September 2022
Newsletter
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September is National Recovery Month! PCSAO and Ohio START are dedicating this month to supporting recovery for every person, family, and community. You got this, and we’re here to support you every step of the way! #RecoveryMonth #RecoveryIsPossible
Ohio START believes in family, love and redemption. Together we have served over 1,000 families. We continue to work as a team, supporting and holding each other accountable.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
- Fawn
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From the Field: County Highlights |
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In August, 3 families successfully completed START, retained or reunified with their children and their case has been closed with the agency. |
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Two START cases were closed. One of those START cases was closed without the child ever being removed from the home.
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Family successfully completed program and reunified with children. |
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Ohio START wants to share more success stories! Submit them here.
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Ohio START Employee of the Month |
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Family Peer Mentor, Misty Stonerock from Ross County, has gone beyond to support her families. For example, Misty planned an event at their local pool for START parents and building their sober community supports and activities. She continues to be the biggest advocate for her families and is making a huge difference in her community!
Some words from Misty:
"First, let me say thank you for this opportunity and being nominated. It means a lot when others notice your hard work and dedication. I love to help people, make connections and learn new things.
As for what motivates me to want to do this job: Honestly, I want to be the person, that I needed when I was struggling. I want to help our families reduce trauma and break the cycle of abuse and addiction. When I was first approached about this position, I didn’t want it. I had a prior treatment provider, reach out to me, and encourage me to apply. I couldn’t imagine working alongside CPS ever! However, I now realize God placed me in this position, I truly believe this is my calling. My past has influenced my work, I use my personal experiences from my childhood, from working a CPS case, and finding sobriety as motivation for others. I can say, I have been there, I have done that, you can get through it.
My favorite memory is a time I was working with a client that was in fear of getting her driver’s license, for the first time. For several months, she kept making excuses as to why she couldn’t do it, or make the appointments, etc. The day she got her license, I was at her home for our weekly visit. The BMV called her and said they had a cancellation, but she didn’t take the appointment because she and the kids had just woken up and she said didn’t have a babysitter. I called the BMV to advocate for her, asking them to allow her to keep that appointment. They gave us five minutes to get there. I packed up her and her children, she didn’t even have time to brush her teeth or hair. I had another peer supporter shadowing me that day. The client got her license and was screaming and laughing with joy and jumped into my arms. That made all the months working up to that moment – worth it!"
Thank you Misty for all your dedication!
Nominate the next employee of the month here.
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What does recovery mean to Family Peer Mentor? |
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To recognize National Recovery Month, Family Peer Mentors were asked what recovery means to them. Here are their responses:
- "Recovery to me means to change your life for the better and continue to do every day."
- "Recovery means resiliency and hope."
- "Recovery for me is restoring, reusing, repurposing what I already have and passing it on... We are never broken, we just need to find our purpose."
- "Recovery is the freedom of personal choice. It is the ability to completely recreate oneself and life."
- "Recovery is life sustaining without it I would have nothing."
- "Recovery to me is my life and my son."
- "Living a sober, free lifestyle."
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Celebrate National Recovery Month
#RecoveryMonth2022 kicks off in September, so let’s plan to come together to amplify the message of hope and recovery for #everypersoneveryfamilyeverycommunity. Join us as we shine a light on the power of #familylove&redemption in our mission to create pathways for #childsafety and #parental recovery for families affected by substance use disorders.
Here’s how you can participate—tell us about #recovery events planned in your local communities, share inspiring messages about recovery #wins (big or small), rally your local #START teams for a group photo dressed in all shades of #purple. Have other ideas? Great! We encourage you to send them all to START@cffutures.org by COB Fri 9/23.
For additional information on #NationalRecoveryMonth planning activities and promotional materials, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) website at https://www.samhsa.gov/recovery-month.
Participants will learn the philosophy, values and constructs of the Nurturing Parenting Programs. This THREE-day virtual training will be held Sept. 20 - 22, 2022. Participants must attend all 3 days to receive credit. It will be broken into 3 2-hour sections each day. 9:30-11:30 will be online virtual, 11:30-1:30 will be time for self-guided reading and reflection activities and then will return to online virtual 1:30-3:30. This training is recommended for PCSA caseworkers, family peer mentors, behavioral health providers and anyone else in the county that may be working with Ohio START families. Register here.
Attend the Recovery Is Beautiful Fall Fun Festival
The Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities, with support from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, will be hosting a Recovery Is Beautiful Fall Fun Festival on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, from 3-7 PM at Van Buren Acres. Van Buren Acres is a family owned and operated farm in Hebron, OH. Attendees will be able to participate in a variety of activities including a corn maze, hayrides, soybean maze, pumpkin picking, and more. Register for the event here.
Join a Sober Active Community
The Phoenix’s mission is to build a sober active community that fuels resilience and harnesses the transformational power of connection so that together we
rise, recover, and live. Find more information on their website.
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Attend the Youngstown Recovery Rally
Please register by August 15th to be included in promotional material. Registrations will be accepted until September 15th but may not be included in digital or physical promotion.
Find more information and register here.
Sigh-up for a t-shirt here.
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The 2022 PCSAO conference is in just a few weeks!
PCSAO is holding its 37th annual conference Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 19-21 at the Hilton Easton. The theme, “As Our World Turns,” recognizes that the children services field is in the midst of many changes and it can feel like we are spinning so fast, we can’t slow down. Registration is now closed but for those who are registered, don't forget to sign up for your workshops on the Webex App!
Read about the conference agenda, keynote speakers, awards, sponsors, and more on the conference webpage.
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Visit the training calendar below to register |
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Family Toolkit: Genograms, ecomaps, and more!
September 14, 2022
from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
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Trauma-Informed Resiliency-Oriented Supervision
September 14, 2022
from 1:00 pm - 4:15 pm
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Introduction to START for New Staff
September 15, 2022
from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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Joyful Together
September 16, 2022
from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
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Nurturing Parenting
September 20, 2022
from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
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Motivational Interviewing for Supervisors: Professional Learning Community (PLC)
September 28, 2022
from 9:00 am - 10:00 am
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Ohio START is a program of PCSAO
Our Mission: We approach Substance Use Disorders with compassion, understanding and hope for recovery. We work as a team, supporting and holding each other accountable. We believe in family, love and redemption.
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