Ohio Administrative Code 5180:5 — Department of Children and Youth | Young Adult Supports

Chapter 5180:5-1 Bridges Rules

Ohio Adm.Code 5180:5-1-01 Administration of bridges.

(A) Who qualifies as a bridges' young adult?

In accordance with section 5180.428 of the Revised Code, a bridges' young adult is defined as a person to whom the following apply:

(1) Emancipated through the legal process of custody termination from a Title IV-E agency on or after attaining the age of eighteen.

(2) Has attained the age of eighteen but has not yet attained the age of twenty-one.

(3) Has submitted documentation to verify at least one of the following eligibility criteria:

(a) Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential.

(b) Enrolled in an institution that provides post-secondary or vocational education.

(c) Participating in a program or activity designed to promote or remove barriers to employment.

(d) Employed for at least eighty hours per month.

(e) Incapable of doing any of the activities as described in paragraphs (A)(3)(a) to (A)(3)(d) of this rule due to a diagnosed physical or mental health condition.

(B) What form is to be provided to an eligible young adult upon request to apply for bridges?

The DCY 01626 "Bridges Application" is provided to an emancipated young adult upon request.

(C) What documents are the emancipated young adult to submit to DCY?

The emancipated young adult is to submit to the bridges representative the completed DCY 01626 "Bridges Application" that is signed by the young adult and the representative, along with verification of eligibility, in accordance with paragraph (A)(3) of this rule. Verification of eligibility can include, but is not limited to, the following documents:

(1) School enrollment letter.

(2) Most recent grade card or report card.

(3) Current college transcript.

(4) Current paystubs showing that hours worked were within thirty calendar days from the date of bridges application.

(5) Letter from an employer stating that the applicant is currently employed.

(6) Social security award letter supporting eligibility under paragraph (A)(3)(e) of this rule.

(D) How is an applicant determined eligible for bridges?

Upon submission of the DCY 01626, application and requested documents, a representative will determine if the applicant is eligible to participate in bridges.

(E) What happens if the applicant is determined eligible for bridges?

The representative will provide the applicant with the DCY 01617 "Bridges Voluntary Participation Agreement" for the applicant to sign to enter/begin the program. The DCY 01617 is to be signed by the young adult, the representative, the supervisor, and DCY. The effective date is the date of the DCY director or designee's signature.

(F) Who is to complete a bridges assessment?

A representative and the young adult are to complete a bridges assessment in the Ohio statewide automated child welfare information system (SACWIS) within thirty calendar days of the effective date of the DCY 01617.

(G) When is a bridges case plan developed, and what does it include?

A representative is to work with the young adult to develop a bridges case plan within sixty calendar days of the effective date of the DCY 01617 in Ohio SACWIS.

(1) The plan is to be personalized and as detailed as the young adult chooses.

(2) The young adult, the representative, and the supervisor are to sign the agreed-upon case plan.

(3) A copy of the case plan containing the signatures of the young adult, the representative and the supervisor is to be provided to the young adult either in hard copy, or electronic format as requested by the young adult, within seven calendar days of the young adult's signature.

(4) The bridges case plan may be amended at any time with the agreement of the young adult, representative, and the supervisor and signatures updated accordingly.

(H) How often is a representative to visit the young adult?

(1) In-home visits must be completed in the approved living arrangement to receive financial support from bridges.

(2) Face-to-face contact must be made monthly with the young adult to remain in the bridges program.

(3) If the young adult resides in a college dormitory, the young adult may request that the visit occur at another location on campus.

(4) With the agreement of the young adult, virtual visits may occur once quarterly; virtual visits are not to occur in consecutive months. The agreement to virtual visits is to be documented within an activity log in Ohio SACWIS.

(I) What is to be documented during the monthly visits in Ohio SACWIS?

Each monthly visit with the young adult and any dependent is to be documented in Ohio SACWIS as an activity log, and is to address, at a minimum, the following:

(1) Safety and well-being of the young adult.

(2) The progress of the bridges young adult toward their bridges case plan goals.

