O
HIO FAMILY AND CHILDREN FIRST COORDINATORS ASSOCIATION
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
JANE WHYDE (FRANKLIN COUNTY)
As we are bringing this year to a close, we are no doubt thinking about what 2017 will bring for us and the families we serve. The one thing that remains sure, is that families will need us more than ever as we make what may be some significant changes in all of our lives. We have historically brought our communities together to celebrate the victories and find our way through the challenges. And it is my belief that we will do the same this year as we make the transition to a new President, a new State Biennium and the process of reassessing what a "modernized" FCFC structure might look like. My deepest thanks go out to all of you-as friends, partners, and advocates for all that you do to make life the best it can be for the youth and families that we work with. And my thanks also for the commitment that you have made to making OFCFCA a valuable tool for communication, innovation and support for all of us. Take time this month to place value on what we have accomplished in 2016 and know that the full impact of our work is yet to be seen as "our kids" grow to adulthood. And whatever path their lives take, know that they will be better because of the work you have done. I look forward to 2017 being the best year yet!
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Maggie Henry
(Clinton County)
Kanda Benner
(Delaware County)
Lisa Carroll
(Gallia County)
BEST WISHES!
Sue Giga
(Clinton County)
Stephanie Scriber
(Delaware County)
Lora Jenkins
(Gallia County)
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MEETINGS, TRAINING & EVENTS*
OFCFCA
JANUARY 20, 2017
OFCFCA Executive Committee Meeting (Columbus)
FEBRUARY 24, 2017
OFCFCA State Meeting
(Columbus)
MARCH 17, 2017
OFCFCA Executive Committee Meeting
JANUARY 17, 2017 Wraparound Supervision (Columbus)
JANUARY 19, 2017 Understanding Emerging Adults Who Have Experienced Complex Trauma, Poverty, and/or Homelessness (Webinar)
JANUARY 24, 2017 Crisis & Safety (Dayton)
FEBRUARY 3, 2017 Crisis & Safety (Cambridge)
FEBRUARY 14, 2017 Effective Engagement (Marysville)
FEBRUARY 22, 23, & MARCH 9, 2017 Three-Day Facilitator Training (Canton)
FEBRUARY 23, 2017 Effectively Engaging and Empowering Emerging Adults in Your Community (Webinar)
MARCH 7, 2017 Art of Facilitation
(Dayton)
MARCH 20 & 21, 2017 Art of Facilitation (Cambridge)
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DUE DATES
CENTRAL COORDINATION
JANUARY 15, 2017 EXPENDITURE & PROGRAM REPORT
EARLY INTERVENTION
JANUARY 10, 2017 FEBRUARY 10, 2017 MARCH 10, 2017 EXPENDITURE REPORT (IF YOU ARE ON A MONTHLY REIMBURSEMENT)
MARCH 10, 2017 EXPENDITURE REPORT (IF YOU ARE ON A QUARTERLY REIMBURSEMENT)
JANUARY 10, 2017 PROGRAM REPORT
FCSS
JANUARY 11, 2017 DEADLINE TO SUBMIT RAR FORM FOR JANUARY PROCESSING
FEBRUARY 1, 2017 FCSS PROJECTED EXPENDITURES FORM FOR SFY17
FEBRUARY 1, 2017 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
HOME VISITING
JANUARY 15, 2017 HV COST REPORT & PROGRAM REPORT
MIECHV
JANUARY 15, 2017 EXPENDITURE & PROGRAM REPORT
OFCF OBCF
MARCH 17, 2017 DESIGNATION OF ADMIN AGENT FORM FOR SFY18
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* NOTE:
Dates change and typos occur so it is always a good idea to confirm with the sponsoring agency if you have any doubt that the dates above are current and accurate.
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CORE FUNCTIONS OF FAMILY AND CHILDREN FIRST
CHAD HIBBS, DIRECTOR OFCF
Over the last several months, the state staff has been reviewing the core functions of Family and Children First at the regional meetings. We started with
Coordinating Systems and Services. OFCF and the FCFCs have a unique responsibility of
Coordinating Systems and Services on both a macro and micro level. FCFCs streamline and coordinate existing government services for families seeking services for their children (micro). FCFCs also annually evaluate and prioritize services, fill service gaps where possible, and invent new approaches to achieve better results for families and children (macro). This component covers both the mandated Service Coordination Mechanism, and the guidelines and proper usage of the Family-Centered Services and Support funding.
We moved on to the core concept of Shared Accountability. This Shared Accountability can only be achieved if the other three core functions are operational. This core concept asks that each member of the local Family and Children First Council be a part of owning the work of their local council, and participating in the evaluation of that work. It is important that each member of the Family and Children First Council have a stake in the working flowing through and originating from the FCFC.
At the most recent regional meetings, we reviewed the core concept of Engaging and Empowering Families. OFCF and FCFCs have a unique role to recruit and support parents to be active contributing members on county FCFCs; be involved in key decision-making efforts; and serve as an advocate for children, families and communities. This core concept covers the three mandated Family Representatives to FCFCs and the other avenues in which family empowerment and voice are exercised at the county level.
