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A quick rundown of Ohio child protection news this week
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Weekly Update for February 21, 2017
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Association Updates
PFOF holds first quarterly meeting for 2017
ODJFS Partners for Ohio’s Families Advisory Board met Feb. 15 with opening announcements that Alicia Allen is the new Bureau Chief for the Office of Fiscal Accountability and that Dan Shook, OCF Deputy Director, will conclude his tenure this Friday, Feb. 24. PFOF Board returned to last year’s discussion on how to enhance in-state placements for youth with complex needs, create a “clearinghouse” in SACWIS that could inform PCSAs of available beds, and build capacity to meet the needs of youth within Ohio’s foster care program. ODJFS briefed the group on the Executive Budget, Bridges, Predictive Analytics pilot, the IV-E audit report that is not finalized, CFSR review beginning in April, public and private agencies submitting background checks to the department (received 2,500 thus far), ability to accomplish “Deemed Status” for COA entities in partnership with OACCA, and progress with the managed care transition for foster and adoptive youth. ODJFS has convened an adoption workgroup to discuss improving post-adoption services to prevent disruptions as a follow-up from a previous PFOF meeting. Recommendations from that workgroup will be provided to ODJFS leadership for future consideration. PFOF is in the process of rescheduling 2017 meeting dates with the next one occurring sometime in May.
Northwest District meets
Directors in Northwest Ohio met for the PCSAO district meeting Feb. 16 at the Findlay Inn. Undeterred by a small mouse running about the room, the group discussed the state budget and opioid impact, the managed care transition, Child Abuse Awareness Month activities, and the Bridges program. The district meets again May 18.
2017 OJFSDA/OCDA/PCSAO Statehouse Day
Please join us at the PCSAO, OCDA and OJFSDA joint Statehouse Day event March 14 to discuss the important aspects of our systems with the General Assembly. We invite our members to take part in this event. Please register by Feb. 24. We will start scheduling legislative appointments as soon as you register. Additionally, the three associations will be hosting a webinar on March 6 at 2pm to provide information and help you prepare for your appointments.
Check out new resources at pcsao.org
PCSAO has added a webpage about the opiate epidemic on our website. The web page not only includes information and links to helpful statistics and charts, but also a comprehensive list of national and state news coverage of how the epidemic is impacting children services, updated weekly. Check it out and send us suggestions for how to improve the page! Also, the behavioral health web page has been updated.
HOPE update
HOPE (Helping Ohio Parent Effectively) will be transitioning with new leadership in 2017. Colleen Tucker-Buck from ODJFS, who has provided oversight to the HOPE program from its inception, will move on to become the Child Welfare Initiatives Administrator. We would like to thank Colleen for her great leadership in supporting the pilot counties with launching their programs, revising the Building a Better Futures curriculum, marketing parent engagement thoughout the state, and training on parent engagement at statewide conferences. We wish Colleen all the best on her next venture. Tequilla Brown will take on the oversight of HOPE as part of her duties as the Strategic Initiatives Administrator for ODJFS. She has met the representatives from the six pilots and has picked up the training duties of developing workshop proposals. Tequilla has been busy coordinating pilot activities. Welcome Tequilla! We look forward to our continued partnership on HOPE and the advancement of parent engagement activities in 2017.
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Announcements and Resources
PCSA Executive Transition - Morrow County JFS
Director Don Wake is retiring this month. Please join us as we wish Don the very best for his next adventure. We’d like to welcome Sundie Brown who will serve as Interim Director.
23rd Annual Eastern Ohio Leadership Conference
Attention PCSA and JFS directors, managers, and supervisors! The East Central and Southeast Ohio Regional Training Centers, together with the ODJFS Akron Field Office, will be presenting the 23rd Annual Eastern Ohio Leadership Conference, “The POWER of Connection,” March 22-24 at the Carlisle Inn in Sugarcreek. This conference is open to all PCSA and JFS directors, managers, and supervisors from across Ohio and will focus on the current issues and challenges that face the leaders of today. Click here for the Preview Edition of the conference brochure. There is no registration fee to attend this conference. The block of rooms at the Carlisle Inn will be held until Thursday, Feb. 22, at which time they will be released to the general public. It is suggested that you register no later than March 14. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Darla Zajack at Darla.Zajack@jfs.ohio.gov or by phone at 740-432-2355 ext. 252.
