Executive Order 2020-43D Directing Kinship Support Payments to Eligible Kinship Caregivers

Executive Order

WHEREAS, as of December 2020, more than 2,600 kinship caregivers are providing care to nearly 4,000 children within the custody of a public children services agency in Ohio; and

WHEREAS, kinship caregivers are a valuable part of Ohio's children services system; and

WHEREAS, prior to placement, kinship caregivers must meet health and safety standards similar to those of foster caregivers; and

WHEREAS, kinship caregivers will receive kinship support payments from the State of Ohio while working toward their foster caregiver certificate, pursuant to Senate Bill 310 (133rd General Assembly); and

WHEREAS, upon certification, kinship caregivers will receive foster care maintenance payments as determined and paid by the Title IV-E agency.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mike DeWine, Governor of the State of Ohio, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution, the laws of the State, and in accordance with Sections 5101.88, 51401.881, 5101.884, 5101.885, 5101.886, 5101.887, 5101.889, 5101.8811, and 5103.0329 of the Ohio Revised Code do hereby order and direct the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to establish a methodology to provide kinship caregivers, as defined by Ohio Revised Code Section 5101.85, with kinship support payments no later than June 1, 2021 and to issue eligible kinship caregivers support payments retroactively from the date the legislation is effective.

I signed this Executive Order on December 30, 2020 in Cedarville, Ohio, and it will expire on December 31, 2021.

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Mike DeWine, Governor

ATTEST:

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Frank LaRose, Secretary of State

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