Rule 5180:7-1-11 | Foster caregiver adoption approval.
(A) How may a foster caregiver who is not an approved adoptive parent express interest in adoption of any child(ren) not placed in the foster caregiver's home?
A foster caregiver may apply to be an adoptive parent for any child not placed in the home by completing the following:
(1) A foster caregiver is to submit the DCY 01691 "Application for Child Placement" to the agency that recommends their foster home certification or to any other public children service agency (PCSA), private child placing agency (PCPA) or private non-custodial agency (PNA) that completes adoption homestudies.
(2) The assessor may assist the foster caregiver in revising the current DCY 01691 from the foster home record, or in completing a new DCY 01691. The DCY 01691 is an application to initiate the homestudy process to become an adoptive parent, through the completion of a DCY 01673 "Assessment for Child Placement" by a PCSA, PCPA or PNA.
(B) How may a foster caregiver who is not an approved adoptive parent express interest in adoption of a child(ren) placed in the foster caregiver's home?
A foster caregiver may apply to be an adoptive parent for a child placed in the home by completing the following:
(1) A foster caregiver may apply to become an adoptive parent of a child(ren) placed in their home who is legally available for adoption by completing and submitting the DCY 01692 "Application for Adoption of a Foster Child or Sibling Group" to the agency that recommends their foster home certification or to any other PCSA, PCPA, or PNA that completes adoption homestudies.
(2) The assessor may assist the foster caregiver in completing the DCY 01692. The DCY 01692 is an application to initiate the homestudy process to become an adoptive parent for a specific child(ren) placed in a foster caregiver's home. This application serves as an expedited homestudy, in place of the DCY 01691 and DCY 01673 outlined in paragraph (A) of this rule.
(C) What is to occur if the DCY 01691 or DCY 01692 is submitted to an agency that is different than the agency recommending their foster home certification?
The following is to occur if the DCY 01691 or DCY 01692 is submitted to an agency that is different than the agency recommending their foster home certification.
(1) The agency initiating the adoption homestudy is to have the applicant sign a release of information for the agency that recommends their foster home certification and is to send the release of information to that agency to gather documentation from paragraph (E) of this rule.
(2) Upon receipt of the signed release of information, the agency that recommended the foster home certification is to provide all requested documentation within fifteen business days.
(D) What is to occur if an agency initiates an adoptive homestudy with an applicant who resides in another county?
The agency initiating the adoption homestudy is to notify the PCSA in the county the applicant resides, within ten days of initiation, in accordance with rule 5180:2-48-12 of the Administrative Code.
(E) What documentation from the foster home record is to be compiled and reviewed by the assessor during the homestudy?
(1) DCY 01673 "Assessment for Child Placement," if completed as part of the applicant's initial foster home certification.
(2) JFS 01349 "Foster Parent Home Study," if completed as part of the applicant's initial foster home certification.
(3) DCY 01673-A "Child Characteristics Checklist for Foster Care and/or Adoption."
(4) DCY 01385 "Assessment for Child Placement Update," if the foster home certification had updates completed since initial certification.
(5) DCY 01653 "Medical Statement for Foster Caregiver(s)/Adoptive Applicant and All Household Members."
(6) The most recent background checks for all adult household members in accordance with rule 5180:2-5-09.1 of the Administrative Code, including bureau of criminal investigation (BCI) reports, federal bureau of investigation (FBI) reports, Ohio comprehensive child welfare information system (Ohio CCWIS) alleged perpetrator searches, any out of state child abuse and neglect reports, and national sex offender registry searches.
(7) Training records.
(8) Case record information documented by the worker's visits to the foster home.
(9) Any other documentation from the foster home record including, but not limited to, the most recent fire inspection reports, safety audits, foster home exit interviews, and copies of all complaint or rule violation investigations and any applicable corrective action plans. The agency that recommends the foster home certification, if different, is to notify the agency initiating the adoption homestudy of any outstanding complaints, rule noncompliance investigations, or corrective action plans that have not been fully implemented, and is to include the nature of the investigations or corrective action plans.
