Background:

The Child Care Development Block Grant Act of 2014 (CCDBG) requires that all providers of publicly funded child care (PFCC) meet health and safety requirements including new background check requirements. Because Ohio Department of Education (ODE) programs are able to sign an agreement to provide PFCC and receive reimbursement from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) for services provided, they must also meet these requirements.

New rule:

Rule 5101:2-16-43 "Approval for Ohio Department of Education (ODE) Programs to Provide Publicly Funded Child Care" is a new rule which outlines the process the ODE programs will follow prior to entering in to a provider agreement with ODJFS to provide PFCC. This rule also requires the ODE program to follow the ODJFS process for background checks pursuant to rule 5101:2-12-09 of the Administrative Code and to meet all requirements of CCDBG.

New form:

JFS 01140 (10/2017) "Request to Provide Publicly Funded Child Care for Ohio Department of Education Programs" is a new form that will be used by ODE programs to request approval from ODJFS to provide publicly funded child care.

Implementation:

All ODE programs that want to become approved to provide PFCC on or after October 29, 2017, shall comply with the new requirements.

ODE programs with a signed provider agreement with ODJFS to provide PFCC prior to the effective date of the rule will be required to submit the JFS 01140 "Request to Provide Publicly Funded Child Care for Ohio Department of Education Programs" and shall ensure that all staff have submitted the JFS 01175 "Request for Background Check for Child Care" and fingerprints, no later than January 1, 2018.

ODE programs that do not have a signed provider agreement prior to the effective date of this rule shall follow all of the requirements of the rule prior to signing an agreement.