Section 5103.021 | Scholars residential centers.
(A) As used in this section, a "scholars residential center" is a center that meets all of the following:
(1) The center is a certified affiliate in good standing of a national organization with a mission to help underserved children in middle school and high school in a comprehensive manner that is academically focused and service-oriented and in a family-like setting.
(2) The center is private and not-for-profit.
(3) The center does not receive Title IV-E funding or any associated Title IV funds related to child welfare.
(4) The center only accepts children placed by their parents or legal custodian.
(5) The center is voluntary and uses a competitive selection process.
(B) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement standards regarding a scholars residential center. The rules shall be substantially similar, as determined by the director, to other similarly situated providers of residential care for children, including rules provided in Chapters 5101:2-5 and 5101:2-9 of the Administrative Code, except that the rules shall reflect all of the following:
(1) A center is not subject to any policy that is not specific or relevant to the center.
(2) A center is not required to provide discharge summaries.
(3) A center is permitted to request agency waivers.
(4) A center is not required to implement case plans or service plans.
(5) Training requirements for center staff are limited to completion of all of the following:
(a) Orientation training;
(b) Current American red cross, American heart association, or equivalent first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification;
(c) One hour of annual trauma training.
(6) A center is not subject to existing rules regarding:
(a) Recreation and leisure activity requirements, provided that the center has a recreation area available and permits children to swim if a person who has completed life-saving or water safety training is present;
(b) Visiting and communications policies, provided that the center ensures that children have contact with their family;
(c) Qualified residential treatment program requirements;
(d) Treatment-focused requirements established for residential agencies.
(7) A center shall provide notification and documentation of critical incidents to parents and legal custodians.
(C) The director shall certify a scholars residential center that submits an application to the director, on a form prescribed by the director, that indicates to the director's satisfaction that the center meets the standards set forth in rules adopted under division (B) of this section.
Last updated October 4, 2023 at 1:45 PM
Available Versions of this Section
- October 3, 2023 – Enacted by House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly [ View October 3, 2023 Version ]