(F) What activities is the assessor to complete during the homestudy, if a foster caregiver is applying for adoption of any child(ren) not placed in their home, using the DCY 01691?
(1) Review the DCY 01691 and all supporting documentation from the foster home record as outlined in paragraph (E) of this rule.
(2) Conduct a home visit with all household members.
(3) Discuss with the applicant the differences between foster care and adoption, and the reason for the request for adoption approval at this time.
(4) Discuss with the applicant the availability of adoption assistance and postfinalization adoption services. Including Title IV-E adoption assistance, state adoption maintenance subsidy, post adoption special services subsidy, and non-recurring adoption expenses.
(5) Complete DCY 01530 "Large Family Assessment", as outlined in rule 5180:2-48-12 of the Administrative Code, when a family has a total of five or more children residing in the home, including foster children and children in kinship care; or if the family will have a total of five or more children who will reside in the home upon the adoptive placement of a child.
(6) Verify that the applicant has fulfilled the required adoption training as outlined in rule 5180:2-48-09 of the Administrative Code.
(7) Complete updated background checks for all adult household members as outlined in rule 5180:2-5-09.1 of the Administrative Code, including bureau of criminal investigation (BCI) reports, federal bureau of investigation (FBI) reports, Ohio comprehensive child welfare information system (Ohio CCWIS) alleged perpetrator searches, any out of state child abuse and neglect reports, and national sex offender registry searches.
(8) Document information obtained during the homestudy process on the DCY 01673. Assessor may document this information by revising the applicant's original DCY 01673, or by completing a new DCY 01673. Include a written narrative that the applicant has been evaluated by an assessor to determine compliance with all homestudy requirements, as outlined in rule 5180:2-48-12 of the Administrative Code.
(G) What activities is the assessor to complete during the homestudy, if a foster caregiver is applying for adoption of a child(ren) placed in their home, using the DCY 01692?
(1) Review the DCY 01692 and all supporting documentation from the foster home record as outlined in paragraph (E) of this rule.
(2) Conduct a home visit with all household members.
(3) Observe the interaction between the child(ren) to be adopted and other household members. Discuss how the applicant is working with the child(ren) on their case plan objectives and how the applicant will manage any long-term challenges the child(ren) may experience.
(4) Discuss with the applicant the differences between foster care and adoption, and the reason for the request for adoption approval at this time.
(5) Discuss with the applicant the availability of adoption assistance and postfinalization adoption services. Including Title IV-E adoption assistance, state adoption maintenance subsidy, post adoption special services subsidy, and non-recurring adoption expenses.
(6) Complete DCY 01530 "Large Family Assessment", as outlined in rule 5180:2-48-12 of the Administrative Code, when a family has a total of five or more children residing in the home, including foster children and children in kinship care; or if the family will have a total of five or more children who will reside in the home upon the adoptive placement of a child.
(7) Verify that the applicant has fulfilled the required adoption training as outlined in rule 5180:2-48-09 of the Administrative Code.
(8) The agency is not to have the applicant to undergo a new criminal records check as a condition of acceptance or approval of the DCY 01692. However, the agency is to inform the applicant that a criminal records check, pursuant to rule 5180:2-5-09.1 of the Administrative Code, is to be completed before a court issues a final decree of adoption or an interlocutory order of adoption.
(H) What decisions may the assessor make upon completion of the homestudy?
(1) For applications submitted on the DCY 01691, for a foster caregiver who is applying for adoption of any child(ren) not placed in their home, the assessor may approve or deny the applicant as an adoptive parent and is to document the decision on the DCY 01673.
(2) For applications submitted on the DCY 01692, for a foster caregiver who is applying for adoption of any child(ren) placed in their home, the assessor may approve or deny the applicant as an adoptive parent for the specific child(ren) listed on the DCY 01692 and is to document the decision on the DCY 01692.
