Chapter 5180:5-50 | Bridges

Rule 5180:5-50-01 | Administration of bridges.

• Effective: July 1, 2025
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) For purposes of this program, in accordance with section 5101.1411 of the Revised Code, a bridges participant is defined as a person that:

(1) Was emancipated through the legal process of custody termination from a Title IV-E agency on or after a youth attains the age of eighteen;

(2) Has attained the age of eighteen but has not attained the age of twenty-one; and

(3) Meets one of the eligibility requirements pursuant to paragraph (B)(3) of rule 5180:5-50-02 of the Administrative Code.

(B) An Ohio department of children and youth (DCY) or bridges representative is to provide emancipated young adults with the DCY 01626 "Bridges Application" upon the young adult's request.

(C) The emancipated young adult is to submit the DCY 01626 and verification of eligibility to DCY.

(D) The bridges participant is to sign and enter into a DCY 01617 "Bridges Voluntary Participation Agreement" with DCY to begin receiving case management services.

(E) A bridges representative is to conduct monthly face-to-face visits with the participant and each minor dependent, if any. These visits are to occur in their approved supervised independent or non-reimbursable living setting. If a participant resides in a college dormitory, they may request the visit occur at another location on campus.

(1) Visits for bridges participants are to be documented as an activity log in Ohio's comprehensive child welfare information system (CCWIS) and at a minimum address the following:

(a) The safety and well-being of the bridges participant, and any minor dependent child;

(b) The progress of the bridges participant toward their bridges case plan goals; and

(c) Any new or pertinent information that is affecting the bridges participant.

(2) A bridges representative may request courtesy monthly face to face visits of an Ohio bridges participant residing in another state by following the directives outlined in Chapter 5180:2-52 of the Administrative Code.

(3) A bridges representative is to conduct courtesy monthly face to face visits for eligible emancipated young adults placed into approved supervised independent living settings in Ohio through the "Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children" pursuant to the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.

(F) A participant may reside in the following supervised independent living settings with DCY retaining discretion to approve or deny any setting:

(1) Leased housing;

(2) Room and board arrangements including in-home, supportive in-home, and host homes;

(3) College or university dormitories;

(4) Emergency housing;

(5) Community and supervised community housing; and

(6) Shared roommate settings.

(G) A bridges representative is to conduct and approve or deny a safety check of a participant living setting within seven business days of the initial or any housing change, including settings outside of Ohio. A safety check is to be completed with the participant present and signed by the participant and bridges representative.

(H) A bridges representative is to complete a bridges assessment with the participant within thirty calendar days of the effective date of the DCY 01617.

(I) A bridges representative is to work with the participant to develop a bridges plan within sixty calendar days of the DCY 01617 effective date.

(1) The plan is to be personalized and as detailed as the participant chooses.

(2) A copy of the participant signed plan is to be provided to the participant by hard copy or electronic format within seven calendar days of signature.

(3) The bridges plan may be amended at any time.

(J) A bridges representative is to work with the participant to complete a review of the plan every one hundred and eighty calendar days of the DCY 01617 effective date and is to include:

(1) Review of the current goals and services.

(2) Verification of eligibility.

(3) An updated bridges plan is to be signed by the participant and approved by a bridges representative, with a copy provided to the participant within seven calendar days of the review.

(K) A copy of the current signed bridges plan and review are to be submitted to the court fourteen calendar days prior to any scheduled bridges court hearing.

(L) A bridges representative is to request a credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies (CRA) at least annually during participant enrollment and ensure:

(1) A participant receives a copy and is provided interpretation of their consumer credit report annually, and within 60 calendar days of attaining age 21; and

(2) Assistance in resolution of inaccuracies reported on a credit report by working with the participant and Ohio attorney general's office; and

(3) Documentation of efforts if a participant objects to having their credit report requested.

(M) All bridges case records prepared, maintained, and permanently kept by the bridges representative are confidential. Information contained in Ohio's Statewide Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS) is confidential pursuant to section 5101.131 of the Revised Code. A bridges representative is to record case information in CCWIS, or alternately in electronic format if unable to be recorded in CCWIS.

(N) When requested by a bridges participant, a summary of bridges case services is to be provided.

Last updated July 1, 2025 at 12:18 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 5101.1414
Amplifies: 5101.1411, 5101.1412, 5101.1413
Five Year Review Date: 7/1/2030
Prior Effective Dates: 2/7/2020, 12/12/2022

Rule 5180:5-50-02 | Eligibility for bridges.

• Effective: July 1, 2025
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) An emancipated young adult is to submit to a bridges representative a DCY 01626 "Bridges Application" to participate in the program.