(3) Any new or pertinent information that is affecting the young adult, including information the young adult specifically wishes to have documented in the activity log.

(J) Can courtesy visits be arranged for out-of-state young adults?

A representative may request courtesy monthly face-to-face visits for an Ohio bridges young adult who resides in another state. The requests are to follow the directives outlined in Chapter 5180:2-52 of the Administrative Code.

(K) Can another state request that a representative complete a courtesy visit for eligible emancipated young adults who have been placed into an approved supervised independent living setting in Ohio?

A representative is to conduct courtesy monthly face-to-face visits for eligible emancipated young adults who have been placed into approved supervised independent living settings in Ohio through the "Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children" pursuant to the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 and Chapter 5180:2-52 of the Administrative Code.

(L) When is a safety check of the living setting conducted?

A representative is to conduct a safety check of the young adult's living setting within seven business days of the young adult's initial placement or any subsequent housing change, including changes to settings located outside of Ohio.

(1) The safety check is to be conducted with the young adult present.

(2) The safety check is to be approved or denied by the representative.

(3) The safety check is to be signed by both the young adult and the representative and supervisor.

(M) How often and how is the bridges case plan reviewed?

A representative is to conduct a review of the bridges case plan at least every one hundred eighty calendar days from the effective date of the DCY 01617.

(1) The review is to include an examination of the current goals and services identified in the plan.

(2) The review is to include verification of the young adult's continued eligibility for the program.

(3) An updated bridges case plan is to be signed by the young adult and approved by the representative, and a copy is to be provided to the young adult within seven calendar days of the review.

(N) When is the current bridges case plan and review to be submitted to the court?

A copy of the current signed bridges case plan and the most recent plan review is to be submitted to the court at least fourteen calendar days prior to any scheduled bridges court hearing.

(O) What are the credit reporting requirements for the young adult?

A representative is to request a credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies at least once per year during the young adult's enrollment.

(1) The young adult is to receive a copy of their consumer credit report each year and is to receive a final report and explanation within sixty calendar days of turning twenty-one.

(2) The representative is to assist the young adult in resolving any inaccuracies found in the credit report by working with the young adult and the Ohio attorney general's office.

(P) Are bridges case records confidential?

Yes, all bridges case records that are prepared, maintained, and permanently kept by the representative are confidential. Information contained within Ohio SACWIS is confidential pursuant to section 5180.401 of the Revised Code. If case information cannot be recorded in Ohio SACWIS, it may be recorded in an alternate electronic format.

(Q) Can a bridges' young adult request a summary of services?

Yes, a summary of bridges case services is to be provided to the young adult upon request.

Last updated May 1, 2026 at 8:18 AM

History

• Effective: May 1, 2026
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

Chapter 5180:5-50 Bridges

Ohio Adm.Code 5180:5-50-02 Eligibility for bridges.

(A) An emancipated young adult is to submit to a bridges representative a DCY 01626 "Bridges Application" to participate in the program.

(B) To be eligible for bridges, an applicant is to meet all of following:

(1) Attained the age of eighteen but not attained the age of twenty-one.

(2) Emancipated from one of the following:

(a) The custody of an Ohio public children services agency (PCSA);

(b) The care and placement responsibility of an Ohio Title IV-E juvenile court; or

(c) The care and placement of the Ohio department of youth services (DYS) and was in a placement that qualifies for Title IV-E maintenance reimbursement, excluding juvenile correctional facilities, upon turning the age of eighteen.

(3) Submit documentation to verify at least one of the following eligibility criteria:

(a) Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential;

(b) Enrolled in an institution that provides post-secondary or vocational education;

(c) Participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to, employment;

(d) Employed for at least eighty hours per month; or

(e) Incapable of doing any of the activities as described in paragraphs (B)(3)(a) to (B)(3)(d) of this rule due to a diagnosed physical or mental health condition.

(C) A bridges representative is to submit a completed and signed DCY 01626, DCY 01617 "Bridges Voluntary Participation Agreement", and documentation supporting eligibility described in paragraph (B)(3) of this rule to the Ohio department of children and youth (DCY) for approval.

