(A) The differential response approach, as defined in section 2151.011 of the Revised Code, pursued by a public children services agency shall include two response pathways, the traditional response pathway and the alternative response pathway. The director of job and family services shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119 of the Revised Code setting forth the procedures and criteria for public children services agencies to assign and reassign response pathways.

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Terms Used In Ohio Code 2151.429

  • Alternative response: means the public children services agency's response to a report of child abuse or neglect that engages the family in a comprehensive evaluation of child safety, risk of subsequent harm, and family strengths and needs and that does not include a determination as to whether child abuse or neglect occurred. See Ohio Code 2151.011
  • Child: means a person who is under eighteen years of age, except that the juvenile court has jurisdiction over any person who is adjudicated an unruly child prior to attaining eighteen years of age until the person attains twenty-one years of age, and, for purposes of that jurisdiction related to that adjudication, a person who is so adjudicated an unruly child shall be deemed a "child" until the person attains twenty-one years of age. See Ohio Code 2151.011
  • Differential response approach: means an approach that a public children services agency may use to respond to accepted reports of child abuse or neglect with either an alternative response or a traditional response. See Ohio Code 2151.011
  • Rule: includes regulation. See Ohio Code 1.59
  • Traditional response: means a public children services agency's response to a report of child abuse or neglect that encourages engagement of the family in a comprehensive evaluation of the child's current and future safety needs and a fact-finding process to determine whether child abuse or neglect occurred and the circumstances surrounding the alleged harm or risk of harm. See Ohio Code 2151.011

(B) The agency shall use the traditional response for the following types of accepted reports:

(1) Physical abuse resulting in serious injury or that creates a serious and immediate risk to a child’s health and safety.

(2) Sexual abuse.

(3) Child fatality.

(4) Reports requiring a specialized assessment as identified by rule adopted by the department.

(5) Reports requiring a third party investigative procedure as identified by rule adopted by the department.

(C) For all other child abuse and neglect reports, an alternative response shall be the preferred response, whenever appropriate and in accordance with rules adopted by the department.