ODJFS 5101:2-5-13(A)(5)
Diversion will accept applicants for licensure who meet the following requirements:
A person(s) of any race or ethic background more than 21 years of age who are married, co-parents, (married couples and co-parents must be listed on the license) or single, who have bed space for at least one child and who can meet the licensing requirements of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Diversion shall not discriminate in recommending foster caregivers on the basis of age, color, race, sex, religion, national origin, marital status or disability in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 794 and of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C., 1201 et seq. An agency may selectively recruit on the basis of the need for foster homes for specific types of children as specified in the agency's recruitment plan as required by rule 5101:2-5-13 of the Administrative Code.
No PCSA, PCPA, or PNA shall consider the race, color or national origin of a foster caregiver applicant to determine whether that person shall be certified as a foster caregiver. No PCSA, PCPA, or PNA shall consider the race, color or national origin of a child, for whom a prospective foster caregiver or a certified foster caregiver has indicated an interest in providing foster care, in determining whether the applicant should be certified or the child placed with the foster caregiver. Only in those cases where it is determined pursuant to rule 5101:2-42-18.1 of the Administrative Code that a child's race, color or national origin should be considered, shall the agency consider those factors in the placement of the child with a foster caregiver.
The JFS 01673 or the JFS 01349, shall be commenced within thirty days of the date the agency receives the JFS 01691, "Application for Child Placement". The assessment shall be completed within one hundred eighty days of the date it is started. An agency that fails to commence an assessment within thirty days or complete the assessment within one hundred eighty days shall document the reasons why it was unable to meet one or both of these requirements in the foster caregiver's record. Commencement of a homestudy means, at a minimum, scheduling an appointment to interview the applicant or assuring that the applicant has been informed of the necessary materials required for the assessor to complete the homestudy. The assessment shall include at least one visit by an assessor to the applicant's home to ensure that the physical facilities of the home are in compliance with the requirements set forth in Chapter 5101:2-7 of the Administrative Code and to determine any placement limitations which the physical environment or space availability of the home may necessitate.
These individuals must be willing to be trained (pre-licensure and ongoing), be monitored closely, share their problems and concerns about the youth and be ready to make a commitment to staying with the youth in their care.
Skill levels that we are seeking include but are not limited to the ability to work with:
· The abused/neglected child.
· The mentally retarded or developmentally disabled child.
· The physically disabled child.
· The drug dependent child.
· The acting out child.
Diversion requires that a prospective foster family provide:
Home study information
· Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Application for Child Placement (JFS 01691)
o A JFS 01691 must contain complete information. Incomplete applications shall not be processed by Diversion. Applications found to contain inaccurate or wrong information shall be denied pursuant to rule 5101:2-5-26 of the Administrative Code.
If a person does not reside in the state of Ohio, an application for foster care shall not be considered until the person has established Ohio residency.
If a person Diversion, Inc. has reason to believe is not a legal resident of the United States requests an application for child placement, Diversion, Inc. shall request the person to provide a copy of the person’s immigration documents(s) issued by the bureau of immigration and customs enforcement of the U.S. department of homeland security (formally the immigration and naturalization service of the U.S. department of justice) allowing the person to reside in the U.S. If the immigration documents(s) provided by the applicant show that the person is a conditional permanent resident of the U.S. or that the person is not a permanent U.S. resident the application shall not be considered for foster care unless the applicant is being considered for placement of a specific child and the person is “kin” to the child as defined by rule 5101:2-1-01 of the Administrative Code.
“Legal resident of the U.S.” means a person who is a native-born or naturalized citizen of the U.S. or a person who presents credible evidence from the bureau of immigration and customs enforcement of the U.S. department of homeland security that the person is a permanent resident of the U.S. and currently resides in Ohio.
Diversion shall not accept a JFS 01691 that does not contain complete information. Diversion requires an application be made in the full name of each adult member of a couple residing in the home, a single person or each co-parent residing in the home.
