PCSAO Weekly Update: October 13, 2026

Weekly Update: October 13, 2026

Association News

Wachtel announces retirement

After an impressive career advocating for children and 12 years as PCSAO’s policy director, Mary Wachtel has announced her retirement from full-time work as of the end of this year. Wachtel led the association’s policy agenda, achieving wins including significant increases in the State Child Protection Allocation, establishment of the MSY and best practices funds, development and expansion of the Ride Along Campaign, and development of white papers on key issues, among many other accomplishments. Her ability to work closely with legislative and administration officials, not to mention keeping track of myriad rules and bills, will be sorely missed. Wachtel shared her gratitude for the many, many county agency staff over the years who have partnered in advocacy efforts.

PCSAO seeks public policy director

While Wachtel cannot be replaced, PCSAO is seeking her successor as Director of Public Policy. This full-time position works closely with the Executive Director, key association staff, contracted government relations firm, and the Board of Trustees to lead and oversee children services-related policies that impact county Public Children Services Agencies (PCSAs), children, and families. The hybrid position offers remote work opportunities while also requiring work in PCSAO’s downtown Columbus office. Review the full position description. A cover letter and résumé are required to apply. Learn more and apply here by Nov. 9.

Board of Trustees meet

The Board of Trustees met virtually on Oct. 7 and approved August financial reports. The Board reviewed the draft 2027-2028 strategic plan that will go to members for approval in December, reviewed the 2027 Trustees and Officer slate, identified topics for the December Executive Membership Meeting, and received updates related to legislation, federal changes, rules, rate cards, MSY funding survey, Ohio START, PACT, final SFY26 Fellowship report, and the annual conference. The Board meets next on Nov. 4.

Rules Committee meet

The Rules Committee met on Oct. 8 and received updates on several items from DCY including the kinship-specific certification rollout, dispositional appeals, rate cards implementation and the cost report rule package. The committee next meets on Nov. 5.

Ohio START

Ohio START Quarterly Coaching Calls

Ohio START held its first Quarterly Coaching Call on “Bridging Systems, Supporting Families” last week. The call had great engagement and participation, with attendees discussing how child welfare and behavioral health systems can work together to provide more coordinated support for families.

Practice in Action Together (PACT)

SenseMaker roundtable at 9th Annual CREA Conference

Cami Such with Kaye Implementation & Evaluation (KI&E) facilitated a roundtable presentation at the 9th Annual CREA Conference in Chicago on Oct. 8, and PCSAO was proud to join and support the conversation. The roundtable focused on the use of SenseMaker as a data collection platform to help families involved with children services to share their unique perspectives and stories. The rich data gathered through the tool helps shape PACT implementation as Local Advisory Groups identify behavioral change strategies.

Rules Update

Clearance

The following rules are open for comments until Oct. 12:

Rule Five-Year Review of Ohio Administrative Code Rule 5180:2-33-02

Filed with JCARR

The following rules were final-filed on Oct. 5 with an effective date of Oct. 15:

Rule 5180:2-5-09.1 - Background checks for college interns, subcontractors, volunteers, employees, board presidents, officers, administrators and foster caregivers
Rule 5180:2-9-02 - Staffing requirements
Rule 5180:2-9-03 - Staff development and evaluation

Resources and Clips

Resources and Opportunities

The Ohio Department of Children and Youth’s Independent Living & Transition Age Youth (IL TAY) team will host five in-person regional meetings with Public Children Services Agencies (PCSAs) throughout the state in October and November. The agenda will include DCY updates as well as activities related to Chafee funding and independent living services. There will also be program presentations from OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence), Bridges, and Ohio Education and Training Voucher (Ohio ETV). Registration is required to attend. All meetings are scheduled on Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Review DCY Memo 26-059 to register and learn more. Contact the DCY IL TAY Team at transitional-youth-programs@childrenandyouth.ohio.gov with any questions or concerns.

