High placement costs elevated by HB984

Reps. Justin Pizzulli (R-Scioto County) and Darnell Brewer (D-Cleveland) held a news conference Aug. 19 to highlight House Bill 984, Require DCY to set foster care reimbursement rates, addressing the rising costs of foster care placements for Ohio counties. Tammy Moore Morton, Director of Scioto County Job and Family Services, participated in the news conference alongside the bill sponsors and Scioto County Commissioner Scottie Powell, sharing the county perspective on the challenges communities face as placement costs continue to increase. News coverage of the event is included below in the clips section. 

Southwest District meets

The PCSAO Southwest District met Aug. 19 and received program information from UMFC and updates on OCWTP from the Regional Training Centers. The counties shared recent updates related to the number of children in care, workforce retention and turnover, recent adoptions, transition-age youth efforts, Ohio START, and the Ohio Fellowship Program. The district received updates from the Board of Trustees on the strategic planning retreat, financials, pending legislation, and the annual conference; and from PCSAO on legislation, the Vinton County case, OMB proposed rules to 2 CFR 200, rate cards, and OhioRISE. The district is scheduled to meet next on Oct. 21.

PCSAO kicks off human services webinar series for county commissioners

PCSAO was honored to be asked by the County Commissioners Association of Ohio to provide an overview of children services to county commissioners Aug. 20. The one-hour webinar covered system basics, including screening, investigation, and ongoing services; and then focused on placement costs. Future webinars in the series will be led by the Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association and the Ohio Child Support Professionals Association.

Conference committee meets as annual event approaches

The Conference Committee met Aug. 21 online to review registration, finalize volunteer assignments, select swag and menu choices, and update sponsors and other event details. See the conference section below to register. The committee will meet Sept. 25 in person for final preparations.

Metro leaders meet

Directors and senior leaders from metro agencies met Aug. 20 for a quarterly meeting focusing on safety plans and group homes, with updates on association efforts related to public policy and stakeholder education. The next metro meeting will be Nov. 19.

Ohio START featured on 3,000 Good Things

Ohio START was recently featured on Season 3 of the 3,000 Good Things podcast. In the episode, Ohio START Director Fawn Gadel and Family Peer Mentor Technical Assistance Consultant Laurel Ridenour discuss the creation of a new state-level role dedicated to supporting Family Peer Mentors. Their conversation highlights the importance of elevating lived experience, creating opportunities for growth, and strengthening support for peer work across Ohio. Listen here.

Clearance

As of Aug. 21, there are no children services-related rules in clearance.

Filed with JCARR

The following rules were final-filed on Aug. 17 with an effective date of Aug. 27:

• Rule 5160-59-09 - The OhioRISE program: incident management.
• Rule 5180:2-5-35 - Foster Youth Bill of Rights.
• Rule 5180:2-9-02 - Staffing requirements.
• Rule 5180:2-9-03 - Staff development and evaluation.

The following rules were original-filed for recission on Aug. 14 with a hearing on Sept. 17:

• Rule 5180:2-40-05 - PCSA requirements for providing family first prevention services.
• Rule 5180:2-45-01 - Administration of the Title IV-E candidate for family first prevention services (FFPS) program.
• Rule 5180:2-45-02 - Title IV-E candidate for family first prevention services (FFPS) program eligibility.
• Rule 5180:2-45-03 - Reimbursement for Title IV-E candidate for family first prevention services (FFPS) program.
• Rule 5180:2-45-04 - Traditional candidate for Title IV-E foster care.

About the conference

The 2026 PCSAO Annual Conference brings together more than 500 child protection professionals and advocates from around Ohio for three days of networking and learning how best to serve children and families. Join us Sept. 30-Oct. 2 to connect with change-makers across the state and reinvigorate your practice. The conference features inspiring keynotes; awards recognizing outstanding staff, families, youth, and partners; networking opportunities; and CEUs for social workers, counselors, marriage & family therapists, and attorneys. The theme, “Resilient Together: Wellness in Child Protection,” recognizes that strengthening the capacity of staff to support themselves and one another will ultimately lead to stronger teams and improved outcomes for families. Registration is now open through Sept. 18. Learn more on our conference website and contact anne@pcsao.org with any questions.

Sponsorship opportunities

Sponsors benefit from face-to-face networking, brand promotion, and more! Review the available sponsorship packages and benefits in our sponsorship flyer. Contact lisa@pcsao.org with any sponsorship questions.

Amnoni Myers is the Founder and CEO of Launch Ahead, a trauma-informed platform designed to support youth in foster care as they transition into adulthood through clear pathways, organized documentation, and guidance that reduces system barriers. They are also the Founder of You Are The Prize, LLC, a speaking and consulting platform focused on healing, leadership, and systems change, and the author of the best-selling memoir You Are the Prize: Seeing Yourself Beyond the Imperfections of Your Trauma. Amnoni brings both lived experience and professional expertise to their work. They hold a Master of Public Administration and have served in national policy spaces, including internships on Capitol Hill and at the White House. Their trainings and keynotes equip child welfare professionals with practical, trauma-informed strategies that strengthen engagement, reduce burnout, and support workforce wellness and sustainability.

Jim Still-Pepper recently retired after 37 years as a social worker at Allwell Behavioral Health Services, Inc. His mission is to create clear and healthy thinking. He served as Director for the Community Based Clinical Services team for much of his tenure. His focus was on getting community mental health services out of the center and into the community. He worked with youth, families and family-serving organizations. He is currently the Director of The Learning Lab for Quality Moments Behavioral Health, where he develops training for the clinical team. In addition to his clinical work, Jim is the founder of Still Light Seminars LLC, a motivational training and consulting company. He delivers about 150 presentations each year, captivating audiences across the United States and internationally. His presentations are known for being engaging, interactive, and grounded in real-world application — the kind that leaves people not just inspired, but ready to try something new the very next day.