The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services issues the Kinship Supports Intervention (KSI) allocation to public children services agencies (PCSAs) to ensure children have a safe and stable living environment. The KSI funding will provide support to kinship caregivers, regardless of custody status, to provide resources that meet the child’s physical, emotional, financial and basic needs.

This allocation consists of federal funds.  The assistance listings number is 93.471.

The PCSA can incur services through the funding period and disburse and report expenditures no later than the end of the liquidation period.

Methodology

ODJFS reimburses the KSI funding at a fifty percent federal financial participation (FFP) rate.

ODJFS issues the KSI funding to counties using the following three phases: 

• Phase one includes fifteen pilot counties and the manual claiming process;
• Phase two includes the training of new counties; and
• Phase three includes the addition of more counties once the statewide automated child welfare information system (SACWIS) is automated.

Allowable Administrative Costs

Allowable administrative costs associated with contracts and services for case management include but are not limited to: 

• Conducting eligibility screening interviews;
• Reviewing assessments or activities relating to the KSI navigator program;
• Keeping records;
• Supervising;
• Conducting peer meetings;
• Consulting; and
• Preparing reports and other documents.

Allowable KSI navigation services and activities for the child and kinship caregiver/family include but are not limited to:

• Conducting assessments;
• Reviewing household reports;
• Developing support plans;
• Conducting home visits; and
• Keeping reports;
• Case Management/Contact;
• Information and referral;
• Mental health assessment;
• In-home family services/family preservation;
• Basic purchased hard goods;
• Home-related supports;
• Rental and/or utilities assistance;
• Transportation;
• Financial support;
• Training for kinship caregivers;
• Legal services;
• Childcare; and
• Formal or informal respite.

The child/family must have a completed support plan in place and must be receiving KSI services.

For questions regarding eligibility, allowable activities and reporting requirements, please direct them to the Office of Families and Children at HELP-DESK-OCF@jfs.ohio.gov. For fiscal questions please contact your ODJFS Fiscal Supervisor or the BCFTA Helpdesk at CFIS_Help_Desk@jfs.ohio.gov.

ODJFS will issue coding for the KSI Allocation and further information regarding expenditure reporting via a Bureau of County Finance and Technical Assistance (BCFTA) update.