Section 307.100 of Amended Substitute House Bill 166 of the 133rd General Assembly authorized the creation of the Kinship Caregiver Program.  Like its predecessor, the Kinship Caregiver Program is a joint effort between County Departments of Job and Family Services and Public Children Service Agencies and is operated through the Prevention Retention and Contingency (PRC) program.

Section 307.100 became effective upon signature of the Governor and it included authority for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to write rules necessary to carry out the purpose of the Kinship Caregiver Program.  In order to ensure that county agencies are able to quickly amend their PRC plans and include the new aspects of the Program, ODJFS is providing the attached guidance that mirrors rules that will be filed with the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR).  County agencies should rely on the interim guidance provided in this letter, Section 307.100 and Chapter 5108. of the Revised Code when amending their PRC plans.

In order to immediately implement the “stabilization service” and/or the “caregiving service”, a county agency may either amend its existing PRC plan following Section 307.100 and this interim guidance; or continue the Kinship Caregiver Program authorized during the last biennium, so long as the design is consistent with Section 307.100 and this interim guidance.

This interim guidance shall remain in effect until rules filed with JCARR become effective.

Questions can be sent to Program Policy Services either by email at TANFFSTA@jfs.ohio.gov or by calling 1-866-886-3537 (option 6).