On January 6, 2023, Governor DeWine signed House Bill 45 of the 134^th General Assembly creating the Ohio Adoption Grant Program (OAGP) under Ohio Revised Code sections 5101.19, 5101.191, 5101.192, 5101.193, and 5101.194, to be effective April 7, 2023. An Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) rule within Chapter 44 along with two new forms and instructions have been developed for the OAGP to be administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). Additionally, two rules for the State Adoption Maintenance Subsidy (SAMS) Program in Chapter 44 and one rule for the Kinship Permanency Incentive (KPI) Program in Chapter 40 impacted by the OAGP have been amended. The following is a brief explanation of the changes:

OAC 5101:2-44-15 entitled Administration and Eligibility for the Ohio Adoption Grant Program provides an overview of the program eligibility requirements of the Ohio Adoption Grant Program and outlines the process to apply for the one-time payment including the approval and denial processes.

OAC 5101:2-44-06 entitled Eligibility for the State Adoption Maintenance Subsidy Program (SAMS) outlines the eligibility requirements for the SAMS payments and provides the process to apply for the program.  The rule was amended to address income received from the Ohio Adoption Grant Program, effective, April 7, 2023, is not to be counted when calculating the annual gross income for applicants. The rule was also restructured for clarification, along with the removal of revision dates for forms.

OAC 5101:2-44-08 entitled Redetermination and Amendment of a State Adoption Maintenance Subsidy (SAMS) describes the process for annual redetermination or a request to amend the agreement upon the request of the adoptive parent. The rule was amended to add language that funds received from the Ohio Adoption Grant Program, effective April 7, 2023, are not to be counted when calculating the annual gross income for applicants at the time of redetermination or request for amendment.

OAC 5101:2-40-04 entitled Kinship Permanency Incentive (KPI) Program provides an overview of the KPI program including eligibility requirements and public children services agency (PCSA) responsibilities for administering the program. The rule was amended to address income received from the Ohio Adoption Grant Program, effective April 7 2023, is not to be counted when calculating the annual gross income for applicants. The definition of “kinship caregiver” was amended to reflect the definition in section 5101.85 of the Ohio Revised Code.  Additionally, language was added to clarify that a child who is receiving Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (KGAP) payments is not eligible for KPI and that any KGAP payments received for other children are not to be included in the income calculation for KPI.  Additional edits to the rule were completed to correct errors and to reflect the current reference to the Ohio Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS).

JFS 01057 “Application for The Ohio Adoption Grant” This form is the application for eligible adoptive parents to apply for a one-time payment per adopted child with qualifying adoptions finalized on or after January 1, 2023.

JFS 01057i “Instructions for Completing JFS 01057 Application for The Ohio Adoption Grant” This form provides instructions for completing the “Application for The Ohio Adoption Grant.”

JFS 01058 “Ohio Adoption Grant Program Special Needs Documentation” This form is to be completed by a qualified professional to document a child with special needs for the Ohio Adoption Grant Program application.

JFS 01058i “Instructions for Completing JFS 01058 Ohio Adoption Grant Program Special Needs Documentation” This form provides instructions for completing the “Ohio Adoption Grant Program Special Needs Documentation.”

INSTRUCTIONS: The following chart indicates the material that should be removed from the Family, Children and Adult Services Manual (FCASM) and the materials that are to be inserted in the FCASM.