ICPC State Pages

Ohio Home Studies (Adoption/Foster Care/Kinship/Parent/Relative)

Types of Home Studies

Ohio conducts the following types of home studies:

• Relative Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Parent Care
• Foster- Adopt

Ohio designates staff in each county/region to conduct home studies and/or process interstate placements:

• Yes

Ohio considers a home study as current/valid for:

• Public: 2 years
• Private: 2 years

Private Contract Services - Home Study

As the Sending State, Ohio will pay a contractor or private/independent agency in the Receiving State to conduct a home study:

• Yes

As the Receiving State, Ohio will permit a Sending state to pay a contractor or private/independent agency in the Receiving State to conduct a home study:

• Yes

As the Receiving State, Ohio will accept/update a home study that was not originally conducted by the receiving state or a private contractor acting on behalf of the Receiving State:

• Will not Update or Accept

Adoptive Home Study

Home study for adoption conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):

• No

Prospective adoptive parents permitted to pay for a pre-adoptive home study:

• Private Adoptions: Yes
• Independent Adoptions: Yes

DCPS contracts for Purchase of Services with private agencies in other states:

• Yes

Foster Care Home Study

Home study for foster care conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):

• Yes

Parent Home Study

If child has been removed from the parent, Ohio requires a home study evaluation before reunification:

Non-Custodial Parents: Placements with non-custodial parents are not covered under the ICPC if:

Proof of Paternity is required:

• No

Relative/Kinship Home Study

Home study for relatives conducted prior to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR):

• Yes

Define Relative:

• Relative" means the following:

  (a) Individuals related by blood or adoption:

  (i) Parents, grandparents, including grandparents with the prefix “great”, “great-great”, “grand”, or “great-grand”;

  (ii) Siblings;

  (iii) Aunts, uncles, nephews, and nieces, including such relative with the prefix “great,” “great-great,” or “great-grand;”

  (iv) First cousins and first cousins once removed.

  (b) Stepparents and stepsiblings;

  (c) Spouses and former spouses of individuals named in paragraph (a) of this rule. 

Relatives must be licensed:

• No

Proof of Paternity is required:

• No

Ohio considers the following types and degrees of relation as relative placements. Individuals related in the 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree and 4th degree (You may need to refer to your state's consanguinity chart or state statute to determine relations or relative status.):

Regulation 7 Priority Placement

Ohio performs priority placements:

• Yes

A court ordered Priority 7 conducted if the child is in a DCF shelter or foster home for substantial period of time.

Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study) - Public

Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of educational training):

• 60 days

Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):

• 30 days

Wait Time (ICPC Interstate Home Study) - Private

Average length of time to process and complete a home study with criminal background checks for an interstate placement (Not including completion of education training):

• 30 days

Wait time to complete Home Study, only (without criminal records check):

• 30 days

Ohio determines the "Date of Receipt" for an interstate home study as:

• Date verified between Receiving/Sending States
• Date stamped in the mailroom
• Date of the 100A

Method of requesting, sending, and/or reporting an interstate home study

Criminal Record Checks

Ohio requires criminal background checks for the following home studies:

• Foster Care
• Relative Care
• Relative-Foster Care
• Foster-Adopt
• Adoption
• Other, specified below

Local agencies performing protective services functions on behalf of children determine based on safety concerns whether home studies and / or background checks are undertaken for non-custodial parents or parents with whom children are being reunified.

Type of Checks (Crim. & Abuse Neglect Registry)

Ohio requires the following types of criminal background and perpetrator checks (Federal (F), State (S), Local (L), Abuse and Neglect Registry (ANR), Not Required (NR))

Wait Time for Criminal Records Results

Wait time for fingerprint results are:

Live Scan or other technology

• State: 48-72 hours
• Local/County: Not Offered

Manually - Fingerprint Card

• State: 31-60 days
• Local/County: Not Offered