(B) To be eligible for bridges, an applicant is to meet all of following:

(1) Attained the age of eighteen but not attained the age of twenty-one.

(2) Emancipated from one of the following:

(a) The custody of an Ohio public children services agency (PCSA);

(b) The care and placement responsibility of an Ohio Title IV-E juvenile court; or

(c) The care and placement of the Ohio department of youth services (DYS) and was in a placement that qualifies for Title IV-E maintenance reimbursement, excluding juvenile correctional facilities, upon turning the age of eighteen.

(3) Submit documentation to verify at least one of the following eligibility criteria:

(a) Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential;

(b) Enrolled in an institution that provides post-secondary or vocational education;

(c) Participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to, employment;

(d) Employed for at least eighty hours per month; or

(e) Incapable of doing any of the activities as described in paragraphs (B)(3)(a) to (B)(3)(d) of this rule due to a diagnosed physical or mental health condition.

(C) A bridges representative is to submit a completed and signed DCY 01626, DCY 01617 "Bridges Voluntary Participation Agreement", and documentation supporting eligibility described in paragraph (B)(3) of this rule to the Ohio department of children and youth (DCY) for approval.

(1) An approved applicant is to sign a DCY 01617 pursuant to section 5101.1412 of the Revised Code and be provided with the JFS 04059 "Explanation of State Hearing Procedures."

(2) DCY is to provide a denied applicant a DCY 01618 "Bridges Notice of Denial," a DCY 01622 "Bridges State Hearing Request Form," and a JFS 04059 "Explanation of State Hearing Procedures" by U.S. mail, hand delivery, or electronic format no later than three business days after an application is denied, which is to include the reason for denial and the right to appeal the decision as outlined in paragraph (G) of this rule.

(D) A bridges participant is to maintain eligibility which is to be reviewed by a bridges representative no later than every one hundred eighty calendar days from the DCY 01617 effective date but may be reviewed at any time. If a participant fails to maintain eligibility, a bridges representative is to notify the participant in writing of termination as outlined in paragraph (F) of this rule.

(E) A participant may choose to voluntarily withdraw by submitting a DCY 01621 "Bridges Voluntary Withdrawal Form" to a bridges representative with termination effective on the date indicated on the form.

(F) The following outlines participant termination from bridges:

(1) In accordance with rule 5101:6-2-04 of the Administrative Code, a participant is to be provided a DCY 01620 "Bridges Notice of Termination" including the reason and effective date of termination, a DCY 01622 "Bridges State Hearing Request Form," and a JFS 04059 "Explanation of State Hearing Procedures" explaining the right to appeal when a participant:

(a) No longer meets eligibility requirements as outlined in paragraph (B)(3) of this rule;

(b) Fails to be in face-to-face contact with a bridges representative for more than sixty calendar days.

(c) Is incarcerated for more than sixty calendar days;

(d) Attains the age of twenty-one; or

(e) Experiences discretionary termination as described in paragraph (F)(5) of this rule.

(2) The effective date of termination is to be no less than thirty calendar days from the mailing date of the DCY 01620.

(3) If DCY determines a participant was or may be terminated from bridges for failing to maintain face to face contact for more than sixty calendar days, and it is determined a bridges representative did not make diligent efforts to complete face to face contact, the participant's eligibility may be reinstated.

(4) Eligibility can be reestablished prior to the termination date if the participant submits documentation that verifies meeting eligibility criteria in paragraph (B)(3) of this rule.

(5) DCY has the discretion to terminate a participant without providing prior notice if, including but not limited to, the participant falsifies eligibility documentation, is incarcerated impacting program requirements, refuses to participate in program activities, or for misuse of program funds. A bridges representative is to provide the participant a DCY 01620 stating the reason and termination date for the discretionary termination, a DCY 01622 and a JFS 04059.

(G) An individual who was denied enrollment or terminated from bridges has the right to appeal the decision and may request a state hearing as follows:

(1) Submission of a DCY 01622 "Bridges State Hearing Request Form" by mail, email, facsimile, or verbal request to a bridges representative, DCY, or bureau of state hearings. The request is to be submitted within the following timeframes:

(a) Fifteen calendar days from the mailing date of the termination notice, continuing benefits until a state hearing decision is issued pursuant to division 5101:6 of the Administrative Code; or

(b) Ninety calendar days from the mailing date of the denial or termination notice.

(2) If the fifteenth or ninetieth day falls on a weekend or holiday, then the next business day is to be used as the date of submission.

(3) An individual may withdraw a state hearing request for any reason prior to a state hearing decision being issued, including to re-apply to bridges.

