Association Updates
Conference registration: "Champions for Children and Families"
Registration for the annual conference scheduled Sept. 25-27 is open! Check out the
conference registration brochure
for the list of workshops, make your selections, and
register today
. One- and two-day rates are available in addition to the three-day registration fee. Hotel reservations must be made separately.
Gift baskets are a great opportunity to support the conference in a fun and creative way. This is a chance to highlight unique local offerings like desserts, specialty drinks and more. Gift baskets can be brought to the conference location on Sept. 25. This is one of the major highlights of the conference. We thank you for your contributions and participation!
To learn more about the various sponsorship and exhibitor packages and to register,
click here
. If you have any questions or would like more information about these opportunities to support the child welfare community,
contact Nitina Francis
via email or phone at 614-224-5802. Opportunities for sponsorships and exhibit tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis., so register early, but no later than Sept. 1.
Ohio START seeks program manager, PCSAs to join Cohort 3
Ohio START has reopened the posting for a full-time program manager who will focus on program development, oversight and technical assistance.
Learn more about joining PCSAO's team in this exciting role
. Also, the application for PCSAs to join Ohio START’s third cohort is open.
Apply here
. The application will close on Aug. 23 and PCSAs will be notified of acceptance by Sept. 5. For any questions, please reach out to
Fawn Gadel
. Current Ohio START counties need not complete this process.
FFPSA Leadership Committee makes additional recommendations
The ODJFS Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Leadership Committee met Aug. 15 and received updates on federal guidance and new services being reviewed by the FFPSA clearinghouse; PCSAO’s tiered treatment foster care workgroup; OhioKAN (Kinship and Adoption Navigator) program; model licensing standards; communication; FFPSA Executive Committee approving the QRTP recommendations from last month’s meeting; and the prevention services workgroup's progress identifying evidence-based parenting, mental health and substance use disorder services. The Leadership Committee reviewed and approved recommendations from the QRTP agency readiness and treatment model workgroups. Approved recommendations included expectations for clinical and nursing staff and providing training and technical assistance plans for QRTP readiness. The committee also discussed draft QRTP recommendations about defining family-based aftercare support and clarifying expectations on providing aftercare post placement with a QRTP. The Leadership Committee will meet next on Sept. 17.
Anti-human trafficking updates
On Aug. 14, PCSAO and grant partners had the opportunity to train staff at Gracehaven about capacity-building activities for anti-trafficking organizations. On Aug. 15-16, PCSAO and grant partners piloted a new training to over 70 child-serving professionals about how to utilize the Ohio Department of Youth Services Human Trafficking Screening Tool. If your agency would like to schedule a training on human trafficking, contact
Bhumika@pcsao.org
.
Recently, the Center for Victim Research hosted a webinar about "Housing Child Trafficking Victims: A Look at the National Landscape"; this webinar can be viewed on
YouTube
. The University of Toledo’s International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference will be Sept. 19-20; learn more
here
.
OCWTP reviews five-year state plan
At its monthly meeting Aug. 14, the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program State Steering Committee learned about Ohio's five-year (2020-2024)
Child and Family Services Plan
, reviewed state training coordinator contract deliverables for the one-year extension and planned its fall meetings. The steering committee meets next on Sept. 11.
PRTs have new state coordinator
The Permanency Roundtables Advisory Council welcomed the new PRT state coordinator, Kinnect, at its Aug. 16 quarterly meeting and reviewed plans for managing model fidelity, rebranding, and inviting additional counties to adopt the model. The group thanked tri-chair Karen McGormley (now of the Office of Children Services Transformation) for her leadership over the years as Tara Shook (new section chief for substitute care at ODJFS) steps into that role. Stephanie Beleal will lead a team at Kinnect that will include a new full-time PRT statewide coach. The advisory council meets next on Nov. 15.
