A quick rundown of Ohio child protection news this week
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Weekly Update for June 25, 2018
Association Updates

State, national organizations endorse Children’s Continuum of Care Reform
PCSAO is pleased to share updates about our reform plan, with more information about the plan and how to endorse available here. Endorsing organizations to date include Casey Family Programs, a national child welfare foundation; three statewide associations: Ohio Association of Child Caring Agencies (OACCA), Ohio Children’s Hospital Association, and Ohio Family Care Association; and two children’s advocacy organizations: Kinnect and Voices for Ohio’s Children. We are so grateful for all of these endorsements and look forward to working with them to implement this bold plan. 

EDMS-child welfare webinars
Northwoods and DAS will be hosting monthly webinars with updates on the EDMS-child welfare project. The sessions will occur on the second Monday of every month beginning on July 9 and ending on Nov. 12. The webinars will be held from 9-10 a.m. To register for the EDMS-child welfare monthly webinars, click here . Please note that the link will register you for every monthly session. 

2018 PCSAO award nominations
Each year at our conference, PCSAO recognizes the achievements of county PCSA supervisors, caseworkers, and support staff, as well as local journalists who have made extraordinary contributions toward promoting safe children, stable families and supportive communities. PCSAO also celebrates children, youth and families (primary/birth, kinship, foster, and adoptive) who have been served by Ohio’s public children services agencies. We are inviting all PCSAs to nominate outstanding staff, journalists, and rising stars. The deadline for award nominations is June 29. Download the award nomination forms .

Conference sponsorship opportunities
You are invited to be part of our annual event by exhibiting and sponsoring at the conference. The conference offers you the opportunity to interact one-on-one with individuals who are working in and involved with child protection. Sponsorship opportunities are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage you to  register online   today.

Celebrating HOPE
Following the first successful Parent Partner Appreciation Luncheon in 2017, HOPE (Helping Ohio Parent Effectively) is organizing a planning committee to plan the second annual celebration this October. HOPE and Succeed parents in leadership will be celebrated from all seven HOPE pilot counties. The first planning meeting will be held soon.

Leadership Academy for Middle Managers accepting applications for 2018 class
As part of an ongoing effort to address workforce challenges in children services agencies, PCSAO is pleased to offer the nationally acclaimed Leadership Academy for Middle Managers (LAMM) Oct. 24-26. This year’s LAMM has been adapted specifically for Ohio by trainer Melanie Hale, who will train along with co-trainer Shannon Glendon, and has been made possible with generous support from Casey Family Programs. The application process is open to middle management staff at PCSAO member agencies at a nominal cost (currently estimated at $200). Participants or their agencies must also agree to cover the cost of transportation to the training, two or three nights' lodging (depending on distance from Columbus), and evening meals. Agency directors must explicitly support the middle manager's participation in two or three months of pre-training coaching and preparatory work plus six months of post-training coaching. Following the training, middle managers will work with agency leadership on a change initiative -- a significant project aimed at workforce development and the CFSR Program Improvement Plan. The training will accommodate 20 participants, and we anticipate that the application process for available slots will be competitive. Applications must be submitted online by June 30 , and selections will be made by July 31.
Announcements and Resources

Dependency caseflow management course
The Supreme Court of Ohio and ODJFS are hosting an abuse, neglect, and dependency (AND) caseflow management course in Columbus March 21, 2019. The one-day course offers communities the opportunity to examine local practices in AND cases that come before the juvenile court. The course will include a comprehensive view of best practices, tools and collaborative exercises. As an outcome, participants will identify and commit to a plan for improving and assessing practices while strengthening oversight of these AND cases. Save the date, March 21, 2019, and stay tuned for more information.

A Kinship Child Care Program Rack Card has been developed for agencies to use to advertise this program. You can find this form (JFS 01498) on forms central and it is available for order. For more information, please contact Becky Murray at ODJFS, Office of Families and Children. 

FREE summer training: Safe and Together
FYLaw is organizing training on Safe and Together: Domestic Violence, Substance Abuse and Mental Health on July 20 at Capital University Law School, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Click here for more information about the training and registration.

Kinship Day at the Capitol
Kinship Day at the Capitol is organized by the Ohio Grandparent Kinship Coalition and the Ohio Federation for Health Equity and Social Justice. The event will be Sept. 26, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Ohio Statehouse. For more information, call 614-562-0002 or e-mail angel_51350@yahoo.com
Child Protection in the News

Every year Butler County Children Services celebrates the odds-beating accomplishments of foster children who graduate high school. This year was no different as social workers celebrated the accomplishments of 10 youths.

Jun. 21 – Survey shows many LGBTQ teens gripped by depression – Public News Services
A new survey shows high rates of depression and anxiety among LGBTQ teens nationwide. Advocates say lawmakers could do more to ensure kids aren't bullied based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.  The Human Rights Campaign surveyed 12,000 kids ages 13-17 who identify as LGBTQ.

Ever since a police officer in eastern Ohio reportedly overdosed after brushing powdered fentanyl off his shirt following a traffic stop in 2017, law-enforcement officers across the state have been on high alert.
Upcoming Events

June 28 | Executive Membership Meeting
June 29 | Executive Membership Meeting
July 1 | Ohio START Steering Committee Meeting

Employment Opportunities

Looking for a career in child protection? Or a new position to challenge yourself? Check out the latest job openings in child protection.
Quote of the Week

“To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” - Nelson Mandela
Public Children Services Association of Ohio | 614-224-5802 | www.pcsao.org
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