To ensure compliance with the federal Corrective Action and Resolution Plan, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), Office for Children and Families (OCF) will launch the second round of on-site reviews involving the Multiethnic Placement Act, as amended (MEPA) and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as it pertains to the adoption and foster care process (Title VI). The second round of on-site reviews will occur between January 2008 and December 31, 2009.

MEPA Cycle II on-site reviews will involve announced and unannounced visits to the agency. Dates of the announced on-site reviews will be negotiated between OCF and the agency. Private child placing agencies (PCPAs) and private non-custodial agencies (PNAs) will only receive a MEPA on-site review if they are under contract with a public children services agency (PCSA) to provide any of the following foster care and/or adoption services: placement services; homestudy services; pre-placement and/or pre-service training; and recruitment services.

PCSA Responsibility for Identifying the Private Agencies It Contracts With to Perform Foster Care and/or Adoption Services:

1.Each PCSA must complete the attached JFS 01605 "MEPA Monitoring Cycle II, Foster Care Licensing PCSA-PCPA/PNA Contracts" and identify which private agencies have a contract with the PCSA to provide the following foster care and/or adoption services: placement services; homestudy services; pre-placement and/or pre-service training; and recruitment services.

2.The PCSA must return the completed JFS 01605 by January 25, 2008 to: ODJFS, MEPA Unit, Attn: Vanessa Tower, P.O. Box 182709, Columbus, Ohio 43218-2709 or via e-mail transmission to Vanessa Tower at towerv@odjfs.state.oh.us or fax to 614-466-6185.

Agency Responsibilities Prior to Announced ODJFS MEPA On-site Visits

While ODJFS is transitioning to the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS), MEPA Data reports will not be produced or reviewed during the MEPA Cycle II on-site visits until all public and private agencies have rolled out in SACWIS. As a result, at least four weeks prior to each announced MEPA on-site visit, an OCF reviewer will contact the agency and request the following information be made available:

• Child Permanent Custody Case Record Review - A list of all children who were in permanent custody of the agency for at least forty-five (45) days in the review period. The review period is the 12-month period ending two months prior to the first day of the MEPA entrance conference month. The list provided to ODJFS must contain the following information: Client Number; Last Name; First Name; Race; Date of Birth; PC Start Date; PC End Date; and Custody Termination Reason.
• Adoptive Family Case Record Review - A list of adoptive families who have had an approved adoptive homestudy open for at least one day in the review period. The review period is the 12 month period ending two months prior to the first day of the MEPA entrance conference month. The list provided to ODJFS must contain the following information: Resource Number; Resource Name; Homestudy Approved Date; and Homestudy Closing Date. (Open families include families who have been approved for at least one day in the review period and do not have a child placed with them and families who have been approved and do have a child placed with them.)
• JFS 01688 Individualized Child Assessment Case Record Review - A list of all children for whom a JFS 01688 "Individualized Child Assessment" was completed and in effect for at least one day during the review period. The review period is the 12-month period ending two months prior to the first day of the entrance conference month.

INSTRUCTIONS:

The following chart depicts what materials should be removed from and what material should be inserted into the Family, Children and Adult Services Manual (FCASM).