MENU OF SUPPORTS
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
The new Menu of Supports Funding Opportunity empowers community agencies and foster/kinship caregivers to meet emergent needs of children involved in Ohio’s children services system. Through a financial incentive approach, this opportunity will increase the availability of placement options to serve children in need of placement. Treatment Foster Homes, foster care agencies, residential and group home facilities, and kinship caregivers may be eligible.​
​​The Menu of Supports Funding Opportunity is administered by the Ohio Department of Children and Youth through a contract with Ohio Children's Alliance.
Navigating the Menu of Supports: Pathways to Funding and Resources
To access the opportunities provided by the Menu of Supports initiative, applicants must navigate the application pathways designed to meet the specific requirements set forth by the initiative.
Given the scope of this initiative, there are extensive details regarding eligibility, timelines, funding availability, reporting obligations, and application procedures. The following resources will guide you through the different pathways, providing the necessary details and tools to help you meet the initiative’s requirements.
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This opportunity focuses on providing funding in three key areas:
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Pathway 1: Increased Utilization of Residential and Group Homes
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Goal: Support the increase residential treatment congregate care beds to meet the needs of Ohio’s high-need youth.
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Pathway 2: Treatment Foster Parent and Approved Kinship Caregiver Supports
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Goal: Increase and retain treatment foster homes and kinship caregivers for Ohio’s youth.
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Pathway 3: Transition of Youth Residing in a PCSA or in Hospitals
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Goal: Prioritize placement stability for difficult-to-place Ohio youth.
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Pathways 1 and 3 are closed.
Pathway 2 will reopen for new applications at 10AM on Monday, May 12, 2025. It will close to new applications at 5PM on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
Before applying, please read the eligibility criteria outlined below.
RESOURCES
Recorded Informational Sessions
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Application Instructions
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Frequently Asked Questions Document
Pathway 2 – Treatment Foster Parent and Approved Kinship Caregiver Supports – will reopen with limited funding available.
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An applicant’s submission does not guarantee they will receive this funding. Applications will be processed in alignment with eligibility criteria and in the order received upon the completion of Foster Care/Kinship Worker required action, until the remaining funds are exhausted. Confirmation of an applicant’s responses by their Foster Care / Kinship Worker does NOT guarantee approval for funding, but workers are encouraged to attest to the applicant’s eligibility as soon as they are able.
Limited Reopening Timeline
Monday, May 12, 10AM
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Pathway 2 reopens
Wednesday, May 14, 5PM
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Pathway 2 closes to new applications
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Treatment Foster Parent/Kinship Caregiver application submission deadline
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After application submission, an applicant’s Foster Care/Kinship Worker will receive an email and MUST confirm that the applicant’s responses are accurate
Friday, May 23, 5PM
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Foster Care/Kinship Worker required action must be completed (applications cannot be processed until Foster Care/Kinship Worker has completed this required action)
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Eligibility
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Applicants cannot have already received funding through the Menu of Supports Funding Opportunity.
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Treatment Foster Parents must be licensed and in good standing by DCY as a Treatment Foster Parent at the time of application, or plan to become licensed with DCY within 90 days of submitting this application.
In addition, the applicant must meet one of the following requirements:-
A treatment foster youth is currently placed in the home; or
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If a treatment foster youth is not already in the home, Treatment Foster Parents must be planning to accept Ohio youth in public children services custody within 90 days of receiving funds or within 90 days of being licensed, whichever comes first
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Kinship Caregivers must be an approved Kinship Caregiver or in the process of becoming an Approved Kinship Caregiver by a PCSA or private recommending agency via an Ohio Kinship Assessment.
In addition, the applicant must meet one of the following requirements:-
Planning to accept an Ohio youth in public children services custody within 90 days of receiving funds or within 90 days of being approved, whichever comes first; or
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Approved Kinship Caregiver has been given custody and the youth has an open case with the PCSA; or
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Planning to utilize the funds to support an Ohio youth currently placed with an Approved Kinship Caregiver
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Meeting the eligibility requirements does NOT guarantee approval for funding.