• A minimum of 365 days of caring for a foster child in placement as a certified family foster home caregiver.

• A minimum of sixty (60) hours of relevant training in a classroom setting, or other state approved setting that complies with the following:

*Training will be completed within twenty-four (24) months prior to the date of initial certification as a foster caregiver.

*For a currently certified family foster home caregiver, training will be completed within twenty-four (24) months of written intent to upgrade their certification for those who do not meet the requirements of having a minimum of 365 days of caring for a foster child in placement as a certified family foster home caregiver.

*Training will relate to children with special or exceptional needs as defined in OAC 5101:2-47-18.

• A minimum of five (5) years cumulative daily experience caring for a child in the home of the foster caregiver or applicant.

• A minimum of one (1) year of cumulative experience caring for a child who has special or exceptional needs as defined by OAC 5101:2-47-18. THE RECOMMENDING AGENCY will review and consider parenting or caregiving experience of special/exceptional needs children to determine if it would qualify as equivalent experience per agency discretion.

For currently licensed family foster homes who wish to upgrade to treatment, the foster caregiver must have:

• A good history of meeting foster care training requirements;

• No active third party investigations, rule violations or corrective action plans;

• A placement disruption rate of less than ten (10) percent;

• A favorable recommendation from the current foster care worker, foster care supervisor, Children Services Administrator and/or Agency Director or Designee.

Prospective treatment caregivers are to complete the full list of pre-service training topics in twenty-four (24) to thirty-six (36) hours or the limited list in twenty-four (24) hours as found in 5101:2-5-33 of the Administrative Code. The preferred pre-service for all treatment caregivers is the evidence-based Pressley Ridge curriculum that focuses on trauma informed care.

Each treatment caregiver will successfully complete First Aid and Adult and Child Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification Training program offered by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association or its equivalent. This is required as a part of treatment home pre-service or prior to upgrading to become a treatment caregiver for existing family foster homes. If foster children under the age of three (3) will be placed in the treatment foster home, infant CPR will be included in the CPR certification. This training may be counted toward the training requirement during a certification period.

First Aid and CPR certification must be kept current at all times.

Treatment caregivers are required to complete forty-five (45) hours of continuing training each two (2) year certification period as specified by THE RECOMMENDING AGENCY training policies.

If a caregiver completes twenty-four (24) hours of preplacement training and only completed the limited topics, the caregiver is to complete the remaining topics (full list contained in 5101:2-5-33 within the first certification period.

All new and upgraded treatment homes are required to complete training on trauma-informed care and crisis prevention/de-escalation training. 

By ensuring our caregivers are well-trained and supported, we can provide children in our care with the
best possible environment for their growth and development. Together, we can Foster Hope and change lives.

The Treatment Foster Care program is structured into three (3) tiers to meet the varying needs of children:

• Tier I: Specialized Needs
• TIER II: Therapeutic Needs
• TIER III: Exceptional/Intensive Needs