(A)The Ohio department of job and family services (ODJFS) issues children services best practices (CSBP) funds to strengthen best practices of a public children services agency (PCSA).

(B)This allocation consists of state funds. The PCSA will deposit this allocation in the county's children services fund.

(C)ODJFS communicates the funding period and liquidation period through the county finance information system (CFIS). The PCSA can incur services through the funding period and disburse and report expenditures no later than the end of the liquidation period. Expenditures in excess of the allocation amount are the responsibility of the county agency.

(D)ODJFS allocates this funding in accordance with section 5101.14 of the Revised Code as follows:

(1)If the amount of available funds is equal to the amount appropriated for the immediately preceding fiscal year, each county will receive an amount equal to the amount it received in the immediately preceding fiscal year exclusive of any releases from or additions to the allocation or any sanctions.

(2)If the amount of available funds is less than the amount initially appropriated for the immediately preceding fiscal year, each county will receive an amount equal to the percentage of funding it received in the immediately preceding fiscal year, exclusive of any releases from or additions to the allocation or any sanctions.

(3)If the amount of available funds is more than the amount initially appropriated for the immediately preceding fiscal year, each county will receive an amount equal to the amount it received in the preceding year as a base allocation. ODJFS will allocate the amount exceeding the amount initially appropriated in the immediately preceding fiscal year as follows:

(a)Twelve per cent is divided equally among all counties.

(b)Forty-eight per cent is distributed based on the total number of county residents under the age of eighteen as compared to the total statewide residents under the age of eighteen for the most recent calendar year available.

(c)Forty per cent is distributed based on the number of county residents with incomes under the federal poverty level as compared to the statewide total of residents with incomes under the federal poverty level for the most recent calendar year available.

(E)Allowable costs associated with CSBP activities and contracts for purchased goods and services include but are not limited to the following:

(1)Family first prevention services act (FFPSA) (2018), preparation including the development and/or evaluation of prevention services and qualified residential treatment programs;

(2)Kinship supports including the establishment or expansion of kinship support programs;

(3)Foster care recruitment/retention activities that, in addition to the foster parent recruitment allocation, include efforts to build more caregiver capacity to meet the needs of children with complex needs in family-based settings;

(4)Workforce support including recruitment and retention strategies for the PCSA workforce;

(5)Training incentives for completion of training or coaching in topic and competency areas that are determined, through a structured process of needs assessment, to be relevant to the work and a high priority need for the system and individuals working within it;

(6)Data and reporting including administrative support to review and analyze data and reporting to inform local strengths, needs, and priorities; and

(7)Equipment and technology support, including but not limited to, the purchase of training, services and equipment such as surface pros, phones, scanners, and mobile broadband.

(F)A PCSA will report direct expenditures as described in rule 5101:9-7-29 of the Administrative Code.

(G)The definitions, requirements, and responsibilities contained in rule 5101:9-6-50 of the Administrative Code are applicable to this rule.

Effective: 4/23/2020

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 04/23/2025

Certification: CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY

Date: 04/13/2020

Promulgated Under: 111.15

Statutory Authority: 5101.14

Rule Amplifies: 5101.14