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A quick rundown of Ohio child protection news this week
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Weekly Update for March 25, 2019
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Association Updates
Southwest District meets
Members of the Southwest District had a full agenda March 20, with updates from ODJFS, the Regional Training Centers, PCSAO and trustees, and counties. Workforce challenges, judicial practice, and kinship supports were just a few of the topics discussed. The district next meets May 15.
New Execs Orientation scheduled
Registration has opened for the 2019 PCSAO New Executives Orientation May 23-24 in Columbus. Space is limited, and priority will be given to agency directors and child welfare administrators. Contact
Scott Britton
if you are a director or administrator who did not receive the registration information.
PCSAO seeks AmeriCorps*VISTA
Do you have a passion for
improving the lives of kids and their families struggling with substance use disorders? Help keep kids safe and families together. Join the Ohio Sobriety, Treatment and Reducing Trauma (START) pilot program! With support from the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities Foundation is working with PCSAO, local ADAMH Boards and other partner organizations to develop a statewide VISTA project designed to impact the opioid epidemic in Ohio. Through this project, VISTA members will serve with community organizations throughout Ohio.
The Ohio START VISTA will work in conjunction with the Director of Ohio START and other team members to provide support and management of the Ohio START Pilot Program in Ohio. The VISTA will engage and support family peer mentors and Ohio START caseworkers in peer-to-peer learning activities; provide support for current funding sources and research potential funding sources in support of sustaining Ohio START; research and write educational materials and papers related to the opioid epidemic and child welfare; and serve as Ohio START pilot liaison to county hubs to combat opiate addiction. The Ohio START VISTA will be an integral part of the START team providing support and leadership for the PCSAs implementing the program and creating a sustainability plan to allow the program to continue and grow.
For more information about the Ohio START VISTA position, click
here
.
PCSAO Conference Call for Presenters
The 2019 PCSAO Conference Planning Committee is calling for presenters for the 34th annual PCSAO Conference. The theme of this year's conference is "Champions for Children and Families." The committee will be looking for presenters who have dynamic and engaging presentations that are relevant to child welfare evidence-based practices, who will benefit attendees, and who are creative. The conference draws around 500 people each year and is a valuable opportunity to educate child welfare advocates across the state. The 2019 conference will be Sept. 25-27 at the DoubleTree in Worthington. Workshop proposal information and application can be found
here
and should be submitted to
[email protected]
by May 1. Any questions can be directed to the conference coordinator, Nitina Francis, at
[email protected]
or 614-224-5802.
Wear Blue April 10
Join PCSAO and county agencies for the annual Wear Blue Day Wednesday, April 10. Resources are available on the
website.
Anyone interested in supporting the prevention of child abuse and neglect is encouraged to wear blue that day – to work, to school, to a volunteer event, or even at home – and capture a photo. Pictures can be shared on personal social media and posted to county agency Facebook pages or to the
statewide Facebook page
. #OhioWearsBlue
Senator Eklund meets Portage County Children Services
On March 18, Senator John Eklund met with Commissioner Kathleen Clyde, JFS Director Kellijo Jeffries, and Child Welfare Administrator Tammy Devine to discuss the state of Portage County Children Services and voice support for the $74 million budget increase proposed by Governor DeWine. Commissioner Clyde also met with the Administration team to learn more about Job & Family Services. Each administrator provided a divisional overview regarding number of employees and their program and services in each division. She concluded her afternoon in each division to not only meet staff, but to also see each division's location.
State budget update
As of March 22, the budget bill has not been introduced, but on March 20 the Health and Human Services Cabinet Directors testified before the House Finance Committee. Directors included ODJFS Director Kimberly Hall, ODODD Director Jeff Davis, ODMHAS Director Lori Criss, ODM Director Maureen Corcoran, ODA Director Ursel McElroy, and ODH Director Amy Acton. Testimonies from all the directors can be found
here
,
under the March 20 hearing.
Rules update
Rules in Pre-Clearance: As of March 22, no children services-related rules were in pre-clearance.
Rules in Clearance: Make comments
here.
Rules for recording a child fatality or near fatality are in Clearance through March 28. The new rule 5101:2-33-14 entitled "PCSA requirements for recording a child fatality or near fatality" sets forth the requirements of recording a report of a fatality or near fatality of a child in the custody or the care of the PCSA due to child abuse and/or neglect.
- The amended rule 5101:2-42-89 entitled "Private child placing agency procedures when a child in agency custody dies" sets forth the requirements of PCPAs to have written policies and procedures when there is a child fatality or near fatality. The rule has been proposed for amendment to adhere to the five-year rule review and the requirements for PCSAs have been removed from this rule as a new rule is being proposed to address PCSA requirements for recording a child fatality or near fatality.
Rules regarding education and training requirements for caseworkers and supervisors are in Clearance through March 26:
- OAC 5101:2-33-55 entitled “Education and in-service training requirements for PCSA caseworkers” sets forth the training requirements for public children services agency child welfare caseworkers. This rule is being reviewed as a result of the five-year rule review process. The rule is also being updated to include changes to the training requirements for PCSA caseworkers on human trafficking and to comply with the training requirements defined in the Ohio Revised Code regarding training for public agency child welfare caseworkers.
