5101:2-42-65 Caseworker visits and contacts with children in substitute care.

 

 

 

5101:2-42-65               Caseworker visits and contacts with children in substitute care.

 

 

 

(A)   The public children services agency (PCSA) or private child placing agency (PCPA) that holds custody of a child shall comply with the provisions set forth in this rule regarding caseworker visits and contacts with the child and the substitute caregivers to ensure the child's safety and well-being, and to assess whether the placement and services continue to meet the child's needs in accordance with the case plan.

 

(B)   Visits and contacts shall be conducted by the caseworker within the PCSA or PCPA who is responsible for the child's case, or another worker employed or contracted by the PCSA or PCPA who has been delegated to act on behalf of the assigned caseworker in his or her absence.

 

The PCSA or PCPA caseworker responsible for the child's case shall conduct the visits and contacts and assess the placement and services, except that:

 

(1)The PCSA or PCPA may delegate another caseworker or supervisor employed or contracted by the PCSA or PCPA to conduct one or more of the required visits on behalf of the assigned caseworker.

 

(2)The PCSA or PCPA, as part of a managed care agreement pursuant to rule 5101:2-1-01 of the Administrative Code, may contract with another agency to have the managed care caseworker assume responsibility for the child's case and caseworker visits required by this rule.

 

(C)   The minimum frequency of visits shall be as follows, with individual time for the child as appropriate to his or her ability to communicate:

 

(1)   For a child placed in a relative or non-relative home approved pursuant to rule 5101:2-42-18 of the Administrative Code or a foster home or group home certified pursuant to rule 5101:2-5-03 of the Administrative Code:

 

(a)    One face-to-face visit with the child and substitute caregiver within the substitute care setting during the first week of placement, not including the first day of placement.

 

(b)    One face-to-face visit with the child and the substitute caregiver within the substitute care setting during the first four weeks of placement, not including the visit during the first week of placement.

 

(c)    Monthly face-to-face visits with the child and substitute caregiver within the substitute care setting, which may include visits referenced in paragraphs (C)(1)(a) and (C)(1)(b) of this rule, provided that at least one of the visits occurs within each month.

 

 

 

(d)   In a foster home which has two foster caregivers on the certificate, assure that each caregiver foster caregiver receives at least one of the face-to-face visits referenced in paragraphs (C)(1)(a) to (C)(1)(c) of this rule in each two-month period. If a caregiver is out of the home for the entire two month period (e.g. military leave or extended hospital stay) the caregiver is exempt from the visits for that time period.

(2)    For a child placed in a treatment or medically fragile foster home certified in Ohio in which the foster caregiver is providing care for a child for whom a special, exceptional, or intensive needs difficulty of care payment is made pursuant to rule 5101:2-47-18 of the Administrative Code:

(a)    One face-to-face visit with the child and substitute caregiver within the substitute care setting during the first week of placement, not including the first day of placement.

(b)   One contact each week with the caregiver to monitor the child's progress.

(c)    One face-to-face visit with the substitute caregiver and child every two weeks within the treatment or medically fragile foster home, with each substitute caregiver receiving one face-to-face visit in a two month period when there are two licensed substitute caregivers for the home.

(3)   For a child placed in a children's residential center (CRC) certified in Ohio:

(a)   One contact with the CRC within ten days of placement.

(b)   Monthly face-to-face visits with the child, within the CRC.

(c) The caseworker within the CRC, performing casework duties, shall not conduct visits on behalf of the PCSA or PCPA.

(4)    For a child who is sixteen years of age or older and placed in an independent living arrangement certified in Ohio in which he or she is fully responsible for his or her individual living environment:

(a)   One face-to-face visit with the child within the living environment within seven days of placement.

(b)   Monthly face-to-face visits with the child, within the living environment, which may include the visit referenced in paragraph (C)(4)(a) of this

rule.

(D)     Contacts and visits for children in the custody of a PCSA or PCPA shall be documented in the child's case record as outlined in rule 5101:2-33-22 of the Administrative Code and address the following:

(1)   The child's safety and well-being within the substitute care setting. In assessing the child's safety and well-being, the caseworker shall consider the following through observation and information obtained during the contact or visit:

(a)     The child's current behavior, emotional functioning and current social functioning within the substitute care setting, and any other settings/activities in which he or she is involved.

(b)   The child's current vulnerability.

(c)   The protective capacities of the child's caregiver(s).

(d)  Any new information regarding the child, the substitute care setting, orand impact on the substitute caregiver's willingness or ability to care for the child including but not limited to:

(i)   Changes in the marital status.

(ii)   Significant changes in the health status of a household member.

(iii)   Placement of additional children.

(iv)   Birth of a child.

(v)   Death of a child or household member.Death of a child or household member.

(vi)   A criminal charge, conviction or arrest of any household member.

(vii)      Addition  or  removal  of  temporary  or  permanent  household members.

(viii)   Family's relocation.

(ix)   Child's daily activities.

(x)      A  change  in  the  caregiver's  employment  or  other  financial hardships.

(e)    Any supportive services needs for the child or caregiver to assure the child's safety and well-being.

(2)     The child's progress toward any goals in the case plan as applicable from information obtained from the child and caregiver.

(3)   Permanency planning in accordance with the goals on the child's case plan.

(E)    For a child who is placed through the "Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children" into a substitute care setting outside of Ohio:

(1)     Request the out-of-state children services agency (CSA) to provide needed supervision and services to the child as identified in the child's case plan and to submit written supervisory reports on a monthly basis.

(2)     Contact the substitute care placement setting within ten days of the child's placement and at least every other month thereafter.

(3)    Conduct monthly face-to-face visits with the child within the substitute care setting. The PCSA or PCPA may request the supervising CSA in the other state to conduct these visits.

Effective:                                                     06/22/2009

R.C. 119.032 review dates:                         03/13/2009 and 06/01/2014

CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY

Certification

05/27/2009

Date

Promulgated Under:                           119.03

Statutory Authority:                           5103.03, 5153.166

Rule Amplifies:                                  5103.03, 5153.16

Prior Effective Dates:                         9/28/87, 1/1/91, 9/1/93, 10/1/97, 10/9/06, 2/17/08.