5101:2-48-07 Listing and withdrawing children and families with the "Ohio Adoption Photo Listing" (OAPL) "OAPL web page" and the "OAPL Families Waiting to Adopt Book"and the AdoptOhio Photo Listing web page.

Effective Date: September 1, 2003.

Most current prior effective date: 05/14/98

(A)      The purpose of the "Ohio Adoption Photo Listing" (OAPL) "OAPL Web Page" and the "OAPL Families Waiting to Adopt Book" is to provide agencies with an effective recruitment tools for prospective adoptive families and children awaiting adoptive placement. The OAPL book is sent to all PCSAs, PCPAs, and PNAs and shall be made accessible to persons interested in adopting.


(B)      Each public children service agency (PCSA) and private child placing agency (PCPA) shall assign a person to act as an OAPL coordinator. Agencies may choose to assign one coordinator for several agencies.


(C)      Each agency that assumes permanent custody of a child shall, within ninety days of the date of obtaining permanent custody of a child, register the child with the "OAPL web page" unless:

(1) The child's custody is under appeal;

(2) The child is placed in an approved adoptive home; or

(3) Specific placement is being actively pursued with preadoptive Preadoptive placement visits are in effect and a placement date within an one month period has been identified.

(D)      Pursuant to section 5101.24 of the Revised Code, ODHS the Ohio department of job and family services (ODJFS) may impose progressive sanctions against a PCSA, which may result in the withholding of state and/or federal funding for failure to comply with paragraph (C) of this rule.


(E)      To register a child or amend information previously submitted to ODJFS for the "OAPL and the AdoptOhio photo listing web page"., A a PCSA or PCPA shall submit the following information to the Ohio Department of Human Services (ODHS), ODJFS Adoption Services Section:

(1)      Two color photographs of the child. The following information shall be placed on the back of the photograph:

(a)      Child's first and last name;


(b)      Child's date of birth;


(c)      Name of agency; and


(d)      Name of OAPL coordinator.

(2)      An 3.5 inch disk electronic file containing a narrative description of the child which includes information on the child's personality, pertinent characteristics and special challenges.


(3)      A paper copy of the narrative that is contained on the electronic file 3.5 inch disk.


(4)      The ODHS 1686, JFS 01686 "OAPL Child Registration/Amendment Form". Copies of the JFS 01686, (used to register, modify and/or withdraw OAPL registration material) shall be maintained in the child's record).

(F)      When registering children with OAPL, the PCSA or PCPA shall identify siblings who shall be placed together.


(G)      A PCSA or PCPA may request on the JFS 01686 that a child be registered and placed in the "Special Status" category of the "OAPL Web Page", when the child has an adoptive family identified who has submitted the JFS 01691 "Application For Child Placement" or JFS 01692 "Application For Adoption of a Foster Child." Special Status requests are granted for a ninety day period and may be extended for an additional ninety days upon notification by the agency.


(G)(H)      For every child listed, a PCSA or PCPA shall submit a new narrative description and photo of the child no less frequently than every twelve months until the child is placed in an adoptive home.


(H)(I)      The PCSA or PCPA shall withdraw the child from the OAPL web page by submitting ODHS 1686, "OAPL Child Registration/Amendment Form." a JFS 01686. Children shall be withdrawn for the following reasons:

(1)      Child's custody is under appeal Child's permanent custody is terminated, or the child's case plan goal is no longer adoption;


(2)      Child is committed to the Ohio department of youth services;


(3)      Child is placed in an approved adoptive home; or


(4)      Specific placement is being actively pursued with preadoptive Preadoptive placement visits are in effect and a placement date within an one month period has been identified.

(J)      The PCSA or PCPA may withdraw a child from the "OAPL Web Page" if the permanent custody of the child becomes under appeal. The agency shall make this decision based on the best interest of the child.


(I)(K)      Each family who has been approved for adoptive placement by an agency shall be listed with the "OAPL Families Waiting to Adopt Book" within ninety days of the adoptive family's approval for placement, unless the approved adoptive family has signed an ODHS 1614, the JFS 01614 "Ohio Adoption Photo Listing Family Registration Waiver". A copy of the signed ODHS JFS 01614 shall be retained by the agency in the family record. and information Information reporting the signing of the waiver shall be transmitted through FACSIS.


(J)(L)      To register a family with the "OAPL Families Waiting to Adopt Book", a PCSA, PCPA, or private noncustodial agency (PNA) shall submit the following information to ODJFS the Ohio Department of Human Services (ODHS), Adoption Services Section :

(1)      A photograph of the family. The following information shall be placed on the back of the photograph:

(a)      Family's first and last names;


(b)      Name of agency; and


(c)      Name of OAPL coordinator.

(2)      An 3.5 inch disk electronic file containing a narrative description of the family which includes information on the family's strengths and the characteristics of children whom the family is interested in adopting.


(3)      A paper copy of the narrative that is contained on the 3.5 inch disk.


(4)      The ODHS 1687, JFS 01687 "OAPL Family Registration/Amendment Form."

(K)(M)      An approved adoptive family shall only be listed with the "OAPL Families Waiting to Adopt Book" by one agency.


(L)(N)      The agency shall withdraw the family from the "OAPL Families Waiting to Adopt Book" by submitting an ODHS 1687, the JFS 01687 when the family receives an adoptive placement or requests to be withdrawn and signs a waiver.

Effective: 09/01/2003

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 05/01/2003 and 09/01/2008

Certification

Date 07/08/2003

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 5101.24, 5103.03.

Rule Amplifies: 5101.24, 5103.03.

Prior Effective Dates: 5/17/1981, 5/1/87 (EMER.), 7/1/87, 09/01/94, 2/13/98 (EMER.), 05/14/98.