Rule 5180:3-5-01 | PCSA requirements for completing the safety assessment.
(A) For which reports does the public children services agency (PCSA) need to complete the "Safety Assessment" in Ohio's comprehensive child welfare information system (CCWIS)?
The PCSA is to complete the "Safety Assessment" in Ohio's CCWIS for the following reports when the child is not in the permanent custody of the PCSA:
(1) Intra-familial child abuse and neglect reports assigned to the alternative or traditional response pathway, including those screened in as a third-party investigation.
(2) Dependency reports.
(3) Stranger danger investigations.
(B) Who does the PCSA need to gather information about to complete the "Safety Assessment"?
The PCSA is to complete the "Safety Assessment" regarding the following individuals, as applicable:
(1) Alleged child victim/child subject of the report.
(2) Siblings of the alleged child victim/child subject of the report residing in the home, including step or half siblings.
(3) Parent(s), guardian(s), or custodian(s) of the alleged child victim/child subject of the report.
(4) A related or unrelated adult caretaker residing in the home who has routine responsibility for the care of the alleged child victim/child subject of the report and/or their siblings.
(5) Paramour of the custodial parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker who is residing in the home.
(6) Children of the paramour residing in the home.
(7) Other children residing in the home of whom the parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker has custody or guardianship.
(C) What is needed for the PCSA to complete the "Safety Assessment"?
(1) The PCSA is to, at minimum, complete a face-to-face contact for the assessment of safety with each alleged child victim/child subject of the report and at least one parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker of the alleged child victim/child subject of the report.
(2) If an order of shared parenting has been issued by a court, the PCSA is to, at minimum, complete a face-to-face contact for the assessment of safety with each alleged child victim/child subject of the report and at least the parent or caregiver in the home of the parent who has physical care of the alleged child victim/child subject of the report at the time the incident occurred.
(D) When does the PCSA complete the "Safety Assessment"?
(1) The PCSA is to complete the "Safety Assessment" when the face-to-face contacts for the assessment of safety identified in paragraph (C) of this rule have been completed.
(2) If the PCSA is successful in completing face-to-face contacts for the assessment of safety within the first four working days from the date the referral was screened in, the PCSA is to:
(a) Record the "Safety Assessment" in Ohio's CCWIS within ten working days from the date the referral was screened in.
(b) Approve the "Safety Assessment" within two working days from the date of submission in Ohio's CCWIS.
(3) If the PCSA is unsuccessful in completing face-to-face contacts for the assessment of safety within the first four working days from the date the referral was screened in, the PCSA is to:
(a) Continue making attempts to complete the face-to-face contacts for the assessments of safety in accordance with governing Ohio Administrative Code rule for the identified report.
(b) Record and approve the "Safety Assessment" in Ohio's CCWIS within three working days after the face-to-face contacts for the assessment of safety are completed with each alleged child victim/child subject of the report and the parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker.
(E) How does the PCSA complete the "Safety Assessment(s)" when additional child abuse, neglect, and/or dependency referrals are screened in for assessment/investigation after acceptance of a child abuse, neglect, and/or dependency report and prior to the completion of the initial "Safety Assessment"?
The PCSA is to do one of the following:
(1) Complete the face-to-face contacts for the assessment of safety concerning all reports within four working days from the date the initial referral was screened in and record the "Safety Assessment" in Ohio's CCWIS pursuant to paragraph (D)(2) of this rule.
(2) Complete face-to-face contacts for the assessment of safety for each referral screened in for assessment/investigation within four working days from the date each referral was screened in respectively and record each "Safety Assessment" in Ohio's CCWIS pursuant to paragraph (D) of this rule.
(F) When can two or more reports be included in one "Safety Assessment"?
Two or more reports may be included on the same "Safety Assessment" if the subsequent report(s) were received prior to the PCSA successfully completing the needed face-to-face contacts for the assessment of safety.
Last updated August 17, 2026 at 7:54 AM
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