This letter transmits changes to several supportive services and substitute care rules that were reviewed due to the Five Year Rule Review. One rule was reviewed but resulted in no changes.

These changes are effective October 4, 2004.

Brief explanations of the rule revisions appear below.

OAC 5101:2-39-11 Required contents of a private child placing agency (PCPA) case plan document has been amended. Changes to the rule include the addition of "in close proximity to the school in which the child was enrolled prior to placement; and designed to enhance the likelihood of reunification, when appropriate," in paragraph (B). "Case management" and "casework services" were added to paragraph (C)(6). "Setting" was deleted throughout the rule when preceded by "out of home care." In some instances the term "setting" was replaced by the word "placement".

OAC 5101:2-39-05 Reasonable efforts was amended for clarity and updated to correspond with current statute. Paragraph (D) was reorganized to remove reference to OAC Rule 5101:2-39-12. Language was added indicating when reasonable efforts are not possible or required.

OAC 5101:2-39-06 Preplacement preventive services, reunification services and life skill services was amended. Language in the rule has been updated to replace "Ohio Early Start" with "Help Me Grow" in paragraphs (A)(4), (D)(3) and (D)(4). Family preservation services was removed from paragraphs (C), (G) and (H) of this rule. ODHS 1444 was changed to JFS 01444 and CDHS was changed to CDJFS.

OAC 5101:2-42-05 Selection of a placement setting was revised as a result of the five year rule review and a new rule replaces the former rule of the same number. It was reorganized for clarity and redundant rule references have been removed. Paragraph (K) has been clarified to limit the exceptions to this rule to children who are under six months of age who are being placed for adoption. Paragraph (D) adds the requirement that an attempt be made to place siblings in the same home. Paragraph (G) specifies that an adoptive placement be considered the least restrictive placement for a child in permanent custody. Paragraph (L) requires that all placement activities be in compliance with the Multiethnic Placement Act.

OAC 5101:2-42-68 Necessity for substitute care placement: court reviews and hearing requirements was refiled with no changes as a result of the five year rule review.

INSTRUCTIONS:

The following chart depicts what materials are to be removed from the Family, Children and Adult Services Manual (FCASM) and what materials are to be inserted into the FCASM.