Section 2151.429. Traditional and alternative response pathways

(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.

(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.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.28, HB 153, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2011.