In State Fiscal Year 1999-2000, the Ohio General Assembly, through Amended Substitute House Bill 283, created the Kinship Care Services Planning Council to develop recommendations specifying the types of services that should be included as part of a statewide program of supportive services to kinship caregivers. Members of the Kinship Care Services Planning Council included the Ohio Department of Aging, Ohio Department of Mental Health, Ohio Department of Mental Retardation/Development Disabilities, Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Department of Youth Services, and the Department of Job and Family Services. Other representatives included the public children services agencies, county departments of job and family services, child support enforcement agencies, area agencies on aging, legal aid societies, kinship caregivers, and service providers.

Subcommittees were created to develop recommendations around engaging communities, information and referral, legal services and legislation, training, respite care, child care, and access to services. The Kinship Care Services Planning Council submitted 11 recommendations, four of which the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has begun to implement:

1. Kinship Navigator Program: Navigators at the county level who provide information to kinship caregivers (those known and not known to the public children services agencies) about available community services, and to assist them in accessing those services.
2. Information and Referral: The Help Me Grow program provides county kinship program information and referral to callers through its toll-free line. Local kinship program information and the publication "Relatives Caring for Children: Ohio Resource Guide" is available through the toll- free line, 1-800-755-4769.
3. Kinship Care Advisory Board: Includes representatives from state and private agencies and kinship caregivers to provide advice and guidance to the Director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services on kinship policy.
4. Kinship Care Power of Attorney and Authorization Affidavit: Legislation was introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives, with the involvement and support of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, other state agencies and providers. The power of attorney will authorize caregivers to access health care for children and enroll children in school with the approval of the parent. The authorization affidavit is for the same purpose, but when the whereabouts of the parent is unknown. This legislation has not yet passed.