BACKGROUND

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is issuing this Procedure Letter to allow flexibility in child welfare casework practice requirements to provide relief to the workforce.

The children services workforce is an essential piece of achieving the best outcomes for Ohio’s children and families. Historically, turnover rates in public children services agencies (PCSAs) exceed typical work environments, and the current environment accentuates recruitment and retention challenges. Because of these challenges, workforce has been, and continues to be, a critical priority for ODJFS.

In the interest of reducing organizational red tape, ODJFS has thoroughly considered multiple recommendations from county partners to determine practice requirements that can be temporarily relaxed while continuing to ensure child safety and meet Ohio Revised Code requirements.

These workforce relaxation strategies will be effective from September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023.

SUMMARY

An attached document provides a detailed summarization of each approved workforce strategy, explaining the subsequent impact it may have on programming, Ohio SACWIS, and reporting. The following outlines the summary of the approved strategies:

Assessment/Investigation Strategies

• Allowable virtual face-to-face visits with other involved adults
• Additional time for documentation of the safety assessment waiver
• Suspend 5-day contact requirement under certain circumstances

Ongoing Case Planning and Review Strategies

• Remove requirement for completion of the reunification assessment
• Extension of 90-day case review completion
• Remove requirement for each substitute caregiver for treatment foster homes
• Allow supplementary workers to complete exit interviews
• Exclude required medical screening for children discharged from a medical setting

Administrative Strategies

• Extended hours allowed for rules training
• Remove letter of Assurance

In Process Strategies – Revisions and development are in progress and require extended time to achieve.

• Condensed family assessment tool when no safety threat is present
• Streamline information in CAPM tools and navigation in Ohio SACWIS

ADDITIONAL

Further communication will be forthcoming including a guidance document to assist with consistent implementation of relaxation strategies, as well as information on how Ohio SACWIS, reporting, monitoring, and technical assistance may be impacted.

If you would like to submit additional strategies to support the workforce, please have one representative from your agency complete this form that will be reviewed and considered on an ongoing basis.

INSTRUCTIONS:

The following chart indicates what materials should be removed from the Family, Children and Adult Services Manual (FCASM) and what materials are to be inserted in the FCASM.