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A quick rundown of Ohio child protection news this week
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Weekly Update for February 6, 2017
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Association Updates
Board of Trustees meet
The PCSAO Board of Trustees met on Feb. 1 and approved Jan. 4 meeting minutes and treasurer’s report. The Board approved Homes for Kids to be our 2017 Stable Families Champion and Mohican Youth Academy to be our 2017 Safe Children Champion. Welcome, Homes for Kids & Mohican Youth Academy! To become a 2017 Mission Champion, click here. The Board also reviewed and approved PCSAO’s 2017-2018 Strategic Plan, a MOU with OJFSDA for shared services and space, and updates on current initiatives and legislative activity. The Board rescheduled its March meeting to March 3.
Community Education Committee meets
The Community Education Committee met by conference call Feb. 3. The meeting featured a training by Lorain County Children Services on caregiver recruitment. A recording of the webinar and related materials can be made available; please contact Scott Britton. The next meeting is March 3 at 10:30 a.m. in Columbus.
Rules update
The PCSAO Rules Review Committee met via teleconference on Feb. 2. The agenda included discussion of two rules that are in clearance until Feb. 13:
- 5101:2-3311 Multiethnic Placement Act agency administrative requirements
- 5101:2-33-70 SACWIS access
Click here to view and comment on these rules. The committee also discussed 5101:2-42-19 Independent living services, which is expected to enter clearance soon. For more information on the Rules Review Committee, contact Mary Wachtel.
Ohio Reach update
On Feb. 3, William Murray, Director of Ohio Reach, and Kimberly Rhyan, Director of Engagement and Leadership Office from Columbus State Community College, presented at the School Counseling Department Training. This presentation allowed for high school guidance counselors to understand barriers that foster youth face prior to college. During this presentation Kimberly highlighted the SPARK (Supporting foster youth to Prepare, Achieve, Realize and Keep) program for foster alums at Columbus State Community College. Learn more.
HOPE update
Richland County CS hosted the Helping Ohio Parent Effectively (HOPE) workgroup’s quarterly meeting on Jan. 24. The agenda included recruiting parent partners, promoting parent engagement, and increasing parent partners’ skills. HOPE counties identified recruitment of parent partners as one of the biggest challenges to implementing parent engagement programs. Renewing recruitment efforts will be a focus of 2017 activities beginning with the distribution of recruitment posters and fliers through county agencies and their communities. The second recruitment approach will be on-site parent partner panel presentations to staff and community stakeholders. In addition to the panel presentations at the local level, HOPE members will also continue to pursue opportunities statewide and nationally to promote parent engagement. The parent partners are advancing their training and presentation skills at workshops with the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program. Parent partners are also pursuing peer-to-peer certification through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Learn more about Primary Parents.
Primary parent profile of the month: Amanda Price
It is hard to pick up a paper or listen to Ohio news and not hear about the tragedy and toll the heroin epidemic is taking on families and children. However, this is a story of hope and recovery. Amanda Price is a single mom of three. Thirteen years ago, she called Richland County Children Services asking for help when she realized her abuse of narcotics was preventing her from caring for her two children. Amanda’s addiction led her to prison, and she agreed to surrender her children to her parents. Today, Amanda continues with her recovery treatment, parents her daughter, works with other parents, develops new skills and shares her story of hope. Learn more about Amanda Price.
PCSAO conference cover contest
Do you know an amazing artist? PCSAO is looking for cover art for the 2017 PCSAO conference. The theme is “Everyday Heroes,” inspired by children services caseworkers and others who dedicate their careers to protecting children and strengthening families.
The contest is open to all ages, and encourages participants to use their creativity based on the theme. All entries will be judged on best representation of the theme, effective use of color and creativity. The cover must be original work, but can be generated by computer, drawn or painted by hand, or photographic. The conference cover will be 8.5” x 11”. Any electronic submission less than 300 dpi will not be considered.
Submissions must include a short written description of the artwork and brief biographical information about the artist. Submit your entry to jeed@pcsao.org by March 15. The winning design will be featured on the conference cover, and the winner will be recognized in the program and at the conference. View sample covers from the past.
PCSAO Safety Report/4Q-2016
The 4th quarter safety report summary is now available online. There were 44 public children services agencies that completed the report: 17 agencies reported at least one incident occurred during the period; 27 agencies with no incidents; and a total of 55 incidents reported. Click here for the 2016 safety report summary and more information about caseworker safety.
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Announcements and Resources
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness month
More than 1 in 10 teens who have been on a date has also been physically abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the last year. Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month is a national effort to raise awareness and protect teens from violence. You can make a difference: Encourage schools, community-based organizations, parents, and teens to come together to prevent teen dating violence. Learn more.
20th Annual OACCA Conference
OACCA will convene its 20th annual conference for child and family service professionals April 26-27. The conference will feature national and state leaders in the behavioral health and child welfare sectors, including government and provider leaders. Conference presentations will explore the Behavioral Health Medicaid Redesign, strategies to thrive in a managed care environment, the Bridges foster care to 21 program, clinical best practices, innovations underway at local agencies, and various state policy topics. CEUs for social workers and counselors will be provided. Click for more information.
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Child Protection in the News
- 2/1/2017 – It's due to opiate epidemic – The Times-Gazette
There are currently 103 children in the Highland County foster care system, and 27 children in permanent custody of Highland County Children's Services awaiting adoption - record-high numbers, according to Job and Family Services Director Katie Adams, who attributes the problem almost entirely to Highland County's drug problem.
- 1/30/2017 – At-risk kids need better options (Opinion) – The Blade
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine will use government databases and publicly available social-media posts to identify boys and girls under 18 who seem at risk of being trafficked. His initiative is half a good idea. But it needs the other half: a commitment to offering these young people something better.
- 1/29/2017 – New Butler County Children services administrator job created – Journal-News
With the death of one Butler County social services leader and with another on leave, county leaders are considering more reorganization and new jobs.
- 1/23/2017 – State aims to rescue teens before they fall victim to sex traffickers (Includes video) – Journal-News
Analysts and agents with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation will scour social media and government data banks to identify teens at risk of being dragged into the underworld of human trafficking and reach them before they fall victim, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said Monday.
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Feb. 10 I Conference Planning Committee Meeting
Feb. 16 I Northwest District Meeting
Feb. 24 I Permanency Roundtables Advisory Council Meeting
View the full calendar
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“A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.” - John C. Maxwell
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Public Children Services Association of Ohio | 614-224-5802 |
www.pcsao.org
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