A quick rundown of Ohio child protection news this week
Weekly Update for May 26, 2020
Association Updates

Coronavirus updates
Gov. Mike DeWine and his administration continued his Responsible Restart Ohio efforts.
  • Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced that banquet halls may reopen to crowds up to 300 people using restaurant guidelines and other social distancing measures.
  • Youth sports and youth conditioning may begin May 26.
  • DeWine released an "Ohioans Protecting Ohioans Urgent Health Advisory" to replace the Stay Safe Ohio order The health order moves from requiring people to stay at home to advising it. The order does not change the limit on mass gatherings, which remains at 10 people.
  • The new health advisory also lifts overall travel restrictions and the requirement to quarantine if someone travels to or returns to Ohio. Unnecessary travel within or outside of Ohio is not encouraged.
  • The governor is assembling an enforcement team at the Ohio Department of Public Safety to ensure that bars and restaurants are operating safely under the Responsible Restart Ohio plan.
  • The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) will begin distributing at least 2 million nonmedical-grade face coverings to Ohio employers who are covered by BWC.
PCSAO continues to follow the COVID-19 situation closely and interact with state officials and community partners to ensure that county agencies are well represented and receive clear information. For the latest information from the state, visit the coronavirus.ohio.gov page.

Work continues on children services transformation
The Governor’s Children Services Transformation Advisory Council met virtually May 20 to review progress to date and to chart a course for moving forward amid the pandemic. The final report, originally due this month, will be finalized later in the summer. Council members reviewed initial recommendations and scheduled meetings for the next several months. Robin Reese (Director, Lucas County Children Services) and Nicole Caldwell (Director, Guernsey County Children Services) represent children services agencies on the council.

June Executive Membership meeting goes virtual
Registration has opened for PCSAO’s summer membership meeting June 25. The one-day meeting will be held via Zoom and will feature updates from administration officials and practice experts on a range of issues during two 90-minute sessions.

Webinar examines children services funding streams
Three county fiscal experts offered a stellar webinar May 19 for PCSAO members. John Fisher (Director, Licking County JFS), Danny Brenneman (Director, Coshocton County JFS), and Dan Shook (CFO, Franklin County Children Services) shared their perspectives on maximizing the unprecedented new state allocations in the budget. With more than 180 participants, the webinar provided tips, rules, precautions, and explanations for the complex web of child welfare financing available to county agencies. Thank you to our expert presenters!
PCSAO Conference 2020

Save the date!
While we can't hold our annual meeting in-person this year, PCSAO is committed to offering meaningful continuing education to our members. We are planning to move our conference to a virtual format for two days, Sept. 16-17. Mark your calendar and look for more details this summer!

Nominate youth, families, staff for annual awards
Each year, PCSAO recognizes and celebrates the achievements of foster youth, families, and agency staff. The 2020 PCSAO award winners will be announced during the 2020 annual conference online Sept. 16-17. Nominations must be submitted by June 30. Each submission must include the nomination form and attachments. You may also include supporting materials.

To nominate a youth for Rising Up and Moving On , or a family for Family of the Year , click here.
To nominate a children services professional for Child Protection Worker, Child Protection Support Staff or Child Protection Supervisor of the Year , click here .
Rules Updates

Pre-Clearance: The following rules are open for comments until May 30:
The following rule is open for comments until June 2:
Clearance: As of May 22, there are no children services-related rule in clearance.

Filed with JCARR: The following rule was revise-filed on May 18 with a hearing date of June 16:
Announcements and Resources

Capacity Building Center for States hosts foster care webinar
The Capacity Building Center for States is offering a webinar on "Collaborating with Courts to Promote Foster Care as a Support to Families, Not a Substitute for Parents" May 28 from 1-2:30 p.m. The webinar will include live interviews with Children's Bureau Associate Commissioner Jerry Milner, Judge Trent Favre, and other special guests who will speak about reunification successes based on child welfare and court collaboration in Hancock County, Mississippi. Webinar participants will:
  • Hear family and court perspectives in digital stories and videos that show how this partnership created systemic change and used foster care to support family well-being.
  • Examine strategies for implementing cross-system collaboration with the legal community and apply them to your jurisdiction.
  • Ask questions and learn how to enhance your connections with families through legal procedures.

HUD and ACF host discussion on foster youth initiatives
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF) are conducting an “Ohio Roundtable Discussion on Foster Youth Initiatives” conversation May 28 from 12:30-2 p.m. The conversation will be led by HUD with participants from the Ohio child welfare and public housing authorities, HUD, ACF, nonprofits focusing on foster youth, and foster youth. Register here .

Capacity Building Center for States offers planning resources for agencies
The Capacity Building Center for States has collected online resources designed to help child welfare agencies plan for the future and meet the needs of a remote workplace. They include material on strategic planning , virtual meetings in child welfare and change and implementation in practice.
Child Protection in the News

The Bridges program provides educational, employment and housing opportunities for foster kids approaching their removal, or emancipation, from the system. Since its inception in 2017, Bridges has helped more than 1,250 young Ohioans.

The Ohio House of Representatives recently passed a bill supporters say helps remove financial barriers for families wanting to adopt. According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, adoption can cost anywhere from $10,000-$50,000. 
Profiles of Hope and Courage: Children Services in the Era of COVID-19
Marcus: "Helping people is my passion"
Marcus is a caseworker with Mahoning County Children Services. While he has only been in his current job for ten months, he is not new to working with youth and families. He has served as a court investigator with Mahoning County and a mental health specialist with Youngstown City Schools. In his free time, he coaches youth track and volleyball.

“I love helping people,” said Marcus. “This is my passion.”


PCSAO is collecting stories from the front lines of child protection to raise awareness of the challenges our children services professionals, and the families they serve, are facing during this pandemic. Despite all the changes in their daily lives, they remain hopeful and courageous.
Upcoming Events

June 3 | Board of Trustees Meeting
June 4 | Rules Review Committee Meeting
June 5 | Community Education Committee Meeting
June 12 | Conference Planning Committee Meeting

Note: Meetings will be held via web meeting or teleconference for the foreseeable future.

Employment Opportunities

Looking for a career in child protection? Or a new position to challenge yourself? Check out the latest job openings in child protection .

Also, check out recent graduates of the University Partnership Program who are trained and ready to be hired by public agencies.
Public Children Services Association of Ohio | 614-224-5802 | www.pcsao.org
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