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A quick rundown of Ohio child protection news this week
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Weekly Update for March 20, 2017
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Association Updates
Advocates tell budget committee to invest $30 million in children services
On March 16, advocates for children services urged a House Finance subcommittee to invest an additional $30 million per year in the State Child Protection Allocation to help protect children — the invisible victims of the opioid epidemic — from abuse and neglect. A panel of witnesses including a caseworker, foster caregivers and agency directors delivered the testimony. They included PCSAO’s executive director, Angela Sausser; Tuscarawas County JFS Director David Haverfield and Scioto County Children Services Director Lorra Fuller, PhD; Franklin County Children Services caseworker Kayla Price; and Ross County foster parents Patrick and Leah Clevenger. Read more.
Newspaper editorial boards across state support children services funding increase
PCSAO’s case for increasing the State Child Protection Allocation to help combat the opioid epidemic has now received newspaper editorial board support from five newspapers: The Columbus Dispatch, The Plain Dealer (Cleveland), The Akron Beacon Journal, The Repository (Canton), and The Vindicator (Youngstown). Click here to check out all of the editorials, columns and opinion pieces, as well as national and statewide news coverage.
Southwest District bids farewell to Downing
Cupcakes were plentiful at the March 15 meeting of the Southwest District, as Montgomery County JFS Deputy Director Deb Downing made her final appearance before retiring this month. Deb’s leadership in the county, the district, and the state will be missed! Also on the agenda: psychotropic medication tracking, DR, and grievance/appeals process. The district meets next on May 17.
HOPE Update
Three of the HOPE (Helping Ohio Parent Effectively) counties participated in facilitator training for Succeed primary parent support groups on March 13 and 14. The training was provided by Ohio Family Care Association (OFCA) through a grant from Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The training included primary parents and staff who will be implementing support groups in their counties for primary parents with children currently in the foster care system. These innovative groups will be facilitated by the primary parents who have attended the training with additional support from OFCA and Succeed trainers. Succeed support groups are an exciting extension of HOPE activities, providing resources for better parent engagement and permanency outcomes for the children.
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, Butler County JFS
Please join us in congratulating William Morrison as the new executive director, and Julie Gilbert as the new child welfare administrator, at Butler County JFS. We’d like to thank Director Ray Pater for his leadership and contributions during his service years.
IPAC hosts professional conference and community town hall
IPAC (Integrating Professionals for Appalachian Children) is a regional nonprofit organization, working collaboratively with community partners. IPAC will host a professional conference and community town hall focused on building supportive communities around children and families affected by the opioid crisis. Both events are scheduled for Tuesday, April 18, at the Lodge at Hocking College in Nelsonville. Click here for information on how to register.
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Child Protection in the News
- March 17 – Children in harm’s way with the scourge of drugs – Youngstown Vindicator
With all the extensive press coverage of the opioid epidemic on the local, state and national levels, one aspect of this deadly scourge unfortunately has escaped public notice: the sharp increase in the number of children needing care as a result of addicted parents.
- March 15 – Ohio state children services funding ranks last in the country – WTOL.com
Ohio is dead last of all 50 states for state funding to public children services. Not only is Ohio in last place, but even if the funding was doubled, Ohio would still be last on the list.
- March 15 – For second time in one week, Akron police investigate case of young child overdosing – Newnet5.com
Her condition is not life-threatening, and the girl has been placed in the care of Summit County Children Services. Last week, a two-year-old Akron boy ...
- March 14 – Heroin's young victims: More children in foster care due to heroin epidemic (Includes video) – WKRC
More children are being removed from their homes in Ohio than ever before. There's new evidence that Ohio's heroin epidemic has a lot to do with it. Some people on the front line of child welfare want to know why the state isn't putting more resources into helping those children.
- March 11 – State Tackles Opioid Epidemic – Community Common
Ohio is tackling the problem in a variety of ways that include tracking prescription pill purchases through a statewide database, advising doctors on proper dosage limits, initiating a youth drug prevention program, providing access to medication-assisted treatment and behavioral health treatment to participants in drug courts and other specialized dockets, and seeking solutions on a regional level.
- March 11 – Editorial: Safety found closer to home – The Columbus Dispatch
Parenting is one of the hardest jobs there is under the best of conditions, but most don't approach the difficulties faced by parents of children with multiple problems such as disabilities, mental illness and uncontrollable aggression.
- March 9 – Baby Boxes, Meant to Reduce Infant Mortality, Spread to Ohio – The Columbus Dispatch
A Los Angeles company is working with hospitals and health departments in Ohio to give away cardboard box beds for every newborn in the state this year in an effort to reduce the high infant-mortality rate.
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March 23 I Executive Membership Meeting
March 24 I Executive Membership Meeting
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“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.” – Thomas Carlyle
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Public Children Services Association of Ohio | 614-224-5802 |
www.pcsao.org
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