Rule 5101:2-9-43 | Residential infant care center.
(A) Residential infant care center (RICC) means a facility that has as its primary purpose the provision of residential services for infants affected by substance use and the preservation of families through infant diversion practices and programs.
(B) A residential infant care center can not be licensed as a children's crisis care center.
(C) An infant, from birth to twelve months old, is eligible to be placed in a residential infant care center if one of the following applies:
(1) The infant was born substance exposed and affected requires additional care.
(2) The infant's parent or caretaker requires additional education and support services regarding care for the infant.
(3) A public children services agency (PCSA) or private child placing agency (PCPA) requires additional time to determine placement of the infant.
(D) A RICC may provide residential care for up to ninety consecutive days.
(E) Any of the following with legal custody of the infant may place an infant in a RICC:
(1) A parent, guardian, or legal custodian.
(2) A public children services agency.
(3) A private child placing agency.
(F) Pediatric medical service means medical service required to be provided by, or with oversight from, a licensed medical professional, including prescribing medication, administering rectal or intravenous medication, and outpatient laboratory service, and providing for sick visits, onsite well child exams, and children assisted by medical technology.
(G) A RICC, if using medication to treat infants will need a terminal distributor of dangerous drugs license issued by the state board of pharmacy under section 4729.54 of the Revised Code.
(H) A RICC is to comply with all requirements in accordance with Chapter 5101:2-9 of the Administrative Code. Exceptions to the requirements are listed in appendix A to this rule.
(I) The RICC is to develop a plan of safe care for an infant born substance exposed and affected including the following:
(1) Assist with the health and substance use disorder treatment needs of the infant and the parent or caregiver.
(2) Develop and implement a program monitoring, supporting, and connecting the family or caregiver.
(J) The RICC is to develop and implement a program for parents and caregivers of the infant, either individually or in a group setting, to address:
(1) Teaching parenting skills.
(2) Bonding with the infant.
(3) Caring for the infant's special needs.
(K) A RICC is to ensure the following:
(1) Child-care staff, volunteers and interns (in positions responsible for the daily direct care or supervision of children) to be at least eighteen years old and have a high school diploma or certificate of high school equivalence.
(2) Volunteers and interns who are under twenty-one years of age are to be supervised.
(3) A RICC may include volunteers or interns in child-to-staff ratios only during an emergency which includes an extremely ill staff member.
(L) A criminal records check is to be requested for volunteers and interns in accordance with section 2151.86 of the Revised Code.
(M) A RICC is to employ registered nurses, patient care assistants, or licensed professional nurses to meet the required child-staff ratio.
(N) A RICC is to have the center peer supporter, family advocate, licensed social worker (LSW), licensed independent social worker (LISW), licensed professional counselor (LPC), or licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) to do the following:
(1) Provide wraparound services to the infant's family or caregiver.
(2) Coordinate with the transferring hospital, PCSA or PCPA.
(3) Refer parent or caregiver to appropriate community agencies and services for support and aftercare.
(4) Follow-up with the parent or caregiver after the infant's discharge.
(O) The RICC is to encourage employee-supervised dyad care and permit one of the infant's parents or caregivers to room-in with the infant for bonding and education.
(P) The RICC is to provide the following for dyad care and rooming-in stay.
(1) A single bed and all necessary bedding (sheets, pillow and blankets).
(2) All meals and snacks during rooming-in.
(3) A minimum of one private shower and toilet for the use of any parents or caregivers who are rooming-in.
(4) All rules and policies are to be provided to the parent or caregiver and notification of restriction or cancellation if rules are not followed.
(Q) The RICC is to provide one bathing room for every six infants that includes a minimum of one hip level bathtub with hot and cold water, one changing station and a door with a full-length glass window for safety and observation.
(R) The child-staff ratio is at least one awake child-care staff on duty at all times for every five infants.
(S) Use cribs and other infant sleep products that meet the United States consumer product safety commission's safety standards for safe sleep.
(T) Follow the department of health's safe sleep education program recommendations established under section 3701.66 of the Revised Code.
Last updated January 3, 2023 at 8:57 AM
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