(1) An approved applicant is to sign a DCY 01617 pursuant to section 5101.1412 of the Revised Code and be provided with the JFS 04059 "Explanation of State Hearing Procedures."

(2) DCY is to provide a denied applicant a DCY 01618 "Bridges Notice of Denial," a DCY 01622 "Bridges State Hearing Request Form," and a JFS 04059 "Explanation of State Hearing Procedures" by U.S. mail, hand delivery, or electronic format no later than three business days after an application is denied, which is to include the reason for denial and the right to appeal the decision as outlined in paragraph (G) of this rule.

(D) A bridges participant is to maintain eligibility which is to be reviewed by a bridges representative no later than every one hundred eighty calendar days from the DCY 01617 effective date but may be reviewed at any time. If a participant fails to maintain eligibility, a bridges representative is to notify the participant in writing of termination as outlined in paragraph (F) of this rule.

(E) A participant may choose to voluntarily withdraw by submitting a DCY 01621 "Bridges Voluntary Withdrawal Form" to a bridges representative with termination effective on the date indicated on the form.

(F) The following outlines participant termination from bridges:

(1) In accordance with rule 5101:6-2-04 of the Administrative Code, a participant is to be provided a DCY 01620 "Bridges Notice of Termination" including the reason and effective date of termination, a DCY 01622 "Bridges State Hearing Request Form," and a JFS 04059 "Explanation of State Hearing Procedures" explaining the right to appeal when a participant:

(a) No longer meets eligibility requirements as outlined in paragraph (B)(3) of this rule;

(b) Fails to be in face-to-face contact with a bridges representative for more than sixty calendar days.

(c) Is incarcerated for more than sixty calendar days;

(d) Attains the age of twenty-one; or

(e) Experiences discretionary termination as described in paragraph (F)(5) of this rule.

(2) The effective date of termination is to be no less than thirty calendar days from the mailing date of the DCY 01620.

(3) If DCY determines a participant was or may be terminated from bridges for failing to maintain face to face contact for more than sixty calendar days, and it is determined a bridges representative did not make diligent efforts to complete face to face contact, the participant's eligibility may be reinstated.

(4) Eligibility can be reestablished prior to the termination date if the participant submits documentation that verifies meeting eligibility criteria in paragraph (B)(3) of this rule.

(5) DCY has the discretion to terminate a participant without providing prior notice if, including but not limited to, the participant falsifies eligibility documentation, is incarcerated impacting program requirements, refuses to participate in program activities, or for misuse of program funds. A bridges representative is to provide the participant a DCY 01620 stating the reason and termination date for the discretionary termination, a DCY 01622 and a JFS 04059.

(G) An individual who was denied enrollment or terminated from bridges has the right to appeal the decision and may request a state hearing as follows:

(1) Submission of a DCY 01622 "Bridges State Hearing Request Form" by mail, email, facsimile, or verbal request to a bridges representative, DCY, or bureau of state hearings. The request is to be submitted within the following timeframes:

(a) Fifteen calendar days from the mailing date of the termination notice, continuing benefits until a state hearing decision is issued pursuant to division 5101:6 of the Administrative Code; or

(b) Ninety calendar days from the mailing date of the denial or termination notice.

(2) If the fifteenth or ninetieth day falls on a weekend or holiday, then the next business day is to be used as the date of submission.

(3) An individual may withdraw a state hearing request for any reason prior to a state hearing decision being issued, including to re-apply to bridges.

(H) If a participant is terminated from bridges for providing falsified eligibility documentation, all of the following apply:

(1) Eligibility is suspended for a sixty calendar day period.

(2) Reapplication may be submitted sixty calendar days from either:

(a) The mailing date on the DCY 01620; or

(b) The date of the state hearing decision upholding the termination, if the participant files an appeal as outlined in paragraph (G) of this rule.

