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A quick rundown of Ohio child protection news this week
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Weekly Update for January 16, 2018
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Association Updates
‘Malicious’ links in last week’s Update
Some readers notified PCSAO that links in last week’s Update warned of “malicious” websites. We have not identified the source of the problem but hope it was a one-time issue. If you missed the links to PCSAO publications, including the newly updated “PCSAO Levy Campaign Guide” and “PCSAO Recruitment Guide: Recruiting Foster and Adoptive Caregivers,” link from
here
or click on “Publications & Resources” in the top navigation of our website and choose “Other Publications.” You can find current and previous editions of the Weekly Update online at
http://www.pcsao.org/resources
.
Conference Committee meets
The committee met on Jan. 12. The committee welcomes Kathi Spirk, Director of Clinton County JFS and PCSAO’s Vice President, to join the committee as chair and Kristin Townsend from WORTC as co-chair. The agenda included drafting conference program, identifying conference theme and training needs, as well as the Call for Presenters. The committee also reviewed the hotel proposals for 2019-2020.
Rules Committee meets via teleconference
At the recent Rules Review Committee meeting, ODJFS staff provided an overview of planned changes to rules recently in preclearance (Children Services Agency Licensing, Foster Care, and Children Services Residential Centers, Group Homes, and Residential Parenting Facilities) and changes to 5101:2-44-05.2 (CFC Medicaid Eligibility for State Adoption Subsidy Recipient Moving From or To Ohio) and 5101:2-42-65.1 (Exit Interviews When a Child in Custody Leaves an Out of Home Placement). The committee next meets Feb. 1.
Ohio START Steering Committee meets
The Ohio START Steering Committee met Jan. 10. Discussion focused on the addition of new counties to the pilot, clarifying programmatic questions and continuous qualitative evaluation of the program. The Steering Committee will meet next Feb. 21 at PCSAO.
OCWTP receives CPOE update
At the monthly meeting of the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program State Steering Committee Jan. 10, Scott Gall, a TAS in the ODJFS Central Office, provided an in-depth look at what is known so far about the 15-county Child and Family Services Review outcomes. Scores on the permanency and well-being outcomes appear to be exceeding those in other states, but a Program Improvement Plan will be required, followed by at least one additional review over the next couple years. The PIP will likely focus on foundational issues such as family contact/engagement, assessments and case planning. Thanks to all 15 participating counties for representing Ohio during the federal review, to all of the peer reviewers from PCSAs who visited fellow counties to assist, and to ODJFS and the technical assistance staff for leading this herculean effort!
National trainer conference selects Columbus
The National Staff Development and Training Association will hold its annual conference at the Sheraton Capitol Square in Columbus Sept. 30 to Oct. 3. The conference draws a broad spectrum of human services training and professional development staff.
Human trafficking event draws survivors, service providers, activists
The ninth annual Human Trafficking Awareness Day Jan. 11 in Columbus kicked off a month-long focus on human trafficking. Legislators, judges, and others led panel discussions on labor trafficking, sex trafficking, housing options, education, law enforcement and much more. A follow-up youth summit took place Jan. 12. PCSAO staff attended, as did staff from Lucas County Children Services. Video of the keynote address, panels and more are available
here
.
Welcome back, PCSAO interns!
We are pleased that two graduate students from The Ohio State University, Jennifer Scholl (College of Social Work), and Lucas Greer (John Glenn College of Public Affairs), have returned to PCSAO for the spring semester. Jennifer and Lucas assist staff with research, writing, data analysis and “whatever is needed” and are a valuable part of the PCSAO team.
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Announcements and Resources
Fifth Trauma-Informed Care Summit – Call for Proposals
The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) and Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) are accepting workshop proposals for the Fifth Annual Trauma-Informed Care Summit, scheduled for May 22-23. The purpose of the summit is to move the systems beyond trauma informed to trauma competent with specific areas of focus. Deadline for submission is Feb. 2. Selected workshop presenters will be announced on Feb. 16. All proposals must be submitted electronically. To submit a proposal, click
here
.
Ohio’s Practice Profiles Webinar Series
The Statewide CQI Community Subcommittee has developed a series of Practice Profile Webinars to help public and private agency staff improve fundamental social work practice skills. The new monthly webinar series focuses on Ohio’s Practice Profiles (JFS 08301). The profiles describe 10 core behaviors that guide best casework practice: engaging, assessing, partnering, planning, implementing, evaluating, advocating, demonstrating cultural and diversity competence, communicating, and collaborating. In addition, the subcommittee is seeking approval to offer 1 Social Worker continuing education unit (CEU) per webinar. Although the webinars are presented as a series and will build upon similar concepts, each module has been designed to be a stand-alone topic and participants may choose to attend one or multiple webinars. The first webinar,
Module 1: Overview,
will be presented Jan. 24.
