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A quick rundown of Ohio child protection news this week
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Weekly Update for July 2, 2018
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Association Updates
Office closed July 4
PCSAO's office will be closed Wednesday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day.
Membership considers policies, celebrates retirements
PCSAO's executive membership met June 28-29 for presentations and discussion on the Family First Prevention Services Act. The meeting featured a presentation by Marlo Nash of the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities on the Act's residential provisions, along with overviews of the prevention and other provisions by PCSAO staff and Patti-Jo Burtnett of Casey Family Programs/Lorain County Children Services. Other policy discussions included current legislation and rules, kinship issues, and PCSAO's Children's Continuum of Care Reform. Updates from Northwoods on EDMS and from ODJFS on a range of topics rounded out the two days. The association praised retiring leaders Susan Bailey-Evans of Champaign County JFS and Pam Meermans of Clark County JFS, and welcomed Steve Kaifas of Madison County JFS to the board, succeeding Sue. The next membership meeting will be Nov. 29-30.
HHS seeking comments on clearinghouse of evidence-based practices
HHS published in the Federal Register a request for public comment on its approach to identifying evidence-based practices that will be eligible for reimbursement under the Family First Prevention Services Act
.
The structure and contents of this evidence-based clearinghouse will shape how states will be able to receive reimbursement for services to prevent children from coming into care. Comments are due by July 22.
This Notice (1) identifies and requests comment on potential initial criteria for (a) identifying eligible programs and services for review by the Clearinghouse, (b) prioritizing eligible programs and services for review, (c) identifying eligible studies aligned with prioritized programs and services, (d) prioritizing eligible studies for rating, (e) rating studies, and (f) rating programs and services as promising, supported, and well-supported practices. This Notice (2) requests comment on potential programs and services that may meet the aforementioned criteria and that should be considered as candidates for systematic review. After comments are received, HHS will revise and publish the initial criteria and a preliminary list of candidate programs and services to be considered for review, and begin to conduct reviews. This Notice is one step in ensuring that activities associated with the development of a clearinghouse are transparent and build from the existing knowledge of States, federal agencies, researchers, evaluators, program and service developers, key stakeholders and experts, and the general public. Requests for comments: click
here
.
Fostering Pathways to Success conference celebrates 10 years
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and Ohio Reach network invite you to join us on Monday, Aug. 6 at the Columbus Convention Center (Short North Ballroom), 400 North High Street, Columbus, 43215. This year's theme is "Learn to Reach for the Stars." Youth in foster care between the ages of 14 and 18 and young adults formerly in foster care ages 19 to 21 are encouraged to attend, along with Independent Living coordinators, ongoing case managers, agency administrators, workforce professionals and others working with foster youth. To register for the conference, please click
here
.
Anti-human trafficking update
Bhumika Patel of PCSAO and anti-human trafficking grant partners have started offering presentations to child protection and juvenile justice agencies. On June 12, Patel presented on labor trafficking at a lunch and learn for Summit County Children Services. Patel, Rebekah O’Bryan from the Department of Youth Services, and Emily Dunlap from Advocating Opportunity presented on how to respond to child trafficking, with a focus on Safe Harbor diversion, to child welfare and juvenile justice staff on June 14 in Richland County and June 19 in Warren County. If you are interested in human trafficking training for child welfare or juvenile justice in your community, please reach out to
Bhumika@pcsao.org
.
HOPE update: Building a Better Future training
The HOPE program is planning to hold Building a Better Future training in the fall. The revised three-day curriculum will be co-facilitated by parent partner and professionals. HOPE will also hold a training of trainers session by the end of the year to assure a cadre of trainers (both parents and professionals) will be available throughout the state.
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Announcements and Resources
Stay connected with the Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force
Stay connected with the Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force and get the latest news and updates directly in your inbox. Sign up
here
.
NSDTA 2018 educational conference
Mark your calendars for the 2018 NSDTA Annual Education Conference, Sept. 30-Oct. 3. Celebrating its 30th year, the conference is designed to assist health and human services leaders responsible for human services training, staff and organizational development/effectiveness shape the future of these vital programs through collaboration, innovation and the exchange of experience and knowledge amongst attendees. For more information, click
here
.
2018 Pediatric Mental Health Symposium
The 2018 Pediatric Mental Health Symposium is a one-day comprehensive education event to raise awareness of current mental health trends and their impact on mental health care for children and adolescents. Visit
the conference website
for registration and more information regarding the Symposium presentation schedule, associated Continuing Education information, and a Primary Care Provider morning session featuring a pharmacology update.
Webinar on the Ohio addiction policy inventory and scorecard
Join HPIO on Thursday, July 19 at 11:30 a.m. for a webinar on the
Ohio addiction policy inventory and scorecard: Prevention, treatment and recovery
This report is the first in a series of inventories and scorecards analyzing Ohio's policy response to the addiction crisis and outlining areas where the state could be more effective. The report focuses on the first three elements of a comprehensive response to addiction: prevention, treatment and recovery.
Click here
to view the full report, a four-page executive summary and additional background information about the project.
Register now!
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Child Protection in the News
Ohio is doing better at improving the lives of children, according to the new
2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book
. However, the report also warns progress could be undermined by a 2020 census under-count.
Stories of children being forcibly separated from their parents are adding fuel to the fire for advocacy groups in Ohio already fighting for the rights of immigrants. After widespread outrage over separations along the southern U.S. border, GOP leaders vowed to end the practice. And last week President Donald Trump signed an executive order to end separations.
There is much work that must be done to protect more than 2,300 children and youth who already have been separated from their families at the Mexican border as there is no plan yet for how to reunite them across the 17 states throughout the country where they are in some type of care.
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July 11 | Ohio START Steering Committee Meeting
July 12 | Rules Review Committee Meeting
July 13 |
Conference Planning Committee Meeting
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“If a few nations step forward and begin changing the narrative of ‘us and them’ to ‘everyone,’ we will see a new dawn. If a few nations begin actually making operational a verification system we can all depend upon and push to bring all into such a system, we will all benefit.”
–
Jonathan Granoff
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Public Children Services Association of Ohio | 614-224-5802 |
www.pcsao.org
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