Last updated July 26, 2025 at 11:38 PM

History

• Effective: July 1, 2025
• Promulgated Under: 119.03

Ohio Adm.Code 5180:5-50-03 Title IV-E foster care maintenance (FCM) program eligibility and reimbursability of bridges.

(A) Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 675(8) and section 5101.1411 of the Revised Code, a Title IV-E agency can extend foster care maintenance (FCM) payments, administration, and training payments for an emancipated young adult age eighteen but less than age twenty-one through funding provided in accordance with the federal "Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008" ("the Act").

(B) Title IV-E FCM program eligibility and reimbursability is to be determined in Ohio's comprehensive child welfare information system (CCWIS) by the Title IV-E agency representative within thirty calendar days of either of the following:

(1) Voluntary participation agreement (VPA) effective date;

(2) Best interest ruling date.

(C) The criteria for a determination of Title IV-E FCM program eligibility includes all of the following:

(1) A participant is to be considered Title IV-E FCM program eligible if, at the time eligibility is being determined:

(a) An emancipated young adult is program eligible and has signed a VPA pursuant to rule 5180:5-50-02 of the Administrative Code; and

(b) An emancipated young adult met the aid to families with dependent children (AFDC) eligibility requirements per section 472(a)(3) of the "Act."

(2) When Title IV-E FCM eligibility is established, a participant remains program eligible for the current custody episode. A new FCM eligibility determination in CCWIS is to be completed at any time a participant exits and reenters the program by signing a new VPA.

(3) A participant may be redetermined as eligible through the end of the month of their twenty-first birthday.

(4) A participant is no longer Title IV-E FCM program eligible when any of the following occur:

(a) A participant has been terminated from bridges pursuant to rule 5180:5-50-02 of the Administrative Code;

(b) The Title IV-E agency failed to acquire a best interest statement from the juvenile court within one hundred and eighty calendar days of a signed VPA in accordance with section 5101.1412 of the Revised Code; or

(c) At the end of the month of a participant's twenty-first birthday.

(D) Title IV-E FCM program reimbursability is to be determined in Ohio's comprehensive child welfare information system (CCWIS) by the Title IV-E agency representative within thirty calendar days of any of the following:

(1) Annual reasonable efforts ruling date; or

(2) The date a participant is no longer residing in an approved supervised independent living setting.

(E) The following outlines the determination of Title IV-E FCM program reimbursability:

(1) Title IV-E program reimbursability is to be determined for a participant who is Title IV-E FCM program eligible at the time all parties signed the VPA. A Title IV-E FCM program eligible participant is to be reimbursable when both of the following apply:

(a) A participant's countable income is less than the cost of care paid by the Title IV-E agency.

(b) A participant is residing in an approved supervised independent living setting, pursuant to rule 5180:5-50-01 of the Administrative Code and in accordance with section 5101.1411 of the Revised Code.

(2) A participant is no longer program reimbursable for Title IV-E when either of the following occur:

(a) Reasonable efforts to finalize the permanency plan are not met in accordance with section 472(a)(2)(A)(ii) of the "Act" and 45 C.F.R. 1356.21(b)(2)(2012).

(b) A bridges participant is not residing in an approved supervised independent living setting, as outlined in paragraph (G) of this rule.

(F) Title IV-E FCM reimbursement may be claimed for payments made toward an approved supervised independent living setting while a participant is in one of the following types of leave, if the leave does not exceed fourteen calendar days and a participant returns to the same living setting they were in prior to the leave:

(1) Whereabouts unknown;

(2) Hospital; or

(3) Vacation.

(G) Participants who are otherwise Title IV-E FCM program eligible are not program reimbursable during their period of residence in the following living settings:

(1) Incarceration facilities;

(2) The home of a participant's removal parent(s) or guardian(s); and

(3) Housing that is deemed uninhabitable through completion of a bridges safety check pursuant to paragraph (G) of rule 5180:5-50-01 of the Administrative Code.

Last updated July 15, 2025 at 1:25 PM

History

• Effective: July 1, 2025
• Promulgated Under: 119.03