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Child Protection in the News
- Feb. 17 – Boost funding to an Ohio foster care system increasingly burdened by the opioid crisis: editorial – Cleveland.com
Ohio Gov. John Kasich has been in the thick of the battle against deadly opioids, signing a bill this year to tighten restrictions on prescription opioids, speaking at conferences about heroin and even sending an Ohio Highway Patrol superintendent in April to Trumbull County after beleaguered officials there begged for help in quelling a rising tide of opioid overdoses and deaths.
- Feb. 15 – Heroin abuse causes heavy strain on foster care system (Includes video) – WLWT
Experts from child care agencies are seeing a heavier strain placed on Cincinnati-area foster care systems lately. There is mounting evidence that heroin abuse is causing much of that strain.
- Feb. 15 – Greater Cincinnati heroin epidemic leaves scores of ‘silent victims’ in its wake – WCPO
In just a few weeks, Crystal Cook will achieve her most important goal: She will reclaim her children. Her six kids have been living with her mother for almost three years as Cook has struggled to beat her addiction to heroin.
- Feb. 15 – Hamilton County Job and Family Services blame heroin for record numbers of child abuse, neglect – WCPO
The heroin epidemic is one reason why Hamilton County Job and Family Services is seeing record numbers of people using its child services, according to Director Moira Weir.
- Feb. 15 – The child service workers picking up the pieces of Ohio’s opioid crisis – WOSU Radio
Jennifer Mills drives down a long open road, flanked by fields of yellow grass, clouds overhanging. As a child services caseworker, Mills says on most days she will drive from one end of Ross County to the other, filing paperwork at the local courthouse and to check in on her clients.
- Feb. 14 – FBI raids Ohio-based international adoption agency as part of criminal probe – Norwalk Reflector
The Cleveland FBI raided an international adoption agency based in Strongsville Tuesday as part of an ongoing criminal investigation, a spokeswoman confirmed.
- Feb. 14 – Montgomery County leaders recommit to protecting children from abuse (Press release) – Dayton Children's Hospital
Montgomery County leaders and area partners reaffirm their commitment today to keeping children safe from abuse and neglect, by signing an interagency agreement to support CARE House. Designated representatives from across the county renewed their support of the child advocacy center and its unique approach to handling the most serious, complex cases in the community.
- Feb. 13 – Children Services Agencies Say State Budget Lacks Sufficient Funding To Handle Greater Caseload (Includes audio) – Ohio Public Radio
In the last seven years, the number of Ohio kids taken into custody by children services agencies rose by nearly 20 percent. Half of those cases involve parental drug use. Those agencies say Governor John Kasich's two-year state budget proposal doesn't do enough to help them. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.
- Feb. 13 – Editorial: more needed to fight overdoses – The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio lawmakers are asking good questions about the money that Gov. John Kasich's proposed budget would devote to the state's opioid epidemic and the collateral damage from it.
- Feb. 10 – Children services agencies say no additional funding in budget for kids hurt by opioid crisis – WOSU Radio
In the last seven years, the number of children taken into custody by children services agencies in Ohio soared by nearly 20%, and half of those cases involve parental drug use. And the agencies charged with caring for those kids say Gov. John Kasich’s proposed budget doesn’t do enough to help them.
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Feb. 24 I Permanency Roundtables Advisory Council Meeting
Feb. 27 I Legislative Committee Meeting
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“The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds”. ~ John F. Kennedy
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Public Children Services Association of Ohio | 614-224-5802 |
www.pcsao.org
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