New law will speed foster care licensure

PCSAO released the following statement today when Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 8 into law:

“Children deserve to grow up with their family. When children cannot remain in their own homes for safety reasons, they need trained, committed foster caregivers to meet their needs. HB 8 will make training more accessible and target it to foster caregivers’ needs, based upon the foster children placed in their homes. It permits up to 20% of preplacement training hours to be completed online, making it easier for working families and those with children in the home. Having the specifics of training requirements in rule rather than in law will enable Ohio to be nimble and comply with recent federal reforms under the Family First Prevention Services Act.

“We appreciate HB 8’s sponsors, Rep. Manchester and Rep. Galonski, for their focus on the critical issue of recruiting and retaining foster caregivers and for their leadership in bringing this bill forward. We are also grateful to the Ohio Senate for its commitment to supporting Ohio’s foster caregivers so that every child in care receives the love, support and services they need. Finally, many thanks to Gov. DeWine for his leadership to transform Ohio’s services to children and families.”