5101:9-6-75 AdoptOhio kids.

(A) This allocation is provided to promote permanent families for children through adoption. The allocation is to be used to enhance adoption programs to increase the overall number of adoptions, with a special emphasis on actions that will decrease the length of time required to complete adoptions to achieve or maintain compliance with the “Child and Family Services Review” (CFSR), 42 U.S.C. 1320a-2 a ( 42 U.S.C. 1996 ), performance measures for timely finalizations. The catalog of federal domestic assistance (CFDA) number is 93.659.

(B) Public children services agencies (PCSA) will receive funds based on a weighted formula that takes into consideration the average number of children, ages nine and older, who were served during the previous three state fiscal years (SFY), and the number of permanently committed children who have been in PCSA custody for sixteen months or less and who are not placed in an adoptive home:

(1) The term “served” is defined as the child who is in the agency’s permanent custody during the SFY. By this definition, a child can be repeated in more than one year.

(2) The average number of children ages nine and older who were served has a weight of 1.2 and the number of PCSA children in the custody of the agency for sixteen months or less has a weight of 1. Using this formula results in a slightly higher weight to agencies that have older and more difficult children to place.

(3) The weighted criteria in paragraph (B)(2) of this rule are multiplied by a per child allocation amount to determine the funding each PCSA should receive under the formula.

(4) Each PCSA will receive the greater of two thousand five hundred dollars or the amount determined by the formula.

(C) Funds available under the allocation are targeted to serve two-parent adoptive families, and single-parent adoptive families who meet the state’s standard of need.

(1) The standard of need for a single-parent family is one hundred twenty per cent of the state median income scaled to family size including the presence of any adopted children; and

(2) There is no standard of need for two-parent adoptive families.

(D) Funds available under the allocation may be used only for purchased services or one-time incentive payments to adoptive families upon finalization. Examples of allowable purchased services include:

(1) Contracts or grants for family recruitment and home studies;

(2) Pre-adoptive training for parents and families;

(3) Peer counseling and mentoring for pre-adoptive parents and families; and

(4) Pre-finalization case management.

(E) Funds can be used to support agency recruitment campaigns and promotional activities only when the theme of such efforts are focused on the development of two-parent adopting families.

(F) PCSA may enter into grant agreements and/or contracts with entities providing family recruitment services and home studies, including faith-based organizations, within the restrictions noted in paragraphs (C), (D), and (E) of this rule.

(G) Allocation funding may not be used to support PCSA staff or general operating costs.

(H) Allowable costs may be claimed against the allocation for the period July first, through June thirtieth, inclusive.

(I) Reimbursement for allowable costs is to be claimed on the JFS 02820 “Monthly Financial Statement” using line code 2-6654 and funding source code 6071. The last JFS 02820 that will be reimbursable under the allocation will be June thirtieth of the current SFY. Allowable costs correctly reported will be reimbursed at a rate of one hundred per cent of the amount reported up to the PCSA allocation amount.

(J) Effective January 31, 2008, and quarterly thereafter, participating PCSA must submit an “Outcomes and Progress Report” to the office of children and families (OCF), addressing the following topics:

(1) A description of the contract(s) funded through the adoption allocation or a description of the services provided as a result of receiving the adoption allocation; and

(2) The results of the contract(s) and/or services including the number and names of temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) eligible approved families developed.

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

Effective: 01/15/2008

Promulgated Under: 111.15

Statutory Authority: 5101.02

Rule Amplifies: 5101.02

Prior Effective Dates: 11/07/05