TAFT SIGNS BILL TO STRENGTHEN ADOPTION, FOSTER CARE LAWS

COLUMBUS (June 21, 2006) - Governor Bob Taft today signed into law Senate Bill 238, sponsored by state Representative Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond), which strengthens laws aimed at ensuring the safety of Ohio's adopted and foster children. Taft signed the bill at the Center for Child and Family Advocacy at the Columbus Children's Hospital.

"It is our responsibility to ensure that every Ohio child in the adoption and foster care system find stability and security in a loving home, free from abuse and neglect," said Taft. "Senate Bill 238 provides a more comprehensive system of care and protection for some of Ohio's most vulnerable children."

Last November, Taft directed the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to conduct a comprehensive review of Ohio's adoption and foster care system and make recommendations for change. In his State of the State Address in January, Taft made implementing the recommendations in SB 238 a legislative priority and called upon the Ohio General Assembly to swiftly pass changes in statute.

The ODJFS report found that communications between public and private social services agencies are often insufficiently coordinated, state adoption guidelines are not consistently followed, and statutory definitions of child abuse, neglect and dependency are ill-defined. SB 238 implements the recommendations in the ODJFS report.

Some of the requirements of Senate Bill 238 include:
? Information Disclosure and Falsification - SB 238 strengthens the requirement that families share any information regarding past involvement with child welfare agencies. Specifically, the bill stipulates that a criminal penalty may be imposed if the applicant supplies false information.
? Multiple Child Assessment - SB 238 requires a multiple child assessment when a family seeks to adopt a child and will have a potential for five or more children to permanently reside in the home. The bill will ensure that these large families are part of a thorough assessment to critically evaluate issues specific to large families caring for children with special needs.
? Post Placement Visits - SB 238 requires that an adoption assessor, beginning no later than seven days after placement, conducts a home visit every 30 days until the court issues a final decree of adoption, in order to evaluate the progression of the placement.
? Information Sharing - SB 238 requires those placing children for adoption and the public child welfare agencies in which the adoptive parents reside share and exchange relevant information at two critical points in the adoption process; when an adoptive home study is initiated and later when a planning is underway to place a specific child or children with a prospective adoptive family.

SB 238 goes into effect 90 days after it is signed by the Governor and filed with the Secretary of State.

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