This letter transmits amendments to the OAC rule governing the visitation of children in the custody of the Public Children Services Agency (PCSA). The following is a brief explanation of the proposed change. This rule will be effective February 17, 2008.

OAC 5101:2-42-65 entitled Caseworker visits and contacts with children in substitute care outlines the provisions regarding agency visits and contacts with a child in its custody and placed in a substitute care setting. This rule was amended to ensure Ohio's visitation policies promote child safety and well-being while the child is in substitute care and that they meet the requirements of the federal legislation. The Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006 added new performance standards related to visitation of children in substitute care by the caseworker. States are required to set targets for improvement, and meet the goal of visiting at least 90 percent of the children in substitute care on at least a monthly basis, with the majority of the visits occurring within the child's residence by 2011.

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.