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PCSAO joins Ohioans to Protect Public Services
Last week, a new coalition, Ohioans to Protect Public Services, launched an educational campaign to raise awareness of the essential services funded by property taxes and the impact that a loss of this revenue stream would have on the vital services that Ohioans depend on every day. PCSAO is a proud member of the coalition. A proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate property taxes is being circulated and, if successful, could be on the ballot in Ohio as early as November. Property taxes are not a marginal funding source. They generate more than $20 billion annually and make up nearly two-thirds of local tax revenue across Ohio. These dollars fund the services people rely on every day: police and fire protection, emergency medical response, public schools, senior services, and programs for vulnerable children and individuals with disabilities. Eliminating this revenue stream overnight, with no replacement plan, would create immediate and widespread fiscal instability. Read more here, and be sure to check out the video, access educational materials, download social media graphics, and more at www.protectpublicservices.org.
Fellows gather in Columbus
Students in the Ohio Fellowship Program met in Columbus on April 17 for a day of learning, reflection, and networking. Morning table discussions focused on skill-building beyond core, organization and time management, mental health, implicit bias, and professionalism and ethics. The afternoon featured Matt Selker, who spoke on finding meaning and motivation in child protective services.
CCAO board hears about placement costs
At the request of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio’s board of directors, DCY Director Kara Wente and PCSAO’s Scott Britton presented on rising placement costs April 17. The recorded session, which will be available to county commissioners and PCSAO members from CCAO, focused on youth placed in congregate care, youth with multi-system needs, court practice, length of stay, and a number of other factors that commissioners can, working with their PCSA director, examine in order to try to reduce the most costly placements.
East Central District meets
The East Central district met April 17 with updates from the East Central Ohio Regional Training Center, PCSAO Trustees, and PCSAO. The group discussed pending children services-related legislation, the OB/SACWIS interface, PACT implementation, and county updates. In addition, staff from Sun Behavioral Health in Columbus provided an overview of their services for children and youth. The district next meets on July 17.
Northwest District meets
The Northwest District met in Findlay April 16. The agenda included discussion of Child Abuse Prevention Month activities, the loss of Medicaid MSY funding and its impact on custody relinquishment, the PCSAO workforce/turnover survey, and PCSAO updates. The district meets next on July 16.
Conference Committee prepares for upcoming workshop proposal deadline
The Conference Planning Committee met April 17 to identify any final training topics before the proposal deadline on April 30. The committee is seeking workshop proposals 1-3 hours in length for the 2026 PCSAO Annual Conference taking place Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton. The conference brings together more than 500 child protection professionals and advocates from around Ohio for 3 days of networking and learning how best to serve children and families. Click here to learn more and submit a proposal. Contact anne@pcsao.org with any questions. The committee will meet in person May 15 to review proposals and select the final slate of conference workshops.
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