This letter transmits revisions to the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) rules which address the public children services agency's (PCSA) requirements for the alternative response pilot. These rules have been amended to change the amendment date of the JFS 01418. The content of the JFS 01418 and instructions have been amended. The effective date of these rules and form is June 14, 2009.

OAC rule 5101:9-14-03 entitled Implementation of pilot protocols for public children services agencies participating in the alternative response pilot program outlines the principles for Ohio's alternative response to child abuse and neglect reports. This rule includes the PCSA responsiblities in assigning reports of abuse or neglect to either the alternative response pathway or the traditional response pathway. The revision date of the JFS 01418 has been amended.

OAC rule 5101:9-14-04 entitled PCSA requirements for alternative response to child abuse and/or neglect outlines the PCSA requirements for responding to accepted reports of intra-familial child abuse and neglect that have been assigned to the alternative response pathway. The revision date of the JFS 01418 has been amended.

Forms:

The JFS 01418 "Alternative Response Family Service Plan" rev. (05/2009) is utilized by the PCSA when providing services to a family through the alternative response pathway. The form has been amended to include additional spacing and a clarification in language to make the form easier to use by the PCSA and family members participating in the development of the service plan.

The JFS 01418-I "Instructions for Completing JFS 01418" rev. (05/2009) has been amended to incorporate and address the amendments made to the form.

INSTRUCTIONS:

The following chart depicts what materials are to be removed from the Administrative Procedures Manual (APM) and what materials are to be inserted in the APM.