Chapter 5180:8-3 | Help Me Grow Program Rules

Rule 5180:8-3-05 | Provision of home visiting services.

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

(A) All home visiting services will be delivered in accordance with the following:

(1) Utilizing a model that has been determined evidence-based by the Ohio department of children and youth (DCY), and/or the office of planning, research, and evaluation in the administration for children and families, United States department of health and human services or its successor; or

(2) Utilizing a model that has been determined to be innovative and promising (promising-practice) by DCY or the Ohio home visiting consortium as specified in section 5180.23 of the Revised Code; and

(3) All services will be implemented in accordance with the model-fidelity and quality standards as set forth by the evidence-based or promising-practice home visiting model being used.

(4) Utilizing an evidence-based family education curriculum as approved by DCY and in accordance with the evidence-based or promising practice home visiting model being implemented, as applicable.

(B) Pursuant to division (H) of section 5180.21 of the Revised Code, families residing in the urban and rural communities that have the highest infant mortality rates as specified in rules adopted under section 3701.142 of the Revised Code and families identified and referred by a child welfare agency are to receive priority for home visiting services.

(C) Each family or caregiver will be assigned a primary home visitor. Additional credentialed home visiting staff may provide services to the family upon approval of DCY and in accordance with the standards of the evidence-based or promising-practice model being implemented.

(D) After receiving a program referral, home visiting providers will:

(1) Make a minimum of three attempts, on different days to call, text or e-mail the caregiver, until successful contact is made, within ten business days;

(2) Complete the initial home visit within ten business days of the successful contact with the caregiver; and

(3) Inform the family that the home visitor may need to view any one of the following documents to verify program eligibility, if not already verified by the central intake and referral agency:

(a) Current women, infants and children (WIC), Ohio medicaid, or other Ohio public assistance verification;

(b) Two most recent, consecutive pay stubs from current employment that verifies the family meets income guidelines;

(c) Other documentation which allows the home visitor to determine financial eligibility.

(E) Within thirty days of enrollment, the home visitor will review documentation to confirm eligibility for the program in accordance with paragraph (D) of this rule and document in the family record when financial criteria are used for eligibility, if eligibility has not already been verified by the central intake and referral agency.

(F) During the first visit, home visitors will:

(1) Obtain written consent to participate in the program on DCY 08038 "Consent for Home Visitation Services," which is to be placed into the record;

(2) Explain the program's goals, the structure and expectations for participation;

(3) Provide the caregiver general information about the agency providing the services, as well as how to contact both the home visitor and home visiting supervisor.

(G) Home visitors will complete and document in the statewide data system a family centered assessment either within the first thirty days after the first home visit and determination of eligibility using an assessment identified and approved for use by the department or in the timeline established by the evidence-based or promising-practice model implemented.

(H) Home visitors will complete other initial and ongoing required tools as specified by the department.

(I) Home visitors will complete a family goal plan in the statewide data system within the first ninety days after the first home visit and determination of eligibility. The family goal plan will be reviewed and revised in accordance with the fidelity standards of the evidence-based or promising-practice modeling being implemented. When starting services with a family who has been participating with another home visiting provider, the new provider will conduct a family goal plan review within sixty days of the program referral.

(J) Home visitors will offer and facilitate scheduling of visits according to evidenced-based or promising-practice model fidelity standards.

(K) Home visiting providers will inform the central intake and referral agency, using the statewide data system, each time a child or family is transferring to a different home visiting provider.

(L) A family will be exited from home visiting services in accordance with the standards of the evidence-based or promising-practice model being implemented, when any one of the following applies:

(1) The eligible child in the family reaches the maximum age allowed in accordance with the evidence-based or promising-practice model being implemented or when they reach the age of exit as specified in section 5180.21 of the Revised Code;

(2) The child moves out of the state of Ohio;

(3) Repeated attempts to visit are unsuccessful, as defined by the evidenced-based or promising-practice model being implemented, and documented in the statewide data system;

(4) The family terminates program participation;

(5) The family completes the requirements of the program based on the evidence-based or promising-practice model being implemented;

(6) Attempts to contact the family are unsuccessful after thirty days of referral from the central intake and referral agency.

