PCSAO Weekly Update: July 20, 2026

Weekly Update: July 20, 2026

Association News

East Central District meets

The EC District met on July 17 and received updates from ECORTC and PCSAO. The district discussed SACWIS/OB interface, SSI and conserving benefits, the Vinton County case, OhioRISE, OMB proposed rules, legislative updates, Ohio START, the 2026 Annual Conference, workforce and placement challenges, and shared other county updates. The district meets next on Oct. 16.

Northwest District meets

The NW District met on July 16 and received a great presentation on SSI and conserving benefits from Kelly Hickle Lentz. The district discussed and received updates on Ohio START, the 2026 Annual Conference, the Vinton County case, OhioRISE, and the OMB proposed rules. The district meets next on Oct. 15.

Conference Committee selects award winners

The Conference Committee met July 17 to review staff award nominations for Caseworker of the Year, Supervisor of the Year, Support Staff of the Year, and Support Advocate of the Year. The Conference Committee thanks all those who submitted nominations! Nomination decisions will be sent by Aug. 1, and the winners will be announced at the conference. The committee meets next on Aug. 21.

New episode of 3,000 Good Things

In the newest episode of the podcast 3,000 Good Things, PCSAO's Mike Kenney and Ashley Roy are joined by Onita to discuss kinship caregiving. When Onita took in her granddaughter Skyla nearly two and a half years ago, they were two people who barely knew each other. What they have built since is not a rescue story. It is an adjustment story. In part one of this two part conversation, Onita talks about the invisible grief that kinship caregivers carry, the decisions to chase and not chase the people we love, and how creativity became the language she and Skyla use to understand each other. Listen now on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Music.

Rules Update

Clearance

The following rules are open for comments until July 24:

Filed with JCARR

As of July 17, there are no children services-related rules filed with JCARR.

Annual Conference

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 to PCSAO member agencies and will open to non-members on July 27. 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.

Meet our keynote speakers

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. She is 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 her work. She holds a Master of Public Administration and has served in national policy spaces, including internships on Capitol Hill and at the White House. Her 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 after being at Allwell Behavioral Health Services Inc. His clear 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 leave people not just inspired, but ready to try something new the very next day.

Resources and Clips

Resources and Opportunities

Ohio 211 goes statewide, launches new county dashboard

Ohio 211 has expanded access across Ohio, with all 88 counties now having access to 211 services. As part of this work, a new dashboard went live on July 1 that provides a breakdown of calls and referrals by county, offering a clearer view of how individuals across the state are using 211 services. Ohio 211 is a free, 24/7 service that connects individuals to resources such as housing, food assistance, health care, transportation, counseling, and other essential supports. This partnership also expands access to DCY’s Family and Customer Sup port Call Center, helping connect families to DCY programs and services after normal business hours. View the dashboard.

Traverse 101 webinars

Join Northwoods for one of four upcoming webinars providing an introduction to Traverse. Register for the webinar of your choice by selecting the date below. All begin at 11 a.m. and run for one hour.

4th Annual OWA IAWP Workforce Training Conference

Registration is now open for the Ohio Workforce Association (OWA) and International Association of Workforce Professionals (IAWP) 4th Annual Workforce Training Conference, "The Engagement Blueprint: Connecting Industry to Opportunity." This two-day, in-person event will be held at The Ohioan Hotel & Conference Center and will feature informative training sessions, interactive workshops, and valuable networking opportunities with workforce professionals from across Ohio. Attendees can register here.

Foster Success offers Catalyst Bootcamps for youth

Foster Success, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, will be hosting three Catalyst Bootcamps for the Ohio Education and Training Voucher program. These Bootcamps are intended for youth and young adults ages 14-19, with experience in foster care to learn more about the path to college. Attendees will tour a college campus, meet with key support programs, and learn more about their next steps through interactive sessions. Each participant will receive a $100 stipend. Register here.

Artificial intelligence use in child welfare

HHS's The Gateway Exchange examined the emerging use of artificial intelligence (AI) in child welfare, with a special focus on its use in workforce development and analytics. One featured article explores how AI-enabled tools can support training, supervision, and data-informed decision-making while reinforcing the need for ethical safeguards and human oversight. It highlights the expertise of the Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Analytics (QIC-WA), a Children's Bureau–funded project advancing responsible, data-driven workforce strategies in child welfare. The second featured article shares resources available to help agencies implement new technologies. Read the articles here.

Smart Investments, Strong Families webinar

Groundwork Ohio, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Medicaid, will host a webinar July 28, 10-11 a.m. The webinar will feature Ohio Department of Medicaid leaders discussing how Medicaid supports Ohio’s mothers and infants. Those interested in attending can register here.

DCY Tuesday Times

The Ohio Department of Children and Youth shares updates and other information pertaining to children services and related program areas in the Tuesday Times newsletter. To view previous versions of the Tuesday Times, click here.

Child Protection in the News

July 17 – Scioto JFS director addresses rising Children Services costs amid county budget concerns – Portsmouth Daily Times

As Scioto County commissioners continue preparing the county's 2027 budget, one of the largest financial challenges remains the increasing cost of caring for children in the custody of Scioto County Children Services.

July 16 – Hal Williams, Columbus native and 'Sanford and Son' star, has died. Look back at his story – Columbus Dispatch

Before moving to California, Williams worked with children in the central Ohio juvenile detention system. He was also employed for a time at Franklin Village, an 80-acre property in Grove City that was a residence for children from troubled homes operated by Franklin County Children Services.

July 15 – LCCS offers info sessions for prospective foster parents – Toledo Blade

Lucas County Children Services will host four informational meetings for prospective foster parents this summer.

July 14 – Child advocates push for increased Children's Services levy – NPR Network

Advocates are encouraging Hamilton County Commissioners to approve placing an increased Children's Services levy on the November ballot. Foster parents and service providers spoke in favor of a new levy during a public hearing Tuesday.

July 13 – Strained county seeks help to care for 16 siblings from squalid home – Lima News

The discovery of 16 siblings who authorities say were held at a rural Ohio home for years in squalid conditions is straining the county’s resources as it works to prosecute their parents and two grandparents and provide care to so many children at once.

July 12 – Sunday Briefing: Vinton Co. abuse case; campaign spending – NBC4

A child abuse case in Appalachian Ohio captivates the nation after 16 children were discovered in deplorable conditions.

July 10 – Summit County partnership seeks to support fathers, strengthen families – Cleveland.com

Summit County Children Services and the Early Childhood Resource Center has announced a new partnership that aims to help fathers build skills, confidence and stronger relationships with their children.

Calendar and Job Postings