required by this rule.

(D) A foster caregiver may complete up to twenty per cent a portion of his or her continuing training requirement by teaching one or more training classes to other foster caregivers or by providing mentoring services to other foster caregivers. This portion is to be included within the fifty per cent of outside the classroom training as described in paragraph (F) of this rule. The mentee may also receive credit for receiving this training. To qualify for teaching or mentoring services a foster caregiver shall is to:

(1) Have at least two years experience as a certified foster caregiver.

(2) Have had at least two child placements in their foster home.

(3) Be a currently certified foster home.

(4) Not be under a corrective action plan by a recommending agency.

(5) Not be under investigation for a violation of state statute or rule by a recommending agency or ODJFS the Ohio department of children and youth (DCY).

(E) As used in this rule, mentoring services means, at a minimum:

(1) Assisting foster caregivers with information that will encourage communication between the new foster caregivers and human service agencies.

(2) Offering foster caregivers possible solutions to problems that may occur while caring for a child in placement.

(3) Assisting and guiding recently certified foster caregivers in day to day activities while caring for a child in placement.

(4) Offering to assist foster caregivers in utilizing resources within their community.

(5) Encouraging recently certified foster caregivers to attend training sessions in order to maintain their current certification.

(F) Video presentations and training completed outside of a classroom shall is to be accepted under the following conditions:

(1) Video presentations may be used as a tool to meet preplacement or continuing foster caregiver training requirements if any of the following requirements are met:

(a) A qualified trainer is present during the training session to respond to questions.

(b) The video presentation is part of a self-directed learning program approved by ODJFS DCY.

(c) ODJFS DCY has approved the video presentation as part of an agency's training proposal as set forth in rule 5101:2-5-40 of the Administrative Code.

(2) Video presentations prepared for entertainment purposes shall are not to be considered as meeting training requirements unless transfer of learning components are included prior to or and following the video presentation. Transfer of learning components may are to include a pretest, and a posttest, or a discussion following the video presentation. Video presentations prepared for entertainment purposes shall are not to be used for preplacement training or to meet more than one-forth of a foster caregiver's continuing training requirements.

(3) The acceptance of training that is completed outside a classroom where a trainer is not present, shall is to be considered by the recommending agency on an individual basis and shall is not to be used for more than six hours of preplacement training or to meet more than one-half of a foster caregiver's continuing training requirements. To be accepted by a recommending agency to meet a foster caregiver's continuing training requirements, the training must is to include a transfer of learning component prior to or and following the training. Such training shall is to be consistent with the recommending agency's written needs assessment and continuing training plan developed for the foster caregiver pursuant to paragraph (G) of this rule. If a private child placing agency (PCPA) or private noncustodial agency (PNA) intends to accept such continuing training on a regular basis, it shall is to be included in the agency's training proposal developed pursuant to rule 5101:2-5-40 of the Administrative Code. If a public children services agency (PCSA) intends to accept such continuing training on a regular basis, it shall is to provide written notification to the regional training center of the Ohio child welfare training program (OCWTP) responsible for providing foster caregiver training for the county so the training center can make appropriate plans for training.

(a) Alternative learning activities are to be pre-approved by the agency and may be used for training credit. Training completed outside a classroom may include training offered through the following methods:

(i) Video presentations.

(ii) Books, journals or articles pre-approved by the agency. Books, journals or articles may be used to meet no more than twenty per cent of continuing training.

(iii) Computer programs.

(iv) Internet sites.

(v) Interactive video presentations.

(b) Transfer of learning components may is to include the following:

(i) A pretest.

(ii) A posttest.

(iii) A discussion following the training.

(4) Continuing training where a foster caregiver is teaching one or more training classes to other foster caregivers or providing mentoring services to other foster caregivers may be used in combination with training completed outside a classroom to meet no more than one-fourth of the foster caregiver's continuing training requirements.

(5)(4) Live synchronous distance learning, where the trainer or facilitator is available real time to deliver the training, may be used to meet all of preplacement and continuing training.

(6)(5) Pursuant to rule 5101:2-5-38 of the Administrative Code, neither a foster caregiver training stipend nor an agency training allowance payment shall is to be made for training completed outside a classroom where a person in the role of a trainer is not present.

(7)(6) Continuing training hours obtained by a foster caregiver by teaching one or more training classes to other foster caregivers are eligible for stipend and training allowance reimbursement in the amount of hours as specified in the foster caregiver's written needs assessment and continuing training plan. Any continuing training hours obtained by a foster caregiver by teaching one or more training classes to other foster caregivers in excess of the specified amount in the written needs assessment and continuing training plan shall is not to be reimbursable.

(G) Not later than the first thirty days of a foster caregiver's certification period, and every two years thereafter, a recommending agency shall is to develop and implement a written needs assessment and continuing training plan for each foster caregiver affiliated with the agency. Each needs assessment and continuing training plan shall is to satisfy all of the following requirements:

(1) Be effective for the two-year period the foster caregiver's certificate is in effect two years. The plan may be completed more frequently when there are training needs identified based on the demographics and needs of a youth in care.

(2) Be appropriate for the type of foster home the foster caregiver operates, the type of children typically placed in the home and include as appropriate training for the caregiver that relates to providing independent living services, as defined in section 2151.81 of the Revised Code, to a child placed as provided in division (B)(2) of section 2151.353 of the Revised Code.

