Background:

Rule 5101:2-13-03 of the Administrative Code requires family child care providers to notify the county agency in the Ohio Child Licensing Quality System (OCLQS) when a Serious Risk Non-Compliance (SRNC) occurs. Until now, county agencies have been able to set their own policies on how to utilize this information once submitted. This new procedure will help ensure consistent use of inspection type in an inspection report for the citation of non-compliances.

Updated Process:

Effective the date of this letter, the following procedures are to be used by county agencies, which are aligned with the state for centers:

• If the information submitted is determined to be a serious incident or injury as defined by rule 5101:2-13-16 of the Administrative Code, the County Agency Reviewer:
  • Contacts the program within three business days, or sooner if instructed by the County Agency Approver, to obtain the details of the incident.
  • If the serious incident is not a SRNC or a child fatality the case is closed, and no report is generated.
  • If the serious incident report is of a child fatality, regardless of whether it is a SRNC, a serious incident/injury/illness inspection report must be created from the Serious Incident case in OCLQS.
• If the information submitted is determined to be a six-point SRNC as defined by rule 5101:2-13-03 of the Administrative Code, the County Agency Reviewer:
  • Notifies the appropriate region email box if the program is currently SUTQ rated.
  • If a complaint case is not received within 10 days, a serious incident/injury/illness inspection report must be created from the Serious Incident case in OCLQS with a corrective action date.
  • If a complaint on the same issue is also received, the County Agency Reviewer conducts an onsite complaint inspection to investigate the allegations reported.
  • If a complaint is received after the serious incident/injury/illness inspection report is created, the serious incident/injury/illness inspection report must be deleted so there is only one inspection report associated with the incident.
• The County Agency Reviewer must contact the County Agency Approver within 24 hours of the notification of the Serious Incident case if the reported serious incident includes the suspicion of child abuse or neglect, a child fatality, or if there is known media involvement.
• If the Serious Incident case that is reported is the result of a suspicion of child abuse or neglect, the County Agency Reviewer must also contact the Public Children Services Agency (PCSA) within 24 hours of the notification.

If you have questions, please contact the Child Care Policy Help Desk at 1-877-302-2347, option 4 or CHILDCAREPOLICY@jfs.ohio.gov.