Plans of Safe Care Infants With Prenatal Substance Exposure and Their Families - Ohio

Definitions

Citation: Admin. Code § 5101:2-1-01

The 'Help Me Grow' early intervention services means developmental services selected in collaboration with the parents of a child, birth through age 2, who is eligible for services under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and designed to meet the developmental needs of the child and the needs of the child's family to assist appropriately in the child's development, as identified in the individualized family service plan.

'Plan of safe care' (POSC) means an arrangement that addresses the immediate safety of the substance-exposed and/or substance-affected infant, the treatment needs of the infant, and the health and substance use disorder treatment needs of the affected family or caregiver. The plan is developed with the parents or other caregivers, as well as the collaborating professional partners and agencies involved in caring for the infant and family. The plan includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Basic identifying information of the infant and caregiver(s): name, date of birth, and address
• The hospital or medical facility where the infant is being treated: name, address, contact person, and physician
• Medical information on the infant: treating medical personnel (doctor, specialists), current diagnosis, prescription medication, therapies, or treatment
• Health and substance use of mother, father, and/or caregiver: diagnosis, prescribed medications, alcohol or drug treatment provider(s), treatment plan, and contact information of all

'Substance-affected infant' means a child under age 12 months who has any detectable physical, developmental, cognitive, or emotional delay or harm that is associated with a parent, guardian, or custodian's abuse of a legal or illegal substance, excluding the use of a substance by the parent, guardian, or custodian as prescribed.

'Substance-exposed infant' means a child under age 12 months who has been subjected to legal or illegal substance abuse while in utero.

Notification/Reporting Requirements

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 2151.421

A mandated reporter who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has suffered or faces a threat of suffering abuse or neglect shall immediately make a report to the county public children services agency (PCSA) or a peace officer in the county in which the child resides or the abuse or neglect is occurring or has occurred.

Assessment of the Infant and Family

Citation: Admin. Code § 101:2-36-01(G), (H)

When a PCSA receives referral information on an infant identified as affected by legal or illegal substance abuse, withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal or postnatal substance exposure, or a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), the PCSA shall attempt to gather the following regarding the plan of safe care:

• The name(s) and address(es) of the child; the parent, guardian(s), or custodian(s); and all household members
• The identity of the caregiver(s) for the infant
• A description of the interaction between the mother or caregiver and infant
• The name of the hospital or medical facility where the infant is receiving care
• Any known medical information on the parent(s), guardian(s), caregiver(s), infant, or household members
• Information regarding any known legal or illegal substance abuse, including the history of legal or illegal substance abuse by parent(s), guardian(s), caregiver(s), and household members
• Information regarding support systems for the parent(s), guardian(s), caregiver(s), or household members
• Information on the managed care plan and insurance information

The PCSA shall not screen out a referral if any of the following apply:

• The POSC information listed above is not obtained.
• The POSC has not been developed.
• The POSC is not adequate to address the safety of the infant.

Responsibility for Development of the Plan of Safe Care

Citation: Admin. Code § 5101:2-36-03

For all reports involving an infant identified as affected by legal or illegal substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal or postnatal substance exposure, the PCSA shall do the following:

• Ensure the POSC has been developed
• Ensure the POSC addresses the safety needs of the infant Ensure the POSC addresses the health and substance use disorder treatment needs of the affected family or caregiver

Within 2 working days of completion of the assessment/investigation, the PCSA shall do all of the following, as applicable:

• Refer any infant who has been born and identified as affected by legal or illegal substance abuse, withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure, or FASD to 'Help Me Grow.'
• Notify all participants involved in the POSC of the final case decision

The final decision includes whether the case will be transferred for ongoing PCSA services, closed and referral made to community services, or closed. The following POSC participants shall be notified:

• Parents, guardians, custodians, or other caregivers for the infant
• Health-care providers involved in the delivery or care of the infant
• Collaborating professional partners and agencies involved in caring for the infant and family

Services for the Infant

This issue is not addressed in the statutes and regulations reviewed.

Services for the Parents or Other Caregivers

This issue is not addressed in the statutes and regulations reviewed.

Monitoring Plans of Safe Care

This issue is not addressed in the statutes and regulations reviewed.