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A quick rundown of Ohio child protection news this week
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Weekly Update for March 27, 2017
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Association Updates
Attorney General awards $3.6 million to support response to opioid epidemic
At a press conference on March 22, Attorney General Mike DeWine announced a $3.6 million grant to PCSAO to help children services agencies in 14 southern Ohio counties combat the opioid epidemic. The two-and-a-half-year grant is being supplemented with $75,000 from Casey Family Programs and will pilot a research-informed model for improving child safety, permanency and well-being when parents are addicted to drugs, particularly opioids. Called Ohio START (Sobriety Treatment and Reducing Trauma), the program gives children services agencies resources to partner closely with behavioral health providers and juvenile courts to form teams that will provide necessary supports to addicted parents and their children. Read more.
PCSAO Dues Committee
The PCSAO Board of Trustees authorized the formation of a Dues Committee to begin researching a new structure for the Membership to approve later this year. The Dues Committee held its first meeting on March 20 and discussed possible factors that could be used for developing this structure. The Dues Committee is chaired by PCSAO’s Treasurer, Kate Offenberger, Carroll County JFS, and comprised of equal representation per CPOE categories and PCSAO districts. The Dues Committee will meet either in person or by phone twice a month. The next meeting is April 3.
PCSAO Executive Membership meets
Over 70 members representing 46 counties attended PCSAO Executive Membership meeting held on March 23 and 24. Members received updates from Thomas Capretta and Brittany Miracle, ODE, on the Every Student Succeeds Act’s (ESSA) provisions impacting foster youth and the State’s implementation plan; from Carla Carpenter, Kristin Gilbert and Christine Dobrovich, ODJFS, on a variety of topics including CFSR, Citizen Review Panels, IV-E Audit, BRIDGES, Predictive Analytics; from PCSAO staff on activities related to the 2017 strategic priorities and current legislation; from Dan McCarthy and McKenzie Davis, The Success Group, on the SFY 18-19 budget; from Maureen Corcoran and Marisa Weisel, Vorys Health Care Advisors, on the managed care transition for foster and adoptive youth; from LeeAnne Cornyn, Attorney General’s Office, on the new Ohio START grant; from Grace Kolliesuah and Kim Kehl, OhioMHAS, on the CURES Act funding; and from Orman Hall, HIDTA, on opiate updates. Directors also discussed possible immigration issues impacting child protection and a new project being launched to expand Adventure Therapy. PCSAO appreciate all the presenters that took time to share the latest information with our members. The Executive Membership meets again on June 29 and 30.
Seeking Award Nominations from PCSAs
At our Annual Conference, PCSAO recognizes the achievements of PCSA supervisors, caseworkers, and support staff, and a local journalist whose work has made extraordinary contributions toward promoting the child protection mission. Always the highlight of our Annual Conferences, PCSAO celebrates youth and families with amazing achievements. We invite all PCSAs to nominate their outstanding staff, journalists, youth, and families. The deadline for our award nominations is June 15. Download the award nomination forms: Professional Awards and Youth and Family Awards.
Call for Presenters
The 2017 PCSAO Conference will be Sept. 27-29 at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Columbus. The theme is “Everyday Heroes,” inspired by children services caseworkers and others who dedicate their careers to protecting children and strengthening families. We are seeking presenters who offer insight, strategies, and hands-on resource materials. We are looking for workshops designed to share best practices and successful strategies that will empower our “everyday heroes”. The conference is an outstanding opportunity for you to make a valuable contribution to the advancement of child protection practice in Ohio. We invite you to submit a proposal to present at the conference. The deadline for submission is May 1. Download Call for Presenters. More about the 2017 PCSAO Conference.
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Announcements and Resources
PCSA Executive Transition – Lawrence County JFS
Please join us in welcoming Rich Blankenship as the assistant director at Lawrence County JFS.