Invitation to Medicaid Ohio Benefits Interface Town Hall

Title IV-E agencies are invited to attend the next Medicaid Ohio Benefits (OB) Interface Town Hall on Nov. 2 from 10-11 a.m. No registration is required. This one-hour session will provide an opportunity to review anticipated updates, identified concerns, and discuss questions regarding the OB interface system. Join the meeting here.

Join the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) in Columbus Nov. 12-13 for the 2026 Annual Statewide Social Work Conference. Attendees can expect opportunities to earn CEUs, learn about innovative practices, connect with fellow social workers, and engage in professional development throughout the two-day conference. Learn more here.

Foster America’s Fiscal Leadership Circle accepting applications

Foster America's Fiscal Leadership Circle (FLC) is a year-long fellowship for leaders working to make existing resources across child- and family-serving systems work more responsively for families. FLC combines fiscal knowledge, leadership development, expert guidance, peer learning, and applied project work. With a new cohort beginning in 2027, Fellows will:

Participate in monthly learning sessions and an in-person convening;
Strengthen their knowledge of public and private funding, including Family First, TANF, Medicaid, SSBG, Title IV-B, administrative claiming, cost allocation, and cross-agency financing;
Learn with national fiscal experts, practitioners, FLC alumni, and peers;
Apply their learning to a real fiscal challenge or opportunity, such as maximizing available funding, strengthening claiming, coordinating funding across systems, or building sustainable prevention financing; and
Receive coaching and project development and implementation support to move strategies toward action and sustainability.

FLC is designed for individual fellows and teams of three to four positioned to influence how resources are accessed, aligned, invested, or sustained for children and families. For eligible public-sector participants working on Family First implementation, qualifying training and administrative activities may be eligible for 50% federal reimbursement through Title IV-E. Limited scholarship support is also available. Applications opened Sept. 21, with an information session Sept. 29, and an application deadline of Nov. 13. Learn more and apply here.

Ohio Family Care Association 2026 conference to feature King

The Ohio Family Care Association will host its 2026 Conference, “Looking Back and Moving Forward: 50 Years of Family Voice,” on Oct. 17 from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Wolfe Park Shelterhouse in Columbus. The conference will bring together families and child welfare professionals for a day of learning, connection, and reflection on the importance of family voice. Keynote speaker Lamar King will draw from his lived experience in foster care and professional expertise in child welfare to discuss strengthening families and communities. Learn more and 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

Oct. 7 – Court must find parent unsuitable before granting custody of child to grandparents – Court News Ohio

The Supreme Court of Ohio today ruled that a Summit County mother’s constitutional rights were violated when a juvenile court awarded custody of her daughter to the child’s paternal grandparents without first finding that she was an unsuitable parent.

Oct. 7 – County commissioners take a closer look at how Children Services protect children in need – The Athens Messenger

Athens County Children Services (ACCS) wants to raise the Athens County Board of Commissioners' awareness about the work it does.

Oct. 6 – Ohio's new Republican bill again asks which families count? – The Buckeye Flame

Ohio lawmakers are again debating where parental authority ends, and where the state’s responsibility to protect children begins.

Oct. 6 – Bike Lady brings back holiday bike program for Ohio children in foster care – Spectrum News

An Ohio nonprofit is bringing back a holiday tradition aimed at giving children in foster care something of their own.

Oct. 6 – 16 kids suffered in alleged Ohio house of horrors. Cuts would hurt them, others | Opinion – Columbus Dispatch

Investigators in June allegedly found 16 children trapped in "deplorable conditions" inside a home in Vinton County.

Oct. 2 – 'A persistent crisis': the 16 children removed from an Ohio family are part of a statewide issue – The Guardian

In June 2025, Jody Walker stood in front of Ohio lawmakers at a senate finance committee meeting in Columbus. As the head of South Central Ohio Job and Family Services, he was desperate for help.

Sept. 30 – Elizabeth Siders was a victim long before she gave birth to 18 kids – Columbus Dispatch

Sept. 28 – 'A lot of kids sit in limbo.' Why Hamilton County seeks tax increase – Cincinnati Enquirer

Hamilton County caseworker spends her day visiting some of the 40-plus children in her caseload.

Calendar and Job Postings