Background

On February 9, 2018 the bipartisan Family First Prevention Services Act was signed into law. This legislation requires residential facilities to meet the qualified residential treatment program (QRTP) requirements to receive Title IV-E reimbursable maintenance payments. States had an option as to when this provision would take effect. Ohio has delayed this implementation until October 1, 2021. After October 1, 2021, any residential facility that does not meet the QRTP requirements will not be eligible for Title IV-E funding.

QRTP Compliance Timeline

A residential facility that is certified by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) or the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) must meet the QRTP program requirements as follows:

Compliance Incentives

In effort to move programs toward compliance to ensure access and sustainability of placement options, ODJFS is providing this one-time funding opportunity for agencies that reach full QRTP compliance by October 1, 2021.

The incentive is to assist agencies in obtaining the resources and supports needed to meet QRTP requirements, as well as support implementation of best practices to enhance agency programming and promote QRTP sustainability.

As long as funding is available, the incentive will be a total of $10,000 per agency, split into two payments, as follows:

Once the Compliance Plan is approved by the applicable regulatory entity (i.e. ODJFS or OhioMHAS), the agency will receive the initial payment of $5,000. To receive the second payment, agencies must be able to demonstrate full QRTP compliance on or before August 20, 2021 to ensure that their compliance can be validated by the applicable regulatory entity no later than October 1, 2021.

Application

The incentive application will open October 5, 2020. An application may be submitted through March 31, 2021, or until funds are no longer available, whichever occurs first. Eligible agencies must submit an application through the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association’s (OCCRRA) dashboard at https://registry.occrra.org/. Only agencies licensed or certified prior to October 1, 2020, who are not in active enforcement, are eligible to apply.

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.