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A quick rundown of Ohio child protection news this week
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Weekly Update for June 4, 2018
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Association Updates
Ohio START releases interim report
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine released the Ohio START Interim Report, tracking the progress of the Ohio START (Sobriety, Treatment, and Reducing Trauma) Pilot Program. Ohio START is an intervention program that provides specialized victims services, such as intensive trauma counseling, to children who have suffered victimization due to parental drug use. The program also connects parents to addiction treatment. “Children are the most vulnerable victims of the opioid epidemic. Through the START program we are supporting these kids, as well as helping their parents get the treatment they need to overcome their addiction. The goal is to be able to reunite families, and reduce trauma for children,” said Attorney General DeWine.
Read more
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HOPE: Training resource recommendations
Helping Ohioans Parent Effectively is continuing to work with the Parent Peer support Specialist Committee. The committee is working on credentialing for Parent Peer Supporters. This work includes identifying training resources for Parent Peer Supporters. If anyone has training resources to recommend, please email Renay at
renay@synergyforce.net
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2018 PCSAO award nominations
Each year at our conference, PCSAO recognizes the achievements of county PCSA supervisors, caseworkers, and support staff, as well as local journalists that have made extraordinary contributions toward promoting safe children, stable families and supportive communities. PCSAO also celebrates children, youth and families (primary birth, kinship, foster, and adoptive) who have been served by Ohio’s public children services agencies. We are inviting all PCSAs to nominate outstanding staff, journalists, and rising stars. The deadline for award nominations is June 29. Download
the award nomination forms
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Community Education Committee hosts Levy Boot Camp
Robin Webb of Athens County Children Services and Kim McClendon of Portage County JFS led a training June 1 at Marion County Children Services for more than a dozen agency directors, administrators and other leaders about running a successful levy campaign. The presentation is available on request by contacting
scott@pcsao.org
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Announcements and Resources
New app helps physicians, workers identify abuse-related injuries
A new free app for phones and tablets is available to help physicians and others identify child injuries that may stem from abuse. The Child Protector App was developed by child abuse physician Terra Frazier, DO, and her colleagues through the Fox Valley Technical College - National Criminal Justice Training Center. A physician can enter information about an injury observed on a child, and the app provides instruction about next steps in assessing the injury, including medical tests to order, talking with the family, and more. The app includes a library of information, from videos to check lists and photos that would be useful for caseworkers as well, to help understand the types of physical exams and tests that should be performed when alleged victims of abuse are seen at hospitals. The content is not copyrighted so that the public can use the app in many flexible ways, including for training. Content can be displayed through a phone/tablet, and pictures and videos are available by request from the developers.
Bridges program host home information sessions
Bridges
is a voluntary program available to young adults who left foster care in Ohio at age 18, 19 or 20 and who are in school, working, participating in an employment program, or have a medical condition that prevents them from going to school or working. The Child and Family Health Collaborative of Ohio is the state grantees of the new Ohio Bridges program for post-emancipated foster youth. The Collaborative is looking to engage and partner with communities to find safe and stable living environments for Bridges participants. If you are interested in participating in Bridges Host Home sessions, contact Timothy Walton at
Timothy.walton@uhc.com
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Foster Care Advisory Group issues final report
The Foster Care Advisory Group was created as a result of the passage of (Section 751.10) Am. Sub. HB 49 of the 132nd General Assembly. The act created the group to advise and assist the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) in identifying and implementing best practices to recruit, retain, and support foster caregivers. Click
here
for the Foster Care Advisory Group's recommendations.
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Child Protection in the News
As a juvenile court judge for Montgomery County, Ohio, Anthony Capizzi sees the devastating trickle-down effect of opioids firsthand. So in 2016, he started Family Treatment Court, aimed specifically at helping parents achieve the sobriety they need to stay with their children.
In the two-and-a-half months since Aniya Day-Garrett died, her father has made it his mission to keep other children safe. Mickhal Garrett was among the group of protesters outside Cuyahoga County Children and Family Services, the agency that investigated three calls about the 4-year-old girl in 2017.
It's going to take more than just talk to figure out a major funding need of the Hancock County Department of Job and Family Services. It's a problem, after all, that voters refused to fix May 8 and isn't likely to get better anytime soon. The 1.2-mill property tax request would have provided $2.3 million a year for 10 years to help cover the still-rising child and senior protective care costs.
Family drug courts have been around for more than 20 years, but they have attracted new interest amid the opioid epidemic and rising rates of foster care. More than 15,500 children were in Ohio foster homes last year, up from 12,600 four years earlier, according to the nonprofit Public Children Services Association of Ohio.
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June 6 | Board of Trustees Meeting
June 6 | Human Resources Association Meeting
June 7 | Rules Review Committee Meeting
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“Do all things with love.” -
Og Mandino
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Public Children Services Association of Ohio | 614-224-5802 |
www.pcsao.org
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