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A quick rundown of Ohio child protection news this week
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Weekly Update for July 17, 2017
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Association Updates
2017 PCSAO Conference Sept. 27-29: Registration is now open!
We’re excited to announce that registration for the 2017 PCSAO Conference is now open! Guided by our theme, “Everyday Heroes,” this conference is dedicated to the tireless advocates who devote their careers to protecting children and strengthening families in Ohio. The conference promises three days packed full of informative and energizing workshops and dynamic speakers. Our dedicated conference staff have worked hard to line up daily keynote speakers who will cover topics that will resonate with each of the everyday heroes in the audience. Download the conference registration brochure, and register today! For more information about the conference, visit: http://www.pcsao.org/programs/conference.
Conference sponsorship opportunities
Gift basket donation
PCSAO is inviting you and your agency to donate a gift basket. Gift baskets that we receive will be given away to conference attendees as door prizes during the networking events. In appreciation of your generosity, agencies that donate a gift basket will be listed in the conference program. Contact Jeed@pcsao.org by Aug. 31 to confirm your gift basket donation.
Metros meet to learn from successful CQI initiatives
Metro agencies gathered July 14 to share strategies that have worked to improve CFSR outcomes and address workforce challenges. Presentations included improving client visitation, practice improvement demonstrations of Shadow Box and ChildStat, and trauma screens for youth. Casey Family Programs and ODJFS provided updates, and the group reaffirmed its interest in a joint focus on case closure and re-entry. The next meeting will be Oct. 13.
Youth and caregivers: Apply to star in new video!
The OHIO Youth Advisory Board is developing a video series that will encourage people to become foster parents for teens and/or host homes for foster youth ages 18-21. For this video, OYAB is specifically seeking young people who have had a positive experience as teenagers in their foster home and foster parents who have become host homes to young people between 18-21 and had a very positive experience. The video could show a young person and the foster parent/host home provider interacting together. The application is available online. The goal is to inspire the video viewer to want to foster teenagers and/or open up their home as a host home for foster youth for ages 18-21. The finished product could be shared at statewide conferences and in training workshops. The application deadline is Oct. 1. Submit applications to lisa@fosteractionohio.org. Phone interviews will be scheduled with qualified applicants, and final decisions will be voted on by the OYAB officers.
HOPE update
The HOPE Workgroup had its quarterly meeting July 11. Topics included accomplishments of parent partners at local sites, successes and challenges of recruiting and maintaining parent partners, activity planning for the remainder of the year, developing community partnerships, and getting staff buy-in and appreciation for peer-to-peer work.
Two HOPE parent partners shared their experience at the Birth Parent National Network, Birth and Foster Parent Convening in Seattle June 27-30. They spoke to the importance of working with foster parents and of having the birth parent voice represented at all levels of policy and practice. They also noted pride in being able to present the work Ohio is doing in this area.
Local HOPE sites are working diligently on recruitment and community partnership. Jointly, HOPE members are planning a busy fall schedule of training, presentation, and celebration.
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Announcements and Resources
2017 Trafficking in Persons Report
The U.S. Department of State released the 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report, which provides an updated, global look at the nature and scope of human trafficking and the broad range of government actions to confront and eliminate it.
2016 human trafficking data from state sources
The Governor’s Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force released a new data report of human trafficking cases as reported by state sources in 2016, as well as an updated chart of cases from 2014-2016.
National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment - Ohio workshop opportunity
The National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment has offered to come to Ohio and present a two-day workshop on "Recruiting Foster and Adoptive Families in Rural Areas" in two different locations (Athens County CS on Aug. 14-15 and Marion County CS on Aug. 16-17). Space is limited, so you must register in advance, preferably by Aug. 4. For more details and registration, contact Tara Shook at Tara.Shook@jfs.ohio.gov.
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Child Protection in the News
- July 11 – Dayton Children’s Hospital is treating two children a week for opiate overdoses – Dayton Daily News
Dayton Children’s Hospital is treating as many as two children a week for opioid overdoses due to accidental exposure since the beginning of 2017. “It seems like every week we are having the same conversation about kids who have symptoms of opiate exposure,” said Kelly Liker, a pediatric physician at Dayton Children’s.
- July 11 – Case workers find themselves having to tell more children their parent died from an overdose – News 5 Cleveland
Adelle Polasky is now dealing with a gut wrenching issue as a caseworker for Lorain County Children Services. Polasky was called to ...
- July 10 – More than 1,000 Lucas Co. children in foster care due to opioid epidemic – WTOL-TV
New numbers released on Monday, show a 31 percent jump in the number of children in the area's foster care system. The big jump is due to the growing problem of heroin addiction.
- July 10 – Children services to ask for levy renewal – Chillicothe Gazette
In November, Ross County Children Services will ask voters to continue a 1-mill levy used primarily to provide for children in foster care.
- July 8 – Drugs, alcohol fuel rising Children Services workload – Chronicle Telegram
The opioid epidemic not only strains police, firefighters and the coroner’s office, but also parents, families and the agencies designed to protect society’s most vulnerable members — children.
- July 3 – Governor Slams 'Anemic' Funding To Treat Opioid Addiction (Press release) – Executive Intelligence Review
The opioid epidemic continues to ravage the American population. On July 1, The Washington Post reported alarming details on how the U.S. foster care and social services system is completely overwhelmed by the number of babies born to drug-addicted mothers, without the resources to provide adequate foster care and other forms of assistance.
- June 26 – CDFS & Community Partners Selected for Initiative to Help LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care (Press release) – Cuyahoga County, OH
The Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) along with key community partners have been selected for a grant from The National Quality Improvement Center to develop programs and best practices that improve the lives of LGBTQ youth in foster care. Information Gateway resource: Working With LGBTQ Youth and Families.
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July 17 | Legislative Committee Meeting
July 21 | East Central District Meeting
July 24 | Southeast District Meeting
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“Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” - Mattie Stepanek
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Public Children Services Association of Ohio | 614-224-5802 |
www.pcsao.org
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