This letter and attached Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) rule 51012-39-50 are to inform you of changes in the procedures and requirements regarding the Ohio Family and Children First Cabinet Council, local clusters for services to youth, and county family and children first councils.

Passage of Amended Substitute H.B. No. 152 created the Ohio Family and Children First Cabinet Council, which has assumed the mission of the Interdepartmental Cluster for Services to Youth. The Cabinet Council may advise and assess local governments on the coordination of service delivery to children and families, as well as develop programs and projects to encourage state and local coordination that improves the state's social service delivery system. The Cabinet Council is also continuing its review and funding of service and treatment plans for children with multiple needs referred by county clusters or councils.

Counties may continue their cluster, or a county may establish a family and children first council. Counties may elect to retain their cluster as a separate entity, and also establish a council. Both clusters and councils are to coordinate services and resources to effectively serve families and children in their county. Clusters and/or councils may develop programs and projects to improve the local social service delivery system, and pool funds and/or develop other financing strategies to maximize the use of state, federal and local resources for services to families and children. Local clusters and/or councils are also to review cases of children and families with multiple needs referred to the cluster and/or council, and may refer cases to the Cabinet Council for assistance in treatment planning.