(A) Except as provided in divisions (C), (D), and (E) of this section and in section 5103.033 of the Revised Code and subject to division (B) of this section, the department of job and family services may not renew a foster home certificate under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code unless the foster caregiver successfully completes the following amount of continuing training in accordance with the foster caregiver's needs assessment and continuing training plan developed and implemented under section 5103.035 of the Revised Code:

(1) If the foster home is a family foster home, at least forty hours in the preceding two-year period;

(2) If the foster home is a specialized foster home, at least sixty hours in the preceding two-year period.

The continuing training required by this section shall comply with rules the department adopts pursuant to section 5103.0316 of the Revised Code.

(B) A foster caregiver may fulfill up to twenty per cent of the required amount of continuing training described in division (A) of this section by teaching one or more training classes for other foster caregivers or by providing mentorship services to other foster caregivers. The department of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code as necessary for the qualification of foster caregivers to provide training or mentorship services to other foster caregivers.

(C) At the beginning of a foster caregiver's two-year certification period, a public children services agency, private child placing agency, or private noncustodial agency acting as a recommending agency for a foster caregiver holding a certificate issued under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code for a family foster home or specialized foster home may waive up to eight hours of continuing training the foster caregiver is otherwise required by division (A) of this section to complete in that two-year certification period if all of the following apply:

(1) The foster caregiver has held a certificate issued under section 5103.03 of the Revised Code for a family foster home or specialized foster home for at least two years;

(2) The foster caregiver has provided foster care for at least ninety days of the twelve months preceding the date the agency issues the waiver;

(3) The foster caregiver has not violated any requirements governing certification of foster homes during the twelve months preceding the date the agency issues the waiver;

(4) The foster caregiver has complied in full with the needs assessment and continuing training plan developed for the foster caregiver under section 5103.035 of the Revised Code for the preceding certification period.

(D) Each recommending agency shall establish and implement a policy regarding good cause for a foster caregiver's failure to complete the continuing training in accordance with division (A) of this section. If the foster caregiver complies with the policy, as determined by the agency, the department may renew the foster caregiver's foster home certificate. The agency shall submit the policy to the department and provide a copy to each foster home the agency recommends for certification or renewal. The policy shall include the following:

(1) What constitutes good cause, including documented illness, critical emergencies, and lack of accessible training programs;

(2) Procedures for developing a scheduled corrective action plan that provides for prompt completion of the continuing training;

(3) Procedures for recommending revocation of the foster home certificate if the foster caregiver fails to comply with the corrective action plan.

(E) A foster caregiver shall be given an additional amount of time within which the foster caregiver must complete the continuing training required under division (A) of this section in accordance with rules adopted by the department of job and family services if either of the following applies:

(1) The foster caregiver has served in active duty outside this state with a branch of the armed forces of the United States for more than thirty days in the preceding two-year period.

(2) The foster caregiver has served in active duty as a member of the Ohio organized militia, as defined in section 5923.01 of the Revised Code, for more than thirty days in the preceding two-year period and that active duty relates to either an emergency in or outside of this state or to military duty in or outside of this state.

Effective Date: 01-01-2001; 09-03-2004; 2008 HB214 05-14-2008 .