(3) Require Have the foster caregiver to successfully complete the courses the agency considers appropriate; .

(4) Include criteria the agency is to use to determine whether the foster caregiver has successfully completed the courses.

(5) Guarantee that the courses the foster caregiver is required to complete are available to the foster caregiver at reasonable times and places.

(6) Specify the number of hours of continuing training, if any, the foster caregiver may complete by teaching one or more training classes to other foster caregivers or by providing mentoring services to other foster caregivers as referenced in this rule.

(7) For a family foster caregiver or a specialized foster caregiver, specify whether the agency will waive any of the hours of continuing training the foster caregiver is required by paragraph (C) of this rule to complete during each certification period if the foster caregiver satisfies the conditions for the agency to issue a waiver. If the agency will issue a waiver, the agency shall is to state in the needs assessment and continuing training plan the number of hours of continuing training, not to exceed eight during each certification period eight every two years, that the agency will waive.

(H) For the purpose of determining whether a foster caregiver has satisfied the requirements of paragraph (C) of this rule, a recommending agency shall is to accept training for foster caregivers obtained from a regional training center of the OCWTP or an approved preplacement training program or continuing training program operated by a PCPA or PNA under rule 5101:2-5-40 of the Administrative Code regardless of whether the recommending agency operated the preplacement training program or continuing training program. The recommending agency may require that ask the applicant or foster caregiver to successfully complete additional training as a condition of initial certification or recertification continuous certification. A recommending agency may accept up to fifteen hours of continuing training without prior approval from ODJFS DCY if both of the following are met:

(1) The training is from a program that provides a training course or courses outlined in the foster parent's continuing training plan.

(2) The program is agreed upon by both the recommending agency and the foster parent.

(I) The recommending agency shall is to maintain a record in the statewide automated child welfare information system (SACWIS) the Ohio comprehensive child welfare information system (Ohio CCWIS) for each foster caregiver showing the date, location, course name and length of each preplacement and continuing training course each foster caregiver attended, and the name of the trainer.

(J) At the beginning of a foster caregiver's second certification period or a subsequent certification period After two years, a recommending agency may include within the foster caregiver's written needs assessment and continuing training plan, a waiver of up to eight hours of continuing training that a foster caregiver holding a certificate for a family foster home or specialized foster home is otherwise required specified by paragraph (C) of this rule to complete during the certification period every two years, if all of the following apply:

(1) The foster caregiver has had or maintained a foster home certificate for at least two years.

(2) The foster caregiver has provided care for a foster child for at least ninety days of the twelve months preceding the date the agency issues the waiver.

(3) The foster caregiver has not violated any statute or rule governing certification of foster homes during the twelve months preceding the date the agency issues the waiver.

(4) The foster caregiver has complied in full with the needs assessment and continuing training plan developed for the foster caregiver under paragraph (G) of this rule for the preceding certification two year period.

(K) For each continuing training waiver approved by a recommending agency for a family foster home or a specialized foster home pursuant to paragraph (J) of this rule the following documentation shall is to be maintained in the foster caregiver's record:

(1) The date of the waiver.

(2) The number of hours of training waived.

(3) A statement that each of the requirements of paragraph (J) of this rule have been met.

(4) The name and signature of the authorized agency representative who approved the waiver.

(L) A foster caregiver to whom either paragraph (L)(1) or (L)(2) of this rule applies shall is to be given an additional amount of time within which to complete the continuing training required under specified by this rule, as applicable to the type of foster home the caregiver is certified to operate. The additional time shall is to be one month for each month the caregiver was on active duty. Any required training that is not met at the end of a foster caregiver's certification training period applying the preceding sentence shall is to be waived by the agency. When a waiver of training is approved by an agency under this paragraph, the required training for the next certification training period shall is to be the same as for any other caregiver operating a foster home of the type for which the foster caregiver is certified. The agency shall is to document any such extension of time in the foster caregiver's record.

(1) The foster caregiver has served in active duty outside Ohio with a branch of the armed forces of the United States for more than thirty fifteen days in the preceding two-year training period.

(2) The foster caregiver has served in active duty as a member of the Ohio organized militia, as defined in section 5923.01 of the Revised Code, which includes the Ohio national guard, the Ohio naval militia and the Ohio military reserve, for more than thirty fifteen days in the preceding two-year training period and that active duty relates to either an emergency in or outside of Ohio or to military duty in or outside of Ohio.

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Notes

Ohio Admin. Code 5101:2-5-33

Effective: 1/1/2025
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 9/11/2024 and 01/01/2030
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 5103.03, 5103.0316
Rule Amplifies: 5101.14, 5153.16, 5103.031, 5103.032, 5103.033, 5103.034, 5103.035, 5103.036, 5103.038
Prior Effective Dates: 12/30/1966, 10/01/1986, 02/01/1988, 07/02/1990 (Emer.), 10/01/1990, 01/01/1991, 03/17/1994, 10/01/1997 (Emer.), 12/30/1997, 09/01/2000, 01/01/2003, 08/22/2005, 05/22/2008, 03/01/2010, 09/01/2015, 06/15/2020, 06/01/2021, 01/01/2023