Save the Date(s): Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation offers prevention training
OSPF will offer Ohio behavioral health professionals serving youth and young adults
(10-24) with training in Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR). These trainings
will provide behavioral health professionals with knowledge, skills, and confidence to
help patients struggling with suicidality. All participants will learn how to approach work with suicidal patients, how to form accurate judgements on client well-being, how to engage in safety planning, and how to respond to suicide-related behaviors in clients. Save the date(s) for these opportunities to learn how to safely recognize, respond to, and aid patients struggling with suicidality, while receiving CEUs. AMSR training is being offered to Ohio behavioral health professionals free of charge through SAMHSA funding. Participants will only be charged approximately $35 at each training to cover the cost of CEUs, lunch, and registration processing. Registration will be open soon at
ohiospf.org
. For additional information and questions, email Austin Lucas:
austin.lucas@ohiospf.org
Dates & Locations of AMSR Trainings:
- May 11, Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany—Franklin County
- June 4, Northwest State Community College—Defiance County
- May or June 2018, Northeast Ohio—TBA
- Sept. 14, South Community, Inc—Montgomery County
- Aug. 7, The Lafayette Hotel—Washington County
From PCSA to Bridges webinar
The Office of Families and Children's Bridges, Transitional Youth and Substitute Care staff will host and present a webinar on Jan. 19 from 9-10:30 a.m. This webinar is intended to educate PCSA staff on the transition process for a young adult from PCSA custody to enrollment in Bridges.
Topics that will be covered in this webinar are:
- Refresher of the Bridges eligibility requirements
- The roles of the PCSA worker and the Bridges representatives in the warm hand-off process
- The PCSA's requirements to provide Young Adult Services (formerly known as Post-Emancipation Supports)
This meeting/webinar is intended for Independent Living, Intake, Ongoing and Post-Emancipation caseworkers. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Register
here
!
24th 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 24th Annual Eastern Ohio Leadership Conference, “Spectrum of Learning Opportunities for Today’s Leaders,” on March 21-23 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. The conference brochure can be accessed
here
. There is no registration fee to attend this conference. The block of rooms at the Carlisle Inn will be held until Feb. 21, at which time they will be released to the general public. It is suggested that you register no later than March 12. If you have any questions, 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
The foster care system is becoming overloaded. Nationally, foster care cases involving parents who have drug problems have hit the highest point in 30-plus years of reporting. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services noted that roughly 92,000 children entered the system in 2016 — that’s driven by a 32 percent spike in drug-related cases from 2012 to 2016.
NEWARK - Starting out on your own as a young adult can be daunting, especially when you do not have support from parents to make sure you have everything you need. Fostering Further has created a store where young adults who have aged out of the foster care system can get free supplies for their new home, whether it be a college dorm room or an apartment.
The nation's crisis of drug addiction remains relentless in its outsourcing of parental responsibility. But the pool of aid to help so-called kinship families clothe, feed and educate kids they neither expected nor planned for barely budges. The vast majority of children who wind up with other relatives aren't in the protective-services system. Those who start out there are more easily tracked, and their numbers have soared. Since 2010, according to the Public Children Services Association of Ohio, the number of kids who come into state custody and are placed with relatives in lieu of foster care has increased by 116 percent.
Officials at Tuscarawas County Job & Family Services have seen more and more children with severe behavioral issues because their parents are addicted to opiates. While the number of children in foster care in the county is dropping, the cost to the county is not because of the need for specialized treatment to deal with these behavioral issues.
Due to the opioid epidemic in Ohio, the number of children in foster care in the state has been rapidly rising within the past few years.
If only the member agencies of the Public Children Services Association of Ohio were as good at actually helping children as they are at fear-mongering. Then, Ohio would have the finest child welfare systems in America.
Due to the Opioid problem in the Valley, 21 News has been reporting on the need for foster families. "It is about a 180 day process which includes 36 hours of pre- service training," stated Pape. "As well as a home study which includes safety, a psychological evaluation, finger printing".
The money is used for a variety of services across the country - its flexibility is part of the reason it is under attack because it is difficult to measure. But in Ohio the money is largely used to support children services, and in Licking County it is wholly used to investigate cases of child abuse and neglect. Putting $400,000 of federal money for the county in jeopardy could not come at a worse time, with more than 500 children in the county's care, up more than a third from the start of 2017.
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Jan. 17 | Southwest District Meeting
Jan. 18 | Northwest District Meeting
Jan. 19 | East Central District Meeting
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“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”
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Maya Angelou
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Public Children Services Association of Ohio | 614-224-5802 |
www.pcsao.org
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