This letter transmits twelve amended rules surrounding foster care updates as a result of the five-year review. These rules will be effective April 1, 2019.

The following is a brief explanation of the proposed changes:

OAC rule 5101:2-7-03, entitled "The care and treatment team" provides guidance to foster caregivers to participate in providing and discussing the care and services provided to a foster child. A grammatical change was made in paragraph (B). No substantive changes were made.

OAC rule 5101:2-7-04, entitled "Records and confidentiality" provides guidance to foster caregivers regarding the records the caregiver is required to keep. Paragraph (A)(3) was broken out for clarity. No substantive changes were made.

OAC rule 5101:2-7-05, entitled "Sleeping arrangements" provides guidance to foster caregivers about sleeping arrangements in the home of the caregiver. Paragraph (B)(1) was amended to clarify that a fresh air ventilation system can include central air conditioning. No other substantive changes were made.

OAC rule 5101:2-7-06, entitled "Meals" provides guidance to foster caregivers about meals to be provided to children in care. Paragraph (A)(5) was broken out for clarity. No substantive changes were made.

OAC rule 5101:2-7-07, entitled "Health services" provides guidance to foster caregivers regarding health care for children in foster care. A grammatical change was made in paragraph (B)(3). No substantive changes were made.

OAC rule 5101:2-7-09, entitled "Care, supervision and care" provides guidance to foster caregivers on the treatment and supervision required to be provided to a child in care. A grammatical change was made in paragraph (D). No substantive changes were made.

OAC rule 5101:2-7-10, entitled "Care of a foster child under age two" provides guidance to foster caregivers for the care of a foster child under age two. A grammatical change was made in paragraph (A)(3). No substantive changes were made.

OAC rule 5101:2-7-12, entitled "Site and safety requirements for a foster home" provides guidance to foster caregivers on the proper safety items and procedures in a foster home. Paragraph (I) was amended to clarify what type of door locks for storage areas may be used in a foster home. Paragraphs (M), (Q) and (R) were broken out for clarity. Language was also added to each of these paragraphs to allow the approval of a smoke alarm, heater and fire extinguisher by a certified fire inspector.

OAC rule 5101:2-7-13, entitled "Foster home certificate" provides guidance to foster caregivers on the certificate for a foster home. A grammatical change was made in paragraph (G). No substantive changes were made.

OAC rule 5101:2-7-14, entitled "Required notification" provides guidance to foster caregivers on when to notify the agency in case of certain events. A grammatical change was made in paragraph (B)(4). Paragraph (F) was amended to clarify that notifications by a caregiver in relation to this paragraph should be made within twenty-four hours of gaining knowledge of the event. Also, the requirement to seek revocation in the event of a violation related to paragraph (F) was removed. Paragraph (G) was broken out and a portion of it was moved to a newly created paragraph (H) for clarity.

OAC rule 5101:2-7-16, entitled "Additional requirements for a treatment foster caregiver and a treatment foster home" provides guidance to foster caregivers about what is needed to provide services to treatment level foster children. Paragraph (D)(2) was amended to align it with the language in rule 5101:2-5-36 of the Administrative Code.

OAC rule 5101:2-7-17, entitled "Additional requirements for a medically fragile foster caregiver and a medically fragile foster home" provides guidance to foster caregivers what is needed to provide services to medically fragile children. Paragraph (D)(2)(d) was amended to correct the spelling of a word. No substantive changes were made

INSTRUCTIONS:

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