(M) When a home visiting provider exits a family due to loss of contact, the provider will send a written correspondence via email, or post mail to the last known address containing the following information:

(1) Details of the attempts which have been made to contact the family;

(2) This notification is the last contact attempt which the home visitor will make;

(3) Contact information for the program; and

(4) Information explaining qualifications and procedures for returning to the home visiting program.

(N) Providers will communicate to DCY all sentinel events involving families served in the home visiting program within one business day of knowledge of event. Provider will communicate via email or telephone call to their assigned program consultant or DCY's home visiting administrator.

Last updated December 4, 2025 at 2:14 PM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 5180.21
Amplifies: 5180.21, 5180.22
Five Year Review Date: 12/1/2030
Prior Effective Dates: 1/15/2015

Rule 5180:8-3-10 | Central intake and referral system.

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

(A) Central intake and referral system contractors who enter into contracts, subsidy agreements, or who are awarded grant funds by the department will be qualified nonprofit entities as defined by the Ohio department of taxation, or government entities who will:

(1) Complete the specified application or submit a proposal, as applicable, by the due date set forth in the announcement of available funds;

(2) Complete the process to become a vendor with the state of Ohio;

(3) Provide the services in accordance with the terms of the contract, grant or agreement and rules in this chapter, and comply with requests, expectations and regulations of the department.

(B) The contractor will designate one individual as the contract manager who is responsible for oversight and monitoring of the activities of the grant, contract or agreement. Contract manager will have a minimum equivalent of a bachelor's degree in public health, social work, public administration, business, or a field closely related to early childhood, from an accredited college or university.

(C) The contractor will ensure that individuals utilized for central intake related activities possess a minimum of a high school diploma or GED, and are to complete all training specified in the contractor's approved operational plan.

(D) Central intake and referral system contractors will:

(1) Facilitate public awareness and outreach activities designed to engage and inform the public regarding the benefits of participating in home visiting programs. At a minimum, contractor will develop and execute a balanced, coordinated outreach plan, consisting of activities designed to connect with families and children eligible for home visiting in the counties of contracted service. Additionally, contractor will:

(a) Inform potential referral sources on timely identification of and process to refer potentially eligible pregnant women and caregivers of eligible children;

(b) Facilitate or participate in local community events to promote the benefits of the home visiting program;

(c) Disseminate approved information to referral sources, as well as to potentially eligible families, informing them of the benefits of home visiting;

(d) Facilitate activities that provide the opportunity to collaborate with home visiting providers, early childhood, prenatal and health care organizations and professionals;

(e) Develop and maintain a county-based directory of resources for caregivers that includes child health, child development, caregiver support, home visiting and other appropriate early childhood resources. Directory will be updated annually, to coincide with the beginning of the state fiscal year, and will be submitted to the department upon request.

(2) Complete a screening tool and determine eligibility in accordance with section 5180.21 of the Revised Code and assign the family to the appropriate evidence-based or promising-practice model and funding stream, based on availability within the county and parental choice.

(a) Confirm eligibility for the program by verifying any of the following:

(i) Current women, infants and children (WIC), Ohio medicaid, or other Ohio public assistance verification;

(ii) Two most recent, consecutive pay stubs from current employment that verifies the family meets income guidelines;

(iii) Other documentation which allows the central intake agency to determine financial eligibility.

(b) Enter information in the family record when financial criteria are used for eligibility. If the central intake agency is not able to verify the financial information, the home visiting provider may obtain the verification information within thirty days of the first visit and enter into the family record.

(3) Initiate home visiting program and/or community referrals based on caregiver needs identified by screening and eligibility determination process.

(4) Maintain county wait list for home visiting services in each county when applicable.

(5) Pursuant to section 5180.21 of the Revised Code, ensure that families residing in the urban and rural communities that have the highest infant mortality rates as specified in rules adopted under section 3701.142 of the Revised Code and families identified and referred by a child welfare agency are to receive priority.

