This letter transmits a new rule that will govern the Child Protection Oversight and Evaluation (CPOE) process and rescinds OAC 5101:2-57-02 Child protection oversight and evaluation. The new OAC rule 5101:2-33-02, which is also entitled Child protection oversight and evaluation, is substantially the same as OAC 5101:2-57-02 which it is replacing. This rule will become effective on January 1, 2005.

A brief explanation of the changes appears below:

OAC 5101:2-33-02: Child Protection Oversight and Evaluation. This rule has been moved to a different OAC chapter and has been revised to allow the CPOE process to be in alignment with the federal Child and Family Service Reviews which are conducted every two years. Increasing CPOE timeframes from eighteen to twenty-four months will allow Public Children Services Agencies (PCSAs) to have more time to implement their Quality Improvement Plans (QIP) and for both the PCSAs and the Ohio Department of Job and Family services to see improvements based upon QIP strategies used. Paragraph (D) changes the eighteen month requirement for reviews to twenty-four months unless a court order requires an earlier review of the agency program and measures. Paragraph (D)(3) changes the timeframe for issuance of the report from 120 days to 150 days.

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 in the FCASM.