Ohio Administrative Code|Rule 5101:2-37-02 | PCSA requirements for completing the safety plan.

                                                
(A) The public children services agency
		  (PCSA) shall immediately develop and implement a JFS 01409 "Comprehensive
		  Assessment Planning Model - I.S., Safety Plan for Children" if the PCSA
		  determines a child is in immediate danger of serious harm due to an active
		  safety threat.
(B) If, after the assessment of safety, described in rule
		  5101:2-37-01 of the Administrative Code the safety response is to implement an
		  in-home safety plan or an out-of-home safety plan, the PCSA shall develop a
		  safety plan utilizing the JFS 01409.
(C) The PCSA and the parent, guardian, or custodian shall
		  mutually:
(1) Identify the action
			 steps to control the active safety threats.
(2) Identify each
			 individual or community resource responsible for conducting an action step
			 specified on the safety plan.
(3) Agree to the
			 participation of that individual or community resource on the safety
			 plan.
(D) To implement a safety plan utilizing the JFS 01409, the
		  PCSA shall do one of the following:
(1) Obtain signatures on
			 the JFS 01409 from the custodial parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian and
			 all persons responsible for a safety plan action step indicating their
			 willingness to participate in the safety plan.
(2) If an order of shared
			 parenting has been issued, and there has not been a residential parent
			 designated by the court, the PCSA shall obtain agreement and signatures on the
			 JFS 01409 of both parents.
(3) If a custodial
			 parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian or person responsible for an action
			 step is not present to sign the JFS 01409, the safety plan may be implemented
			 with a verbal authorization. The PCSA shall document the date and time the
			 verbal authorization was received.
(E) If verbal authorization is obtained the PCSA shall
		  attempt to obtain the signature(s) on the JFS 01409 within five working days
		  from receipt of the verbal authorization. 
(1) All attempts to
			 obtain the signature(s) and any reasons why the signature(s) cannot be obtained
			 are to be documented in the case record.
(2) If attempts to obtain
			 the signature(s) were unsuccessful, an extension to obtain the signature(s) may
			 be granted when the following apply:
(a) The custodial parent, legal guardian, or legal
				custodian who provided verbal authorization is absent and is not interfering
				with the agreed upon safety plan activities.
(b) The responsible party is following the safety plan and
				controlling the active safety threat(s) to the child.
(3) Upon contact with the custodial
			 parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian the signature is to be
			 obtained.
(F) The PCSA shall waive the signature requirement of the
		  custodial parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian outlined in paragraph (D)
		  of this rule who is unable or unavailable to sign the safety plan if the PCSA
		  has obtained one signature from another custodial parent, legal guardian, or
		  legal custodian pursuant to rule 5101:2-36-11 of the Administrative Code. The
		  reason(s) why the signature cannot be obtained shall be documented in the case
		  record.
(G) The PCSA shall monitor safety plans by assessing safety
		  to ensure the action steps are controlling the identified safety threats.
		  Monitoring the plan requires the following:
(1) For an in-home safety
			 plan, the PCSA shall conduct weekly home visits. During the home visits, the
			 PCSA shall make face-to-face contact with each child identified on the safety
			 plan and each parent, guardian, or custodian residing in the home. During the
			 visit an assessment of the active safety threat(s) is to be
			 completed.
(2) For an out-of-home
			 safety plan, the PCSA shall have weekly contact with the children or persons
			 responsible for an action step The PCSA shall have face-to-face contact with
			 each child and responsible party involved every other week. During the visit an
			 assessment of the active safety threat(s) is to be completed. 
(H) The PCSA is to implement alternative safety
		  interventions when any of the following applies: 
(1) An active safety
			 threat is not controlled.
(2) A parent, guardian or custodian or
			 responsible person is unwilling to sign the JFS 01409.
(3) The parent, guardian or custodian or
			 responsible person is not cooperating or willing to follow the action steps
			 according to the JFS 01409.
(4) The PCSA has not been
			 able to complete the required monitoring contacts despite concerted efforts
			 being made pursuant to paragraph (G) of this rule and the following
			 occurs:
(a) Face-to-face contact has not been made on an in-home
				safety plan for two weeks with each child identified on the safety plan and
				each parent, guardian, or custodian residing in the home.
(b) Face-to-face contact has not been made on an
				out-of-home safety plan for four weeks with each child identified on the safety
				plan.
(I) If the PCSA determines a safety threat is no longer
		  active or is being controlled through the family's protective capacities
		  and the child is no longer in immediate danger of serious harm, the JFS 01409
		  shall be discontinued. The PCSA shall notify the parent, guardian, or custodian
		  and each responsible party in writing within two working days of the
		  discontinuation of the JFS 01409.
(J) If the JFS 01409 is modified, the signature of all
		  participants on the modified JFS 01409 prior to its implementation shall serve
		  as notification.
(K) The PCSA shall not close a case if a JFS 01409 is
		  active.
(L) The PCSA shall record the JFS 01409 in SACWIS within
		  five working days from the date the first signature is obtained.
(M) If after the assessment of safety, the safety response
		  is to implement a legally authorized out-of-home placement, the PCSA shall
		  contact law enforcement and/or remove the child pursuant to rule 5101:2-39-01
		  of the Administrative Code. Completion of the JFS 01409 is not required for a
		  legally authorized out-of-home placement safety response.