FCASMTL 428 (Multi System Youth Program and Funding)
Family, Children and Adult Services Manual Transmittal Letter No. 428
December 30, 2019
TO: All Family, Children, and Adult Services Manual Holders
FROM: Kimberly Hall, Director
SUBJECT: Multi System Youth Program and Funding

Background

Pursuant to Section 307.110 of Amended Substitute House Bill 166 of the 133rd General Assembly the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) was allocated $25 million to be used for youth currently in the custody of a public children services agency (PCSA) or to prevent children from entering into the custody of a PCSA by custody relinquishment or another mechanism.  The language also required ODJFS to adopt a rule in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code to administer the funding.

This funding is designed to provide needed services and supports to youth with multi-system needs and their families, evaluate program effectiveness, and conduct sustainability planning during State Fiscal Year (SFY) 20.  The outcomes of year one will then assist with determining changes, if necessary, in SFY21.

Updates

Ohio Administrative Code rule 5101:2-54-01, Multi System Youth, is a new rule that establishes the following initiatives to prevent children from entering custody for the sole purpose of obtaining needed treatment, to support the costs of care for children already in custody residing in residential treatment facilities, and to provide needed services and supports necessary for the child’s successful transition from a residential treatment facility following discharge:

(1)State level program: transfer $3,500,000.00 each year of the biennium to the Ohio Department of Medicaid to assist local partners in securing needed services and supports for youth with multi-system needs;

(2)Family children first council shared service and sustainability planning: transfer $1,000,000.00 each year of the biennium to the Ohio Family and Children First Council to create, improve, and sustain effective collaborative, cross-system service delivery at the local level;

(3)Training and technical assistance: transfer $500,000.00 each year of the biennium to the Ohio Family and Children First Council to support training and technical assistance needed for local infrastructure development;

(4)Public children service agency (PCSA) relinquishment support: allocate $20,000,000.00 each year of the biennium to the PCSAs in accordance with section 5101.14 of the Revised Code to support the costs of care for children in custody of the agency who are placed in congregate care facilities, and to prevent the relinquishment of custody to a PCSA for the sole purpose of the child obtaining access to needed treatment.

a.Of these funds, the PCSAs are to designate a minimum of five per cent in SFY 20 and a minimum of ten per cent in SFY 21 of the formula-based allocation to work locally in accordance with Section 337.180 of Amended Substitute House Bill 166 of the 133rd General Assembly.

b.The designated funding is to support the provision of services to families and children.

Implementation

This rule will be effective on January 1, 2020 with funding transfers and allocations to follow.