Child Protective Services
Ohio's public children’s services
agencies (PCSAs) assess and investigate reports of child abuse, neglect, or
dependency as required by state law. If
necessary, the PCSA will work with the family to develop a family case plan
identifying services to reduce risk to the children and prevent the abuse or
neglect from occurring again. In instances where it is found that children are
not safe in their home, the PCSA will work with the family to identify a
voluntary safety plan for the children.
If the PCSA and the family are not able to work out a voluntary plan,
the PCSA will involve the local court system for intervention to ensure the
children’s safety. Intervention could include placing the children with a licensed
provider if a kinship placement is not possible.
To make a report,
contact the PCSA in the county where the children and their parent, guardian or
custodian reside or call 1-855-OH-CHILD (1-855-642-4453).
Ohio's Screening Guidelines
The
Screening Guidelines impact not only the families in Ohio who need supportive
services, but the numerous community partners who work side by side with Ohio’s
PCSAs in serving these families. Ensuring consistency statewide across
Public Child Welfare Agency’s in determining whether a family needs child
welfare involvement is critical. It is important to note the guidelines
are provided to support Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) and Ohio Revised Code
(ORC), however, legal advice should be sought when in doubt regarding the
legality of any screening decision.
The
“Ohio Child Protective Services Screening Guidelines” have been reformatted to
provide child welfare professionals a more organized flow of the document,
which follows the decision-making process. References to OAC and ORC are made
in the beginning of each section/sub-section throughout to assist with decision
making. In addition, considerations for each category have been provided
to promote critical thinking. Click on link: Ohio Child Protective Services Screening Guidelines
The
following is a summary of the major revisions:
- “Caretaker” replaced
adult, parent, guardian, or custodian. The term “caretaker” within the
Screening Guidelines is used outside of the definition in Ohio Revised
Code. This notation has been added to each area.
- Input from Ohio’s Human
Trafficking Taskforce was added. References in the guidelines were taken
from their Human Trafficking Resource Guide for Ohio’s Public Child Services
Agencies (published September 2021), with the support from PCSAO, the Ohio
Department of Youth Services, and the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
The “Human Trafficking Screening Tool for Youth” was utilized to ensure the
guidelines supported this tool.
- The Ohio Chapter of American
Pediatric Association provided updated terminology and examples of
abuse/neglect and sexual abuse cases seen in hospital and medical settings.
Ohio’s Differential Response Child Protection System
Ohio has a Differential Response
child protection system. This means children services agencies have two options
for responding to accepted reports of child abuse and neglect: The Traditional Response pathway and the Alternative
Response pathway. Both pathways allow children services staff to address the
unique safety concerns, risks, and situations of each family, in a way that is
collaborative and respectful. In both cases, the primary goal is child safety.
Two Pathways to Help Ensure Child Safety
Traditional Response
- Always
required for reports of sexual abuse, abuse resulting in serious injury, and
whenever children are determined to be in serious and immediate risk of harm.
- May
involve court intervention.
- Will
result in a determination/finding about the allegation.
Alternative Response
- Used
when reports of abuse or neglect do not allege serious or imminent harm.
- Does
not result in a determination/finding about the allegation.
Both pathways
require caseworkers to complete a Safety Assessment and a Comprehensive Family
Assessment, which includes an assessment of risk, to gather information about
the family’s strengths and needs. Both pathways are safety-focused partnerships
with families. A case may be assigned to
an Alternative Response pathway but later change to a Traditional Response
pathway if needed to ensure child safety or requested by the family.
Resources
Differential Response Practice Profiles - Form JFS 08301
The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA)
and Plan of Safe Care
The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016,
known as “CARA,” is the first major federal addiction legislation in 40 years.
It is the most comprehensive effort undertaken to address the opioid epidemic.
The intent of CARA is for states to establish innovative strategies for
individuals challenged by substance misuse disorders and their families. As a
result, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) requires a Plan of
Safe Care to be in place at the time of discharge from the hospital for infants
impacted by parental and/or family substance misuse.
A Plan of Safe Care is an arrangement developed with the
family and service providers which addresses the following:
- The infant’s immediate safety
- The infant’s safety and treatment needs
- The affected parent’s health and substance
misuse treatment needs
- The treatment needs of all household members
with routine caregiving responsibilities for the infant (for example, the
father, grandparent, roommate, etc.)
It is important to note that the oversight of Plans of
Safe Care is not solely the responsibility of children services agencies; the
implementation and oversight for these identified infants and family are a
requirement of all community partners involved with the family. Children services may or may not be involved
in ensuring the Plan of Safe Care is created and monitored. Therefore, it is important for counties to
develop a system of communication and coordination within their community to
ensure compliance of CARA/Plan of Safe Care.
Each state is required to apply policies and procedures
to address infants affected by all substance misuse, not just illegal misuse. Ohio Administrative Code, Chapter 5101:2-36
Screening and Investigation rules have been revised to include CARA/Plan of
Safe Care language.
The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) was
updated to include CARA/Plan of Safe Care language. CAPTA states that a Plan of Safe Care is to
be in place at the time of discharge from the hospital for the following:
All infants 12 month and younger if:
- The
infant was prenatally exposed to substance misuse (legal and/or illegal),
- The
infant is demonstrating symptoms of withdrawal, and/or
- The
infant is diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
CAPTA requires all children services agencies to document
the existence of the Plan of Safe Care.
All information related to CARA can be found on the Governor's Bold Beginnings Website: