Background:

Prior to October 1, 2014 the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) received an annual allocation for the Refugee Social Services Program (RSSP) from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). The allocation was distributed to the five counties with the highest refugee populations to provide RSSP services to refugees living in that county.

Effective October 2014, ODJFS began providing RSSP services by contracting directly with service providers in six regions across the state.

As a result of the changes in how services are being provided, ODJFS is rescinding rules 5101:1-2-40.2, 5101:1-2-40.3 and 5101:1-2-40.4 as the requirements are covered in the agreements.

These rules will become effective on June 1, 2015. If changes are necessary, a copy of the revised rule will be forwarded to you at that time.

The following describes the revisions:

Chapter 4000

5101:1-2-40.1: Refugee Cash Assistance

This rule sets forth the policy for the Refugee Cash Assistance Program (RCA).

This rule had significant changes and is being rescinded and replaced with a new rule of the same number.

Changes to the new rule include:

• Language has been removed regarding county allocation of RSSP funding.
• The rule has other minor language and formatting changes. There were no substantive policy changes.

5101:1-2-40.2: Refugee Social Services Program: Eligibility and County Agency Responsibilities

This rule sets forth the policy for eligibility and county agency responsibilities for RSSP.

This rule is being rescinded.

5101:1-2-40.3: Refugee Social Services Program: Services

This rule sets forth the policy for services for the RSSP. This rule is being rescinded.

5101:1-2-40.4: Refugee Social Services Program: Family Self Sufficiency Plan and Individual Employability Plan Requirements

This rule sets forth the policy for the family self-sufficiency plan and individual employability plan requirements for RSSP. This rule is being proposed for rescission.

5101:1-2-40.5: Targeted Assistance Program

This rule sets forth the policy for the Targeted Assistance Program (TAP). This rule had significant changes and is being rescinded and replaced with a new rule of the same number.

Due to the proposed rescission of the RSSP rules, the following requirements that were formerly referenced in RSSP rules have been added to the TAP rule:

• Eligibility requirements for TAP;
• Criteria for employment, employment services and employability services;
• Required employment and employability services;
• Additional services allowed with TAP
• Definition of and responsibility of development of the family self-sufficiency plan and the individual employability plan; and
• County agency responsibilities.