Association Updates
Weekly Update will return Jan. 8
As 2017 comes to a close, we would like to thank you for your readership. The weekly update will resume on Jan. 8. Happy Holidays!
PCSAO is hiring!
PCSAO is accepting applications for a Statewide Human Trafficking Coordinator, a full-time grant-funded position based in Columbus. Interested candidates must apply by Jan. 9.
Learn more
and consider joining the PCSAO team!
PCSAO Conference Committee sets 2018 Annual Conference dates
The PCSAO Conference Committee met via teleconference on Dec. 8. The meeting agenda included post-conference discussion, 2018 conference location potential sites, planning outline for 2018, and recruiting new members. Please save the date for the 2018 PCSAO conference, September 19-21 in Columbus.
Ohio Reach Advisory Board meets
The Ohio Reach Advisory Board held its annual planning retreat on Dec. 8. During the retreat, the board reflected on the past 9 years of Ohio Reach's impact on post-secondary education for former foster youth, outlined the 2018 goals and discussed sustainability after the grant ends in Sept. 2018. The Ohio Reach Advisory Board will meet next on Feb. 2.
PCSAO Legislative Briefing
PCSAO held its Legislative Briefing “Critical Decisions in Child Services Investigations” on Dec. 12. Over 20 legislators and aides attended the event. Using interactive technology, attendees reviewed a "typical" children services investigation and participated in decisions at critical steps along the way, learning what caseworkers consider and weigh when making such decisions. PCSAO thanks Representative Sarah LaTourette for co-hosting the event, Casey Family Programs for sponsoring, and the presenters – Jan Flory, Annie E. Casey Foundation; Kristi Burre, Fairfield County JFS; and Stacy Cox, Champaign County JFS.
PCSAO SW District meets
PCSAO SW District met on Dec. 13. Agenda items included updates from ODJFS, PCSAO, and OCWTP as well as county updates. The next district meeting is scheduled on Jan. 17.
Legislative update: HB283
Consent to Adoption, passed the House on Dec. 13 by a vote of 80-13. The bill requires the juvenile court judge to provide written consent to certain adoptions involving abused, neglected, or dependent children. PCSAO thanks Representative Rezabek for his leadership in developing and sponsoring this bill.
OCWTP holds final meeting of 2017
At the Dec. 13 OCWTP holiday party and meeting, Regional Training Centers discussed strategies for improving training compliance rates for caseworkers and supervisors, and IHS reviewed efforts to work with the Citizen Review Panel examining training issues. The steering committee will continue its schedule of meeting the second Wednesday of each month in 2018, with RTC staff also meeting the day before.
Ohio START Steering Committee meets
The Ohio START Steering Committee met on Dec. 14 at the ODJFS Air Center. Discussion focused on the possible addition of new counties to the pilot, upcoming trainings, and review of the needs portal that The Ohio State University College of Social Work has created to assist START participants. The Steering Committee will meet next on Jan. 10 at PCSAO.
UPP marks successful year
The University Partnership Program coordinators, with the assistance of several counties, worked hard in 2017 to develop and adapt new resources to make being a UPP host agency easier. Various products will be shared in greater depth in future updates, but accomplishments include the UPP Implementation Readiness Assessment (available soon), "
Recommended Practices in Field Instruction: A guide for Field Education Sites
", efforts around the Learning Contract/Agreement, use of shadowing to optimize the learning experience, Learning Labs, and course updates. A handful of UPP students are graduating this month, so
check the listing
in January for updates on graduates available for hire.