(E) Central intake and referral system contractors will create and implement policies and procedures regarding referrals for home visiting programs in accordance with the following:

(1) Maintain and disseminate telephone numbers that begin with local prefixes, with voicemail capabilities, a fax number, and an email address for the general public to make local inquires and/or referrals.

(2) Collect the minimum information to determine family eligibility.

(3) Ensure all referrals from public children service agencies (PCSA) are facilitated on a form approved by the director, and initiated within one business day of receipt.

(F) Referral information will be entered into the department statewide data system within one business day after the information is received.

(1) Referrals received from a home visiting provider will be completed on DCY 08045 "Agency and Referrer Information" and indicate the following in order to refer the family to their chosen home visiting provider within one business day, except when a wait list exists:

(a) One successful contact with the caregiver in accordance with this rule;

(b) Completion of initial risk screen; and

(c) Demonstrate caregiver choice in accordance with this rule.

(2) Once a referral is obtained in accordance with this rule, the contractor will make contact with the caregiver in accordance with the following:

(a) The contractor will make a minimum of three attempts, on different days to call, text or e-mail the caregiver, until successful contact is made, within fourteen days.

(b) When a caregiver's phone number or email address is not active, in-service or operable, or the referral contact information provides only a mailing address, the contractor will send a written correspondence providing information on how to contact the central intake site if interested in services.

(c) If a successful contact with the caregiver has not been achieved after fourteen days, or a successful contact results in a caregiver communicating he or she is not interested in services, the contractor will exit the referral in the statewide data system.

(d) All contact attempts, successful and unsuccessful, will be documented into the statewide data system within one business day after the attempt is made.

(3) During the contact with the caregiver, the contractor will provide information regarding any applicable services for which the caregiver may be eligible for, and obtain the following minimum information:

(a) Whether or not the caregiver is interested in participating in home visiting services;

(i) If the caregiver communicates an interest in participating in home visiting, the contractor will then move on with the remaining requirements in this paragraph.

(ii) If the caregiver communicates that he or she is not interested in participating in home visiting services, the contractor will exit the system referral in the statewide data system within one business day, effective the date of communication with the caregiver.

(b) If the caregiver communicates that there is a concern about the child's development, the contractor is to offer the caregiver a referral to an early intervention service coordination contractor.

(c) If the caregiver is interested in home visiting services, the contractor will offer the caregiver a choice of all applicable home visiting providers. A referral will be made to the home visiting provider selected by the caregiver within one business day through the statewide data system.

(i) If the caregiver's choice of provider does not have capacity to serve them, contractor will inform the caregiver that they may join the provider's wait list for services, which is maintained by the central intake contractor, or inform the caregiver that they may choose another provider for services, if one is available.

(ii) When a family is in wait listed status, evidence-based or promising-practice model fidelity standards regarding age eligibility will be followed at the time of enrollment.

(d) Program referrals may be made simultaneously to both home visiting and early intervention services.

(4) Ensure that the referral is exited and documented as such in the statewide data system for any of the following reasons:

(a) The minimum contact attempts were made without successful contact, in accordance with this chapter.

(b) An individual declines to participate in home visiting services.

(5) The contractor will send a completed referral follow up communication to the referral source when that source is professional in nature.

(6) When a contractor exits a referral due to loss of contact, the contractor will send a written correspondence to the last known address or email with the following information:

(a) Details of the attempts which have been made to contact the caregiver;

(b) That this notification is the last contact attempt which central intake will make without further contact from the family;

(c) Information explaining the benefits of home visiting; and

(d) Contact information for the central intake site should the caregiver choose to reengage.

(7) When a contractor receives a referral for a family, and the family has declined services within the previous fourteen days, the contractor may elect to not contact the family.

(8) For families and individuals already in the statewide data system, the following apply:

(a) When the centralized intake contractor is notified by a home visiting provider that an individual has moved or another circumstance requires that the individual transfers to a new home visiting provider, the provider is responsible for initiating the transfer in the statewide data system.

(b) Exited records will be reopened upon any further successful contact or receipt of a new referral for the family.

Last updated December 1, 2025 at 7:47 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 5180.21
Amplifies: 5180.21, 5180.22
Five Year Review Date: 12/1/2030