This Procedure Letter provides updated guidance related to the lifting of Ohio’s COVID-19 Pandemic State of Emergency Orders.

BACKGROUND

On March 9, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine declared a State of Emergency by Executive Order 2020-02D due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Since the initial declaration of the State of Emergency, several Procedure Letters have been issued by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), Office of Families and Children (OFC), to provide practice guidance related to the COVID-19 Pandemic State of Emergency.

LIFTED STATE OF EMERGENCY

On June 17, 2021, Governor DeWine announced that he was lifting the COVID-19 Pandemic State of Emergency Order, effective June 18, 2021. In accordance with the Governor’s Order lifting the COVID-19 Pandemic State of Emergency, the previously issued Procedure Letters issued will be rescinded effective June 18, 2021: 

• March 30, 2020 FCASPL 348 COVID-19 Pandemic Guidance
• July 15, 2020 FCASPL 356 COVID-19 Pandemic Guidance
• September 17, 2020 FCASPL 359 COVID-19 Pandemic Guidance (combining and replacing FCASPL 348 and 356)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

To allow agencies the opportunity to transition practices, ODJFS will provide technical assistance through July 31, 2021.  ODJFS will continue partnering with stakeholders to assess best practices and lessons learned through the pandemic.  Agencies are encouraged to communicate with their Technical Assistance Specialists, Foster Care Licensing Specialists, and other contacts within OFC for assistance and support during this transition.

Federal requirements in the Consolidated Appropriations Act and as outlined in FCASPL 367, preventing youth from aging out of foster care, will remain in effect through September 30, 2021.

House Bill 404 of the 133rd Ohio General Assembly included language to allow ODJFS to further extend all foster home recertifications and adoption updates due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The times frames were updated in FCASPL 363 and will remain in effect until July 1, 2021.

INSTRUCTIONS:

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