(H) If a participant is terminated from bridges for providing falsified eligibility documentation, all of the following apply:

(1) Eligibility is suspended for a sixty calendar day period.

(2) Reapplication may be submitted sixty calendar days from either:

(a) The mailing date on the DCY 01620; or

(b) The date of the state hearing decision upholding the termination, if the participant files an appeal as outlined in paragraph (G) of this rule.

Last updated July 1, 2025 at 9:30 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 5101.1414
Amplifies: 5101.1411, 5101.1412, 5101.1413
Five Year Review Date: 7/1/2030
Prior Effective Dates: 2/7/2020

Rule 5180:5-50-03 | Title IV-E foster care maintenance (FCM) program eligibility and reimbursability of bridges.

• Effective: July 1, 2025
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

(A) Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 675(8) and section 5101.1411 of the Revised Code, a Title IV-E agency can extend foster care maintenance (FCM) payments, administration, and training payments for an emancipated young adult age eighteen but less than age twenty-one through funding provided in accordance with the federal "Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008" ("the Act").

(B) Title IV-E FCM program eligibility and reimbursability is to be determined in Ohio's comprehensive child welfare information system (CCWIS) by the Title IV-E agency representative within thirty calendar days of either of the following:

(1) Voluntary participation agreement (VPA) effective date;

(2) Best interest ruling date.

(C) The criteria for a determination of Title IV-E FCM program eligibility includes all of the following:

(1) A participant is to be considered Title IV-E FCM program eligible if, at the time eligibility is being determined:

(a) An emancipated young adult is program eligible and has signed a VPA pursuant to rule 5180:5-50-02 of the Administrative Code; and

(b) An emancipated young adult met the aid to families with dependent children (AFDC) eligibility requirements per section 472(a)(3) of the "Act".

(2) When Title IV-E FCM eligibility is established, a participant remains program eligible for the current custody episode. A new FCM eligibility determination in CCWIS is to be completed at any time a participant exits and reenters the program by signing a new VPA.

(3) A participant may be redetermined as eligible through the end of the month of their twenty-first birthday.

(4) A participant is no longer Title IV-E FCM program eligible when any of the following occur:

(a) A participant has been terminated from bridges pursuant to rule 5180:5-50-02 of the Administrative Code;

(b) The Title IV-E agency failed to acquire a best interest statement from the juvenile court within one hundred and eighty calendar days of a signed VPA in accordance with section 5101.1412 of the Revised Code; or

(c) At the end of the month of a participant's twenty-first birthday.

(D) Title IV-E FCM program reimbursability is to be determined in Ohio's comprehensive child welfare information system (CCWIS) by the Title IV-E agency representative within thirty calendar days of any of the following:

(1) Annual reasonable efforts ruling date; or

(2) The date a participant is no longer residing in an approved supervised independent living setting.

(E) The following outlines the determination of Title IV-E FCM program reimbursability:

(1) Title IV-E program reimbursability is to be determined for a participant who is Title IV-E FCM program eligible at the time all parties signed the VPA. A Title IV-E FCM program eligible participant is to be reimbursable when both of the following apply:

(a) A participant's countable income is less than the cost of care paid by the Title IV-E agency.

(b) A participant is residing in an approved supervised independent living setting, pursuant to rule 5180:5-50-01 of the Administrative Code and in accordance with section 5101.1411 of the Revised Code.

(2) A participant is no longer program reimbursable for Title IV-E when either of the following occur:

(a) Reasonable efforts to finalize the permanency plan are not met in accordance with section 472(a)(2)(A)(ii) of the "Act" and 45 C.F.R. 1356.21(b)(2)(2012).

(b) A bridges participant is not residing in an approved supervised independent living setting, as outlined in paragraph (G) of this rule.

(F) Title IV-E FCM reimbursement may be claimed for payments made toward an approved supervised independent living setting while a participant is in one of the following types of leave, if the leave does not exceed fourteen calendar days and a participant returns to the same living setting they were in prior to the leave:

(1) Whereabouts unknown;

(2) Hospital; or

(3) Vacation.

(G) Participants who are otherwise Title IV-E FCM program eligible are not program reimbursable during their period of residence in the following living settings:

(1) Incarceration facilities;

(2) The home of a participant's removal parent(s) or guardian(s); and

(3) Housing that is deemed uninhabitable through completion of a bridges safety check pursuant to paragraph (G) of rule 5180:5-50-01 of the Administrative Code.

Last updated July 1, 2025 at 8:01 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 5101.1414
Amplifies: 5101.1411, 5101.1412, 5101.1413
Five Year Review Date: 7/1/2030