PCSAO Weekly Update: October 15, 2018

A quick rundown of Ohio child protection news this week

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Weekly Update for October 15, 2018

Association Updates

FFPSA regional forums offer five opportunities to learn

PCSAO, in partnership with ODJFS, Casey Family Programs, Ohio Children’s Alliance, and Ohio Family Care Association, held five regional forums over the past two weeks focused on the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA). The forums were well attended with participants from different service sectors such as children services, Family and Children First Councils, managed care, state agencies, mental health, substance abuse, home visiting, and child advocates. Casey Family Programs provided an overview of the FFPSA to kick off each of the forums. Partners presented on efforts that are currently underway that connect closely to FFPSA such as PCSAO’s Continuum of Care Reform . Participants were asked to provide specific feedback and ideas on how Ohio should approach implementing this Act. The information collected at the forums will be shared with the FFPSA Leadership Team that ODJFS will be convening in November.

UPP evaluation report released

The 2017-18 evaluation of the University Partnership Program has been completed. The report was prepared by Stacey Saunders-Adams for the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program and shows that, while there is variation in coursework across the universities, the program is achieving its desired program objectives. More PCSAs are accepting UPP interns and hiring UPP graduates, expanding the reach of the program across the state. According to supervisors, UPP graduates are more confident and prepared than newly hired caseworkers.

PCSAO Factbook: Advertisement opportunities

The 14th edition of the Factbook is in progress, due to be released in March 2019. The Factbook is a premier resource for statewide and county-specific child protection data and information. This resource is used and referenced extensively by child protection administrators and professionals, elected officials, policymakers, media, health and human service advocates and others at the local, state and federal levels. You are invited to be part of this widely distributed publication as an advertiser. Information about your organization or company can reach thousands at the local, state and federal levels. Advertisement space is limited , so reserve a space for your advertisement today .

Rules update

Rules in pre-clearance: Review and comment at http://www.ohiorulereview.org/

Chapter 5101:2-47, Title IV-E Foster Care Maintenance. This rule is being reviewed for a reduced period of a 14-day pre-clearance on the rules impacted by Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) requirements for Title IV-E Foster Care Maintenance Payments for Children Placed with a Parent in a Licensed Residential Family-Based Treatment Facility for Substance Abuse, Oct. 1-15.

Rules in clearance: As of Oct. 13, no children services-related rules are in clearance.

Announcements and Resources

UnitedHealthcare and National Foster Parent Association forum

Hosted by two nationally known organizations, this training is designed for everyone who interacts with foster, kinship and adoptive families regarding the well-being of the children in their care. This session aims to help all develop

additional skills and empathy for the circumstances that impact children, addressing responses, approaches and systems that help ensure all involved experience a successful transition. The trainings will be held at Montgomery County Children Services and Muskingum County Children Services:

Oct. 23: Montgomery County Children Services, 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.
Oct. 24: Muskingum County Children Services, 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.

This training is free, but registration is required. RSVP and reserve your seat by contacting Frank Drago .

Marijuana for Medical Purposes symposium

Ohio's medical marijuana program will be operational beginning in late 2018. With this program, there are many questions that professionals that work with individuals with a mental illness or a substance use disorder must consider. The Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities is hosting the second Marijuana for Medical Purposes Symposium - Prevention and Clinical Implications on Nov. 9 in Columbus to ask those questions and provide insight into how professionals in other states work with the subject. The day will also include an overview of Ohio's medical marijuana program and the latest research on medical marijuana's impact on addiction and mental health. Learn more .

Who Cares: A National Count of Foster Homes and Families

The Chronicle of Social Change invites you to one of its national civic dialogue events based on The Chronicle's reporting project, Who Cares: A National Count of Foster Homes and Families, that releases Oct. 16. The Chronicle will host launch events in Los Angeles , Chicago and Atlanta around the report’s findings. The event in Atlanta focuses on kinship care by looking at the increased kinship care placements in Georgia and the related challenges faced by relative caregivers and foster youth.

NASW Ohio Chapter 2018 Annual Conference

NASW Ohio’s 2018 Annual Conference, Social Workers: Leaders, Advocates, Champions , will be Nov. 8-10 in Columbus. There's something for everyone at the conference with dynamic keynote speakers and 45 workshops ranging from "The Application of Four Spiritual Domains" to "Social Work Practice to Program Development: Building programs from the ground up" to "The Poverty Brain: Neuroplasticity & CBT." This year’s conference will feature an all-day add-on session on Nov. 10. The Tech Savvy Practitioner: Ethical, Legal, and Smart Use of Technology will provide attendees with an extra six CEUs, including supervision and ethics hours, along with a “Certificate in Ethical Use of Technology.” For more information and registration, click here .

Thanksgiving dinner gatherings offer fellowship for foster youth, alums

Those who have experienced foster care firsthand know that the holidays can be a harsh reminder of lost connections. That’s why ACTION Ohio is hosting early Thanksgiving dinners for foster care teens (ages 14+) and alumni (ages 18+). Read more .

Child Protection in the News

Oct. 11 – How The Opioid Epidemic Impacts Foster Care in Ohio – WOSU

Opioid addiction continues to deplete Ohio’s communities and is driving up the number of children entering foster care. It’s been a year since the Ohio Attorney General’s office granted money for 30 Days to Family Ohio to address the issue.

Oct. 11 – Crime and Addiction in Ohio, Part 4: Community Impact (Includes audio) – Public News Service

"They will do the time and we don't have the rehabilitation in the prison, so they're not getting any better," she states. "They get out and they try to get help and it's still pointless because they still have that felony. Also: Literature review: Incarceration hurts communities .

Oct. 9 – Treatment Programs For Mothers With Addiction Scarce (Includes audio) – Ohio Public Radio

Opioid abuse is taking its toll on Ohio families, especially children who often find themselves being passed from one place to another with no stability. And sometimes, those children suffer from the trauma they experience while with their drug addicted parent. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports.

Oct. 8 – Need to help care for grandchildren? Here's some legal tips – Chillicothe Gazette

As opiate addiction has ravaged our communities, children are often left in the lurch, and those trying to help are blocked by red tape. To help people cut through the tape to help their grandchildren, Southeastern Ohio Legal Services staff attorney Sierra Cooper presented an overview of possible plans of action depending on what is wanted or needed during a Thursday night event.

Oct. 6 – Moms credit children services with turning around lives – Marion Star

To a young Marion boy, Marion County Children Services went by a different name: "Maybe Not." For months, Crystal Bonsel wondered why her then-4-year-old son, Mason, would refer to the agency as "Maybe Not."