Carla Carpenter named deputy director of the Office of Families and Children
Please join us in congratulating Carla Carpenter as the new deputy director of the Office of Families and Children at the ODJFS. Carla has been part of numerous ODJFS initiatives over the past several years, including Ohio’s Differential Response model, the statewide needs assessment, and the state’s child welfare continuous quality improvement efforts.
Falls Prevention Grant Opportunity
The Ohio Older Adult Falls Prevention Coalition of the Ohio Injury Prevention Partnership is excited to announce the availability of grants up to $4,000 each to implement policy, environmental or systems change related to an evidence-based or best practice older adult fall prevention strategy. The Coalition, a charter partner of STEADY U Ohio, identifies priorities and strategies to reduce fall-related injuries among Ohio’s older adult population. Contact John Raftliff at 614.466.9614 or jratliff@age.ohio.gov to request for the grant application. A copy of the Coalition ‘s 2017-2021 plan is available online.
A webinar on Every Student Success Act: Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care
In December 2015, Congress passed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). This legislation contains key provisions to promote educational stability and success for students in foster care. ESSA requires state and local education agencies to collaborate with child welfare agencies and Title IV-E courts to effectively address the educational needs of children in foster care. These provision became effective December 10, 2016. This webinar will review the new federal mandates to promote educational stability for foster youth. The webinar is scheduled for March 29 from 12p.m. – 1p.m., and open for judges, magistrates, court administrators, and other in the court involved with youth in foster care. Click here to register.
Transitional Youth Programs Statewide Meeting
The ODJFS will convene a statewide conference meeting on May 8 to share information gathered from the Independent Living/Transitional Youth region meetings held last fall across Ohio. The meeting will also highlight new statewide programs and housing initiatives that will serve transitioning youth. The meeting will be held at ODOT building, in the Lower Level Auditorium, and will be also available via webcast. To register, please contact Rhonda Nelson at Rhonda.Nelson@jfs.ohio.gov. For questions, please contact Shelly Boyd or Laurie Valentine by e-mail at transitional-youth-programs@jfs.ohio.gov.
Early Childhood Mental Health Conference “Skills to Action”
Registration for the 2017 Early Childhood Mental Health "Skills to Action" Conference is open now. The conference will be held April 19-20 at the Marriott Columbus Airport Hotel. The conference will showcase the talents of the ECMH Master Trainers and spotlight the work to support Ohio’s youngest children through the Whole Child Matters Initiative. Plenary speakers include Dr. Neal Horn, Georgetown University National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health; and Dr. Judith Romano, Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement of Media and Young Minds. Workshops will spotlight many local and national subject matter experts. Learn more.
Regional Trauma Training
The Supreme Court of Ohio is hosting four regional sessions and has invited Ohio’s juvenile court judges to bring a team comprised of the local child welfare director and three system partners. This is a good chance to examine local practices and how they might be improved to better serve children and families. The course will include a comprehensive review of best practices, tools, and collaborative exercises. The course is provided tuition free and lunch is included. The courses will be held on the following dates from 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.:
- April 25, 2017 - Fairlawn Hilton, Akron
- April 28, 2017 - Hilton Garden Inn, Beavercreek
- May 15, 2017 - Hilton Garden Inn, Perrysburg
- May 18, 2017 - Quest Conference Center, Columbus
The course will be presented by Robin Tener, Ph.D. The Supreme Court of Ohio has requested 6.0 total general CLE and CEU credit hours. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Court Services, Children & Families Section at 614.387.9385 or cfc@sc.ohio.gov
The Ohio IPV Collaborative Survey
As of January 2017, a total of 4 counties have completed Safe and Together training on responding to child welfare cases with domestic violence components. The Safe and Together model affirms that the safety and wellbeing of children exposed to batterer behavior are ideally achieved through (1) keeping children safely together with non-offending parents and (2) holding batterers accountable for their behavioral choices. Historically, the Ohio Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Collaborative has invited all counties to participate individually, or as cohorts. As the IPV Collaborative has changed over the years, so has the strategy of getting the training to all Ohio Counties. This year, there is an opportunity to potentially offer the Safe and Together Core 1-4 curricula at the 8 regional training centers across the state, providing counties and PCSA staff more flexibility in taking advantage of this important training. To gauge counties' interest in taking advantage of Safe and Together training through E-Track and the regional training centers, please complete the survey.
