PCSAO Weekly Update: February 11, 2019

A quick rundown of Ohio child protection news this week

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Weekly Update for February 11, 2019

Association Updates

Presidents' Day

The next Weekly Update will be published next Tuesday Feb. 19 due to the holiday.

Board of Trustees meets

The PCSAO Board of Trustees met Feb. 6 and had discussion with several guests including Carla Carpenter, Raivo Murnieks, and Jenni Watson from ODJFS, who shared the new child welfare data dashboard; Susan Walther, Warren County CSB, on some local challenges; and Jill Lukshin-Hoff, Kaiser Consulting and PCSAO’s new CPA. The board also reviewed the draft agenda for the Executive Membership Meeting on March 7-8; discussed legislative priorities; and received updates on Administration changes, budget priorities, the Children’s Continuum of Care Reform, and EDMS. The board meets next on March 7.

Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) readiness survey

The Ohio Children’s Alliance and PCSAO are partnering with ODJFS to assess readiness to meet the requirements of the law in Ohio. The readiness survey should be completed by private provider agencies, PCSAs or other public agencies that administer evidence-based mental health and substance abuse services or parenting education programs that would be appropriate interventions for parents and families whose children are at imminent risk of entering foster care or for pregnant and parenting teens who are in foster care. The goal of the survey is to determine to what extent existing services and placement settings meet the requirements of the law and what types of supports will be needed to prepare for implementation of the law. The focus is on provisions of the law that allow Title IV-E funds to be used to support evidence-based prevention services that prevent children and youth from entering (or reentering) foster care.

In order to help plan for the future, feedback is critical. Please complete the survey no later than Friday, March 1.

Anti-human trafficking update

The National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Center is hosting a webinar on March 6 from 1-2:30 p.m. focused on two-generation-whole family approaches for providing comprehensive services to trafficked individuals and their families; register here .

2019 Fostering Pathways to Success Conference

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Ohio Reach and JOURNEY to Successful Living are partnering this year to bring you another dynamic Fostering Pathways to Success Conference. The conference will be April 3 at the Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High Street, Columbus. The keynote presenter will be LaToya Logan, a former foster youth and founder of Project LIFT Behavioral Health Services, a nonprofit organization that targets the needs of transition-aged males who are court involved and provides them with supportive services to assist them with community re-entry, educational, employment and housing successes.

We are excited to introduce foster youth and young adults to a unique and interactive experience in the afternoon: Independence City will offer foster youth and young adults (ages 14 -21) with a fun yet challenging life simulation that will give participants a glimpse into real-life scenarios. This conference is a statewide event for youth in foster care ages 14-18 and young adults formerly in foster care ages 19-21. We also encourage Independent Living coordinators, ongoing case managers, agency administrators, workforce professionals and others working with foster youth to attend. We offer an array of workshops geared toward youth self-sufficiency and independence as they prepare to leave the foster care system. Caseworkers and adult supporters can earn continuing professional education credits while attending instructional and helpful learning sessions.

For more information about the conference, visit the adult supporters and emancipated young adult participants registration page . All current foster youth’s information will be registered through our secure mailbox at: Transitional-Youth-Programs@jfs.ohio.gov . To assure your youth’s registration, please register by March 27. Interested adult supporters who would like to also assist with Independence City can sign-up to volunteer here . We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Fostering Pathways to Success Conference!

Announcements and Resources

Children's Bureau releases new foster licensing standards

On Feb. 4, the Children’s Bureau released final National Model Family Foster Home Licensing Standards (National Model), as required by the Family First Prevention Services Act. The Information Memorandum (ACYF-CB-IM-19-01) now requires states and tribes to compare their foster home licensing standards against these model standards and report back to the Children’s Bureau. The standards include those for licensed foster homes as well as for practices related to waiving non-safety standards for relatives. The purpose is to try to eliminate barriers caused by state licensing standards to make it easier to become licensed as a foster caregiver and so that more relatives caring for children in foster care can become licensed. States have until March 31 to submit a plan amendment.

Medicaid 101 webinar

Casey Family Programs’ Systems Improvement team invites you to attend its next national webinar, Medicaid services and plans to address vulnerable children’s health care needs . This 60-minute foundational webinar on Medicaid, EPSDT and CHIP will provide participants with a greater understanding of who and what is covered, addressing children’s dental and complex behavioral health care needs, availability of waivers, and what it takes to amend state plans. Presenters include Joan Smith, Managing Director, SI Services, Casey Family Programs; JooYeun Chang, Managing Director, Knowledge Management, Casey Family Programs; and Kamala Allen, Vice President for Program Operations, Center for Health Care Strategies. The webinar will be Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. and you can register here.

The Mystery of Risk

Trumbull County Children Services is hosting Dr. Ira J. Chasnoff, an award-winning author, researcher and lecturer, and a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics. In his award-winning book The Mystery of Risk , Dr. Chasnoff distills the complex process of attunement that a substance-exposed child and parent undergo as the child grows from infancy to adulthood. Intended for parents, caregivers, and professionals who care for children, this groundbreaking new book provides an examination of scientific evidence and true stories of children that reveal how prenatal exposure to alcohol and drugs induces a child's biological vulnerability to environmental stressors that later prey on that vulnerability. Dr. Chasnoff will be speaking on March 19 at the Ciminero's Banquet Centre from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Learn more about the day's events and register here .

Child Protection in the News

Feb. 5 - Editorial: Ohio must keep working to reduce addiction as OD deaths drop - Columbus Dispatch

Ohio may finally be turning the corner on drug-overdose deaths, and that is exactly the right time to keep the pressure on to fight opioid addiction.

Feb. 4 - Governor says increasing DJFS funding is a priority for 2019 - WTOV

Foster care rates have increased throughout Ohio, and Governor Mike DeWine may address that in the upcoming budget. Vince Gianangeli, director of Belmont County Job and Family Services, said that even with additional tax revenue, more funding is needed to cover those costs.

Feb. 3 - What’s it like to be court-appointed guardian? - Canton Repository

Several volunteers share their experience in Stark County court system.