This letter transmits Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) rule 5101:2-33-09 entitled "Protective Services Incentive Funding." House Bill 215 included language that permits public children services agencies (PCSAs) to utilize Protective Services Incentive Funding for practice and management activities that are consistent with identified children services priorities. OAC rule 5101:2-33-09 indicates that this funding must be used to promote innovative practice standards and efficiencies in service delivery. Attachment A outlines different options in child welfare which incentive funds can support.

A PCSA must assure county compliance with the following requirement in order to be eligible for funding:

Listing of all children awaiting an adoptive home with the Ohio Adoption Photo Listing (OAPL) and AdoptOHIO Photo Listing Web Page. The requirement and procedures for registering children is outlined in OAC rule 5101:2-48-07 (Attachment B). The percentage of children that each agency currently has registered with OAPL compared with the total number of children who should be listed in OAPL pursuant to OAC rule 5101:2-48-07 is listed in Attachment C.

The Ohio Department of Human Services (ODHS) will use the State Child Protective Allocation (SCPA) formula to allocate funds to a PCSA that is in compliance with the above requirement. All PCSAs that have met the above requirement by August 1, 1998, are eligible for the incentive funds. If the PCSA is not eligible for receipt of Protective Services Incentive Funds by August 1, the second date an agency can obtain eligibility for receipt of funds is November 1, 1998. Any PCSA not in compliance by November 1, 1998, will not be eligible for incentive funds for the balance of the fiscal year. Incentive funds, if authorized by the legislature in the future, may be distributed in a different manner or be based on other priorities.

Protective Services Incentive Funding Application and Reporting Procedures

All PCSAs that have met the above requirement shall complete the ODHS 3325 "Protective Services Incentive Funding Request" form (see Attachment D). For the first advance of funds (August 1, 1998), the completed form must be postmarked and mailed by July 24, 1998, to the attention of Ron Browder, Chief, Bureau of Child and Adult Protection for review and approval at the following address:

Bureau of Child and Adult Protection

Office of Prevention, Protection and Self-Sufficiency

Ohio Department of Human Services

65 East State Street, 5th Floor

Columbus, Ohio 43266-0423

Agencies who have established compliance for the second advance of funds (November 1, 1998), shall submit the ODHS 3325 "Protective Services Incentive Funding Request" form (Attachment D) to Ron Browder for review and approval at the aforementioned address by October 23, 1998. A PCSA which has submitted the ODHS 3325 by July 24, 1998 and which has been approved for funding is not required to submit another request for funding on the ODHS 3325.

Agencies shall submit a progress report in January 1999 and a final report in June 1999. The requirements for reporting will be provided in a future mailing.

If you have questions regarding this funding or the form, please contact Ron Browder at (614) 728-6983. Additional fiscal instructions will be included in a forthcoming Administrative Procedure Manual Transmittal Letter.