ODJFS announced that FFPSA compliance is moving forward. On Friday, the Department released an RFA in coordination with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Ohio Family and Children First Council (OFCF) for county FCFCs and PCSAs to:
Establish and create community networks and infrastructures to provide comprehensive community services.
Develop a Sustainability Plan.
Develop a plan to provide and pilot specific practices and services to inform future funding and regulation and to meet state and federal requirements including but not limited to: (a) CARA Plans of Safe Care; (b) Qualified Residential Treatment Program Level of Care Assessments (i.e. Child Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS)); (c) Qualified Residential Treatment Program After Care Planning
The grants will allow communities to assess the local needs for these priorities, establish best practices, and prepare for any necessary budget considerations for implementation and/or sustainability. This work at a community level will also inform planning and next steps for state policy and practice. Additionally, the RFA requires that to receive a portion of the funds, PCSAs and FCFCs must identify community partners to start working on a sustainability of services plan.
This RFA is not a contract to administer the CANS assessment or conduct aftercare planning for QRTPs, but the provision of targeted funding to counties to plan, cultivate local resources, and pilot specific practices and services to inform future funding and regulation. This marks an important step forward in FFPSA compliance.