As you are aware, the passage of Public Law 110-351 known as the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, authorized a number of changes to child welfare programs to benefit children and families. One of the requirements directed at helping youth plan for emancipation from foster care, requires the agency to develop a transition plan 90 days prior to the youth's emancipation. This letter provides guidance to Public Children Services Agencies (PCSA) to assure compliance with federal law.

Recently, ODJFS revised Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) rules for independent living (5101:2-42-19, 5101:2-42-19.1 and 5101:2-42-19.2) to assure compliance with service reporting categories required by the National Youth Transition Data Base authorized by Public Law 106-109, the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Act. These rules become effective October 1, 2009 simultaneous with the SACWIS enhancements that will allow this data to be captured.

OAC 5101:2-42-19 provides guidance that a written independent living plan to help the youth achieve self-sufficiency shall be reviewed every 90 days until the agency's custody is terminated. In order to comply with the Fostering Connections Act, agencies should assure that the youth's final review occurs at least 90 days prior to his or her emancipation from the agency's custody to develop the self-sufficiency / emancipation plan. The plan must:

• Be youth driven and as detailed as the youth chooses.
• Address options for post emancipation services under the John Chafee Independent Living Program.
• Address key living areas such as options related to housing, health insurance, education, local mentorship, continuing support services, work force supports and employment services.
• Include a completed Medicaid application.

This self-sufficiency plan may be used to fulfill the requirements of OAC 5101:2-42-19.2; however, due to the change in federal law, a self-sufficiency / emancipation plan must be developed for each child 90 days prior to emancipation; and therefore it is no longer only developed in response to a youth initiated request.

INSTRUCTIONS:

The following chart depicts what materials should be inserted in the FCASM.