At the January 2017 regional meetings, we will be reviewing the core concept of Building Community Capacity. To build community capacity, it requires mobilizing communities to identify and address the ongoing needs of children and families through planning, implementing effective strategies, monitoring and reporting, and evaluating progress toward achieving desired outcomes. We will be reviewing the takeaways from the most recent submissions of the 2017-2019 Shared Plans, and we will be discussing how communities each view the work and responsibility of their local FCFC. We look forward to this discussion to kick off 2017!
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FACEBOOK ...
- the most popular social networking tool
- believed to currently have over one billion active user
- increasingly used by companies & organizations to build a presence
- free to join and use
- can be used wherever there is internet access
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available 24/7
An incredible amount of information about Facebook exists on the internet. If you are "technologically challenged" and/or have no or very little experience with Facebook, the following sites may be helpful:
This website covers the basics of setting up, enhancing, and posting.
This article reviews ways using Facebook can be helpful to non-profits.
This blog reviews 21 ways Facebook pages can be used by non-profits to get their message across.
Butler County's FCFC has been using Facebook since 2012 with very positive results. According to Heather Wells, the Butler County FCFC Director, it was decided early on that the target audience would be families. As a result, the majority of the posts provide information about events, resources, and services available through the FCFC, council members, and other local organizations. Heather Wells, Butler County's FCFC Director offers the following five tips for growing your Facebook presence:
1. Use Facebook to announce and publicize an event. Participants can RSVP on Facebook (use when you don't need an exact count). Ask your members to share it on their Facebook pages and/or their websites.
2. Include an image with every post; add text to your photos with apps such as ReType.
3. If you have a personal Facebook account, add your personal email address as an administrator to your FCFC page. That will make is simple to share items from your newsfeed (like those posted by your member agencies) on your FCFC page.
4. Use the 'schedule' feature to have your posts appear in the future. You can schedule all of your posts for the week on Monday morning and don't think about it again until the next week!
5. Be sure to include inspirational/positive sayings and images. These will keep folks engaged.
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OFCFCA 2016 ANNUAL MEETING
(SUE GIGA, OFCFCA)
The association had a very successful Annual Meeting in October. One hundred percent of the participants provided positive ratings for the meeting's overall organization, location/facility (Drury Inn in Grove City), cost and meals (Corporate Caterers). Several speakers and agenda items also received 100% positive ratings from participants. Our keynote speaker, Mike Pistornio, shared his personal experiences of childhood sexual abuse and his personal experiences of hope and survival. Perhaps most meaningful to our members, Mike shared how helping individuals enabled him to thrive and become the person he is today. Anyone who heard Mike speak will agree-you definitely could not fall asleep, become distracted, or use your cell phone during his riveting presentation. Positive ratings were also received from participants for the panel presentations on Multi-System Youth and Youth in Transition. Thanks to our state partners for sharing their information and perspectives. The section "Honoring Governor Voinovitch" also received 100% positive ratings. Special thanks to Jackie Romer Sensky for sharing her professional and, even more meaningful, personal experiences with the late governor and senator. No one else could have better shared his legacy as the Father of Family & Children First Councils. Everyone who participated in FCFC101-Learning the Ropes also provided positive ratings so many thanks to the local coordinator/directors, and the OFCF staff, who shared their experiences and lessons learned. Thanks to all of our speakers. None of the agenda items received less than 70% positive ratings and most received positive ratings from over 90% of the participants. Anyone who has planned an annual meeting, conference, or retreat knows the "devil lies in the detail" so I want to thank Melinda Donaldson (Franklin County FCFC Office) for her incredible help with all of the meeting's detail! Finally, thanks to all who participated - you are what made the 2016 Annual Meeting a success!
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This is a GREAT website! It has separate sections for kids, teens, parents, and educators. Content includes information, perspectives, and advice on a wide range of physical, emotional, and behavioral issues. Part of The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media, the website has won numerous awards including four Webby Awards for Best Family/Parenting Site and Best Health Site on the Web.
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(If you have a suggestion for a future Website of the quarter, please let us know: [email protected]. We need the website's address, a sentence or two about the website's content, and a sentence or two about why you like it.)
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We're in This Together-Lessons from Geese
Why do geese fly in a V formation? Scientists have learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a V formation, the entire flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.
Lesson One: When people share a common direction and sense of community, they can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
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OFCFCA PRESIDENT
JANE WHYDE
(FRANKLIN COUNTY)
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OFCFCA VICE-PRESIDENT
HEATHER WELLS
(BUTLER COUNTY
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OFCFCA TREASURER
BRENDA ROCK
(MADISON & UNION COUNTIES)
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Thanks for reading our newsletter. If you have any suggestions, ideas, and/or feedback, please contact: [email protected]
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