- OAC 5101:2-33-56 entitled “In-service training requirements for PCSA supervisors” sets forth the training requirements for public children services agency supervisors. This rule is being reviewed as a result of the five-year rule review process. The rule is also being updated to include an introductory course in human trafficking for newly hired PCSA supervisors within the first two years of the date of hire (effective with this rule). The rule is also being updated to comply with the training requirements defined in the Ohio Revised Code regarding training for public agency child welfare supervisors.
A procedure letter clarifying OAC 5101:2-42-05, “Selection of a Placement Setting,” is in Clearance through April 1. The letter clarifies the procedure when a PCSA or PCPA finds a non-custodial parent to be an appropriate placement for a child.
Filed with JCARR: The following rules were revise-filed on March 20 and retain a public hearing date of April 8:
- 5101:2-49-10: Determination of continuing eligibility requirements for adoption assistance
- 5101:2-49-11: Suspension of Title IV-E adoption assistance (AA) payment
- 5101:2-49-13: Termination of adoption assistance
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Announcements and Resources
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2019 Opiate and Other Drug Conference: Promoting Solutions for Addiction
Registration for the 10th annual opiate conference, Ohio’s 2019 Opiate and Other Drug Conference: Promoting Solutions for Addiction Throughout Ohio, is now open. Hosted by the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, this year’s conference will take place June 10-11 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Columbus. The conference will bring 1,200 attendees from Ohio and the surrounding region for two full days of education related to addiction. You can visit the conference web page to learn more about keynote speakers and breakout sessions, and
register here.
Ohio Children’s Trust Fund statewide grant application released
The Ohio Children’s Trust Fund (OCTF) Board recently approved the revised Statewide Grant Application. The purpose of this funding application seeks proposals from organizations interested in supporting the OCTF’s mission to prevent child abuse and neglect through investing in strong communities, healthy families and safe children. The maximum amount of funding available to individual applications through this grant is up to $75,000, with matching funds or in-kind contributions of 20% required. For calendar year 2019, any organization wishing to apply is required to electronically submit a completed application packet to the OCTF by the following due dates: May 1, Sept. 3, and Nov. 1. Completed applications should be emailed to
[email protected]
and more information pertaining to application guidelines and required application forms can be found
here
.
The Trust Fund will also be hosting a non-mandatory question and answer webinar on April 2 at 10 a.m. The Trust Fund plans to record the webinar and make it available for applicants. To register for this non-mandatory webinar, visit
here
.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
OJFSDA webinar on using PRC for Ohio's new Kinship Caregiver Program
On March 20, the Ohio Job and Family Services Directors' Association (OJFSDA) hosted a webinar regarding how to utilize PRC for Ohio’s new Kinship Caregiver Program. The webinar discussed the purpose of the program and specific PRC plan requirements as well as operational needs and fiscal requirements. It was well attended, with nearly 200 people participating. OJFSDA has also provided the
slides that were presented
.
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Child Protection in the News
Gov. Mike DeWine's administration is off to a strong start through simple measures like trying to work with local governments across Ohio again.
Gov. Mike DeWine’s
first two-year budget proposal
surprised many by its focus on human needs, and by delivering what he promised, especially regarding the needs of Ohio’s children. It also would finally boost aid to the state’s local government partners and is the first such GOP proposal in years not to include an attempted tax cut.
Hope’s Closet in Hamilton has had great success helping Butler County find and keep foster families. Executive Director Sarah Coleman combined a fun boutique where needy kids and their foster parents can shop for essentials and where volunteers can find out more about the system.
Purdue Pharma is listed among dozens of other drug manufacturers in a multi-county lawsuit involving several counties in Ohio, which includes Trumbull and Columbiana counties
Guernsey County Children Services accepted 554 reports in 2018 — a 4 percent increase over 2017 and a 12 percent rise from 2016 — which resulted in 86 new children entering agency custody. That is up from 71 the year before, according to a Children Services report.
“Governor DeWine is standing up for the vulnerable children and families of Greene County,” said Director of the Greene County Department of Job & Family Services Beth Rubin. “This investment would help us with the rising costs of foster care and ongoing services to families struggling with complex needs.”
“Governor DeWine is standing up for the vulnerable children and families of Greene County,” said Director of the Greene County Department of Job & Family Services Beth Rubin. “This investment would help us with the rising costs of foster care and ongoing services to families struggling with complex needs.”
Ottawa County is a longstanding member of Public Children Services Association of Ohio, which is working with county agencies across the state and other stakeholders to support the Governor’s proposals.
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April 3 | Fostering Pathways to Success Conference
April 3 | Board of Trustees Meeting
April 4 | Rules Review Committee Meeting
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"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."
~Anne Bradstreet
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Public Children Services Association of Ohio | 614-224-5802 |
www.pcsao.org
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