· ODJFS Financial form (JFS 01681)
· Foster Parent Applicant Self Assessment Home Study
· Five references 3 of the five references must be from non-relative individuals. Individuals listed as a reference may not reside with the applicant
· Authorization for Release and Exchange of Information from Foster Parent Applicant(s) to Employer
· Authorization for Release and Exchange of Information from Foster Parent Applicant(s) to an Agency
· Foster Parent Agency Agreement
· Fire Inspection (JFS 01200)
· Well Water Inspection if applicable
· Sight Inspection (JFS 01348)
· Pet Form
· Animal Shot Records
· Car Insurance Verification
· Copy of Driver’s License
· Department of Motor Vehicle check (DMV) check if applicable
· Copy of Social Security Card
· Copy of Homeowners or Renter’s insurance
· Proof of Residence Affidavit
· Verification of residence tax form (must be for each family member check address, if not the same will need additional tax forms in Ohio
· Proof of income (IE. Paycheck stub, if on general assistance, statement from caseworker)
· Background check
o Except as provided in paragraph (I) of rule 5101:2-7-02 of the Administrative Code, Diversion shall not recommend a person to be certified as a foster caregiver if the person or any adult member of the applicant’s household has been convicted of any crime listed in paragraph (J) or rule 5101:2-7-02 of the Administrative Code.
o Diversion may require that any person subject to a criminal records check successfully complete the criminal records check before the person may participate in any preplacement training required by rule 5101:2-5-33 of the Administrative Code.
1. Local Police check for all adults in the home
2. Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCII) for all adults in the home
3. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for all adults in the home.
4. Children Services background check if requested for all adults in the home
5. Search of the Statewide Automated Child Welfare System (SACWIS)
Preparation of summary report of involvement of applicant and other adult household members in reports of child abuse and neglect contained in the statewide automated child welfare system (SACWIS).
Prior to recommending a foster home for certification, Diversion shall request the Ohio department of job and family services (ODJFS) to conduct a search of the central registry or SACWIS system pursuant to rules 5101:2-34-38.1 and 5101:2-33-22 of the Administrative Code. The search shall result in a summary report to be placed in the applicant's file, and if the applicant is subsequently certified as a foster caregiver, the summary report shall also be placed in the record of each child placed in the caregiver's home. Prior to the placement of each child in the caregiver's home, the summary report shall be considered as a tool to help determine the appropriateness of the Placement.
One summary report shall be prepared for each foster home. The summary report shall include, for each applicant and each adult household member, a chronological list of abuse and neglect determinations or allegations in which the person was involved where a PCSA has done one of the following:
(a) Determined that abuse or neglect occurred;
(b) Initiated an investigation, and the investigation is ongoing;
(c) Initiated an investigation, and the agency was unable to
determine whether abuse or neglect occurred.
The summary report shall not contain any of the following:
(a) An abuse and neglect determination of which a person seeking to become a foster caregiver of a child is subject and in regards to which a public children services agency determined that abuse or neglect
did not occur;
(b) Information or reports the dissemination of which is
prohibited by, or interferes with eligibility under, the "Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act," 88 Stat. 4 (1974), 42 U.S.C. 5101 et
seq., as amended;
(c)The name of the person who or entity that made, or
participated in the making of, the report of abuse or neglect.
· Statement of Minor Child Criminal Offense
· Medical Exams (JFS 01653) all members of the family
o Diversion may require that the Medical statement(s) be provided before the person may participate in any preplacement training required by rule 5101-2-5-33 of the administrative code
o Diversion may request additional medical reports if an applicant or household member is taking psychotropic medications from the prescribing physician.
· Marriage License/Divorce Decree on File
· Foster Parent Requirements
· Prescription Medications Administration Policy signed
· Confidentiality/Evacuation Plan/Life Book signed
· Review of Foster Caregivers Records Policy
· Criminal Records Check Policy
· Psychological testing if requested
o Diversion may require the person to provide the report of an additional examination by a licensed physician, or psychologist, or other certified or licensed before the applicant may participate in any preplacement training required by rule 5101:2-5-33 of the Administrative Code.
· Proof of completion of pre-service training
· A minimum of 2 alternative caregivers for any time the child may be left alone along with the completed form indicating references for these individuals. (Background checks will be conducted on these individuals as well and may require updates in the future)
· Home visits will be conducted with all members of the household. One of the home visits will be unannounced all members of the family do not need to be present for the unannounced visit.