(I) When is the applicant to be notified of the homestudy decision?
The assessor is to provide the applicant written notification of the decision within ten days after the homestudy has been approved or denied.
(J) What is to be included in the adoption homestudy approval notification?
(1) Date of homestudy approval; to be the same as the assessor's signature date.
(2) A description of the child(ren) characteristics from the DCY 01673-A, when the homestudy is for a foster caregiver who is being approved as an adoptive parent for any child(ren) not placed in their home that applied with the DCY 01691.
(3) The name of the child(ren), when the homestudy for a foster caregiver who is being approved as an adoptive parent for a child(ren) placed in their home that applied with the DCY 01692.
(K) What is to be included in the adoption homestudy denial notification?
(1) A detailed explanation of the reasons for the denial.
(2) A description of the procedures for an agency review pursuant to rule 5180:2-48-24 of the Administrative Code.
(L) When does the DCY 01673 approval expire, for an applicant approved as an adoptive parent for any child(ren) not placed in their home?
The approval period will be equal to the current foster home certification span. The approved adoptive parent is to apply for continuous certification and comply with periodic updates, as outlined in rule 5180:2-5-24 of the Administrative Code.
(M) When does the DCY 01692 approval expire, for an applicant approved as an adoptive parent for a child(ren) placed in their home?
The DCY 01692 approval is to expire once the foster child(ren) is adopted, as evidenced by a final decree of adoption or interlocutory decree.
(N) What procedures is the agency to follow upon approval?
The agency is to follow the adoptive placement procedures as outlined in rule 5180:2-48-16 of the Administrative Code including, but not limited to, conducting a matching conference.
(O) What is to occur if an agency determines that any statement or document provided during the homestudy process is knowingly falsified by the applicant?
The agency is to follow procedures outlined in rule 5180:2-33-13 of the Administrative Code and is not to release the homestudy to any other agency or court.
(P) What is the timeframe in which the agency is to complete the DCY 01673 homestudy, for a foster caregiver who is applying for adoption of any child(ren) not placed in their home?
The agency is to complete the DCY 01673 homestudy within the following timeframe:
(1) Upon request, the agency is to provide the DCY 01691 to the foster caregiver within seven business days.
(2) The agency is to begin the homestudy within thirty days of receiving the application.
(3) The homestudy is to be completed within one hundred eighty days of receiving the application. An agency failing to complete a homestudy within that timeframe is to document on the DCY 01673 the reason(s) this requirement is unable to be met.
(4) If a homestudy is not completed within one year of receiving the application, it is to be terminated. If the agency decides not to terminate the homestudy, this decision is made at the agency's discretion and documented on DCY 01673. If an agency decides to terminate the homestudy, it is to notify the applicant in writing no less than thirty days prior to the termination. This notification is to include the reason for termination and the procedures for requesting a review of the agency's decision.
(Q) What is the timeframe in which the agency is to provide the DCY 01692, for a foster caregiver who is applying for adoption of a child(ren) placed in their home?
The agency is to provide the DCY 01692 upon request from a foster caregiver. All recruitment efforts for adoption of the child will be ongoing until the child is matched per rule 5180:2-48-16 of the Administrative Code.
Last updated November 6, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Supplemental Information
Amplifies: 2151.86, 3107.011, 3107.012 3107.031, 3107.032, 3107.033, 3107.034
Five Year Review Date: 11/6/2030
Prior Effective Dates: 7/1/1990, 9/1/1994, 12/15/1995 (Emer.), 3/1/1996, 9/18/1996, 2/13/1998 (Emer.), 5/14/1998, 12/31/1998 (Emer.), 4/1/1999, 2/15/2002, 9/1/2003, 2/1/2005, 12/11/2006, 8/14/2008, 9/9/2008, 7/1/2009, 3/1/2010, 10/1/2014, 11/1/2015, 3/1/2021