Respite Foster Care in Ohio: A Guide to Substitute Care

Foster parenting in Ohio is a deeply rewarding experience. Like all parents, foster parents occasionally need time away from everyday duties. In these cases, respite foster care, or substitute care, can be a huge help.

In Ohio, substitute support is a resource that provides short-term, temporary care for children in foster care. This gives caregivers relief while ensuring stability and safety for the child. 

With nearly 15,000 Ohio children in foster care statewide, as of late 2022, structured supports like respite play a crucial role in helping families stay strong and placements remain steady.

What Substitute Care Means in Ohio

Ohio law defines respite as short-term relief of child-caring duties that is planned or due to emergency. At its heart, it’s a safeguard and a way to protect placement stability. 

Substitute care gives Ohio foster parents and their families the breathing room they need to continue caring for children in foster care long-term. For one family, it might mean a weekend away to attend a function. For another, it may be a few days during an unexpected hospitalization. 

Whatever the reason, the goal of substitute care is to maintain stable placements where children in foster care feel secure.

Who Can Provide Substitute Care in Ohio?

Only those who meet qualifications can step in and provide substitute care. Ohio requires that every organization, whether related to Public Children Services or private, maintain a written substitute policy. 

Approved providers may include:

• Another certified foster caregiver approved by the organization
• A non-certified caregiver, but only after completing at least 12 hours of orientation and passing a criminal records check equivalent to foster care standards
• A certified provider for medically fragile children, or a licensed medical professional, when caring for children with complex medical needs

This approach ensures children in foster care remain in safe, capable hands, even when their primary foster parents take a short break.

How Long Substitute Care Can Last

Substitute care is designed to be temporary. Under Ohio law, a provider may not care for a child for more than two consecutive weeks unless they are certified as a specialized foster caregiver.

This rule draws a clear line between substitute care and foster care placement. Every use of substitute care must follow the organization’s written policy, and the process differs depending on the level of care.

• Standard foster care: Foster parents request substitute care through their organization, which documents the plan and ensures the provider is approved.
• Specialized or treatment foster care: Substitute care requires approval from the program director (or designee). Each child with special or exceptional needs must also have an individual respite plan on file.

Organizations distinguish between planned substitute care, which is scheduled in advance for vacations or personal needs, and crisis substitute care, which may be arranged under more urgent conditions. In both cases, documentation ensures the child’s record accurately reflects their care.

What Information Must Be Shared with the Substitute Provider?

Before each substitute stay, the organization must provide the caregiver with:

1. The JFS 01443 Child’s Education and Health Information form (or SACWIS equivalent)
2. A written summary of the child’s service plan and any required disclosures
3. For medically fragile children, the nursing treatment plan with physician orders

Organizations must also document that this information was given in the child’s case record. Even for a short-term stay, substitute caregivers need these tools to keep children in foster care safe and supported.

Preparation and Certification Requirements

Substitute caregivers in Ohio must meet the state’s criteria and certification standards, updated in 2025:

• Family foster homes: 24 hours of pre-service sessions; 30 hours of continuing sessions every two years
• Specialized foster homes: 24 hours of pre-service sessions; 45 hours of continuing sessions every two years

Organizations create individualized plans for each caregiver, covering trauma, safety, and child development. Even short-term providers need this foundation to give effective care.

Ohio Foster Care Payment and Rates: What to Expect

Ohio operates under a state-supervised, county-administered system. This means foster care stipends in Ohio vary. 

• The state sets Title IV-E reimbursement “ceiling” per diem as financial reference points
• However, counties may publish their own foster care per diem schedules (for example, Clermont County posts its rates publicly)

Because of this variation, foster parents should always ask their county or organization about approved substitute rates and payment processes. 

Ohio also supports kinship caregivers, who often step in when children cannot remain with their parents. Through the Kinship Support Program (KSP), eligible kin caregivers receive $12.40 per day per child (as of January 1, 2025).

While not technically substitute care, this funding can help relatives cover child care costs or plan short breaks.

Talk to an Expert about Substitute Care in Ohio

Every foster family’s situation is different, and it helps to know what support is available.

Whether you’re curious about how respite is approved, how long it can last, or how payments work in your Ohio county, you can get answers specific to your needs. Talk to a foster care expert for guidance on next steps and how to prepare for a smooth substitute stay.

You don’t have to navigate foster parenting alone. Support is here to help you and the children in your care thrive.