2016 State of Poverty Report: Portraits of Ohio Families
The Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies (OACAA) in cooperation with Community Research Partners (CRP) released its annual State of Poverty in Ohio Report on March 23 at The Ohio Statehouse Ladies Gallery. The report highlights trends and factors contributing to poverty in order to understand how circumstances affect Ohioans. Click here to view the report.
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Child Protection in the News
- Mar. 24 – Rx to better help children harmed by opioid scourge – Youngstown Vindicator
Good news and bad news flowed directly out of Columbus this week about the war on opiate abuse and its destructive and anguishing impact on children and families.
- Mar. 23 – Children Services Director speaks out on new opioid treatment initiative – Gallipolis Daily Tribune
Gallia County Children Services Director Russ Moore was asked to represent 14 southern Ohio counties as Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s Office unveiled a new test program Wednesday in Columbus seeking to help children who are harmed through their parents’ addiction to opioid substances.
- Mar. 22 – Hamilton County commissioner requests almost $1.5 million to fight heroin epidemic – WCPO
Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus testified this week before the Ohio House of Representatives Finance Committee, asking for the state to invest nearly $1.5 million to fight the county's heroin epidemic.
- Mar. 22 – Franklin County hosts Opiate Crisis Summit to help tackle epidemic – NBC4i.com
Shocking stats were read off at the Franklin County Opiate Crisis Summit on Wednesday. Two people die every day due to the opiate epidemic according to the Franklin County Coroner’s Office, and Ohio was listed 4th in the nation for highest deadly overdoses.
- Mar. 22 – Terrified child heard calling 911 as parents overdose while driving – NBC News
A terrified 9-year-old girl called 911 from the back seat of an SUV and plead for help as her parents passed out in suspected overdoses.
- Mar. 22 – Ohio attorney general program to help children of addicts – The Herald
Children hurt by their parents' addictions to painkillers and heroin will get help under a pilot program announced Wednesday targeting 14 southern Ohio counties hit hard by the state's opiate epidemic.
- Mar. 21 – Panel discussion focuses on addiction and the family – Youngstown Vindicator
Paul Armitage, pastor of youth ministries at North-Mar Church, preceded Monday’s panel discussion on addiction and the family with a prayer in which he called drug addiction a “God-sized problem.”
- Mar. 21 – Ohio county records 82 overdoses over 2-week period – TheFix.com
Some Ohio can’t seem to catch a break. Trumbull County, in northeast Ohio, recorded 82 drug overdoses in just the first 15 days of March. Ten people died.
- Mar. 21 – I went to a town hall meeting in a county ravaged by opioids. What I saw broke my heart – Mother Jones
Two weeks ago, Brian Reed read on Facebook that there had been another overdose in his hometown of Warren, Ohio—this one in a supermarket parking lot. Police warned residents of the Rust Belt town to avoid the area. "Prayers to the family," Reed wrote in the comments section of the article.
- Mar. 20 – Opioid drugs claim children’s lives – Dayton Daily News
The opioid epidemic ravaging Ohio’s adult population has also claimed hundreds of thousands of children and adolescents as victims, based on a new study that found poison centers across the country receive an average of 32 calls a day about youths who have ingested prescription opioid drugs.
- Mar. 19 – The Welfare of Ohio’s Children: Foster Care Adoption – Third Rail Politics
In our multi-part series, “The Welfare of Ohio’s Children,” we highlight the varied experiences of those who have been touched by the child welfare system. This includes biological parents who have been reunified with their children, caregivers who have experienced the emotional ups and downs of fostering, and young adults once in the foster care system themselves.
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March 31 I Executive Distance Learning Series
April 5
I Broad of Trustees Meeting
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"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." – Vincent Van Gogh
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Public Children Services Association of Ohio | 614-224-5802 |
www.pcsao.org
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