Weekly Update: March 7, 2022
Association News
PCSAO holds Executive Membership Meeting
At PCSAO's Executive Membership meeting March 3-4, topics included the children services workforce crisis, Ohio’s kinship efforts, partnerships between children services and the courts, and the state budget outlook for the next biennium. ODJFS Director Matt Damschroder, Assistant Director Mindy Kowalksi and Deputy Director Jeff Van Deusen offered ODJFS updates, and PCSAO staff offered association updates. The next meeting is June 23-24.

Board of Trustees meets
PCSAO's board met June 23 following the first day of the membership meeting. The board approved February meeting minutes, accepted January financial reports, discussed dues committee proposals, and debriefed on the first day of the membership meeting. Other topics included workforce and case jurisdiction. The next meeting is April 6.

Resource home recruitment project convenes advisory committee
The Ohio Children's Alliance grant for resource home recruitment (see story below) has formed an advisory committee that includes PCSAO. Patti-Jo Burtnett (Lorain CSB) and Sarah Taylor (Portage JFS) were asked by project manager Bridget Graber to share their expertise with the group and help plan the campaign, intended to drive traffic to the It Takes 100% Heart website. Marketing and on-the-ground support will be coordinated through 12 regional hubs, with the goal of dramatically increasing the number of foster (as well as kin and adoptive) homes, particularly those willing to serve older youth who might otherwise be placed in residential treatment. Prospective families will remain engaged through efforts led by the hubs and licensed by public and private agencies or, if needed, by free regional assessors engaged through a similar grant awarded to Adopt America Network. The advisory board will continue meeting to plan the campaign.
Rules Update
Pre-Clearance: The following rules are open for comments until March 17:
 
The following Forms are open for comments until March 16:
 
Clearance: As of March 4, there are no children services-related rules in clearance.
 
Filed with JCARR: The following rule was final-filed on March 1 with an effective date of March 11:
Resources and Clips
Resources and Opportunities
Office of Child Support offers GDS training March 29
The ODJFS Office of Child Support will offer a training session on General Data Screens (GDS) access for program partners. The SETS for Our Partners training is in response to discussions about data sharing in the Streamlining Access to Data Task Force meetings. More than 20 counties may not currently be taking advantage of GDS access for their children services workers. GDS provides non-child support employees (non-IV-D) access to a secure subset of child support data and limits disclosure of case information. Examples of non-child-support employees include Family Assistance and Families and Children workers. This access does not include Federal Tax Information, Confidential, or Family Violence (FVI) case information. The GDS provides the data elements necessary for case management needs including eligibility determinations, location of an individual who may have parental rights, and potential placement options. Users will have the ability to perform searches based on a participant’s SSN or Case Number including:
  • Parent information including demographic and address information
  • Child information including demographic, paternity, medical, and support order status
  • Support order obligation and payment information including a payment history report
  • Employer information
  • Child support caseworker contact information assigned to the case 

The SETS for Our Partners training is designed to provide workers with training on how to request access to and how to use the General Data Screens. Find the link here:
Additional information can be found in the quarterly training calendar available here.

OCA announces grant from ODJFS
The Ohio Children’s Alliance announced that it was awarded a grant from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to increase adoptive and resource (kinship and foster) family recruitment. Through this partnership with ODJFS, the Ohio Children’s Alliance commits to expanding Ohio’s adoptive and resource home availability. In collaboration with local agencies, the Ohio Children’s Alliance will develop regional marketing campaigns aimed at increasing resource homes by driving attention to the ODJFS It Takes Heart Ohio campaign. Find more information here. To learn more about It Takes Heart Ohio, visit fosterandadopt.jfs.ohio.gov. 

Eastern Ohio Leadership Conference March 30-April 1
The 28th Annual Eastern Ohio Leadership Conference, “Back and Better Than Ever,” will be held at the Carlisle Inn in Sugarcreek March 30-April 1. Find the conference brochure here (refresh your browser if the link will not open). Register no later than March 21. There is no registration fee, nor are participants required to attend all three days. Contact ECORTC staff with questions.

Child Abuse Prevention Month website goes live
The National Child Abuse Prevention Month (NCAPM) website is live, including a resource guide to help families and communities develop plans for putting protective factors into practice in their daily lives. Visit the website here.
Reports and Information
Ohio domestic violence survey reveals bias in law enforcement, social services
About two-thirds of domestic violence survivors were satisfied with their experiences with law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and social services, according to a survey conducted by the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. However, when survivors reported problems with how systems responded, significant indicators of bias emerged. Read the press release and fact sheet here.
View a presentation here. 

Final report released by Children's Behavioral Health Prevention Network
The Children's Behavioral Health Prevention Network Group was created in late 2019 by HB 12. Members were tasked with coordinating and planning a comprehensive learning network that will support young children in their social, emotional, and behavioral development and reduce behavioral health disparities. The group released its final report Feb. 28. Read it here.
Child Protection in the News
March 3 - COAD now assisting foster families - Portsmouth Daily Times
Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development (COAD) has begun offering services to foster families.

The Takoda Collins-inspired bill to reform Ohio's child welfare program has been signed into law by the Governor. Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 4 into law Monday. The bill was drafted by Rep. Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) following News Center 7′s I-Team reports involving the murder of Takoda Collins at the hands of his father Al McLean.

The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear a challenge to the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, which makes it hard to remove Native American children from their parents, their tribes and their heritage. For background, read Who Can Adopt a Native American Child? A Texas Couple vs. 573 Tribes

The Animal Legal Defense Fund ranked Ohio 24th in the U.S. in animal protection laws in a new report, up from 30th the prior year, after the General Assembly passed a law recognizing the link between animal abuse and domestic violence.

Recent headlines suggest that Cleveland's young people are out of control, terrorizing local communities -- suggesting that a "tough on crime" approach is the only viable response. Yes, we should be concerned when people are harmed. But we also need to recognize that young people are in crisis and more likely themselves to be victims of violence.

An agency tasked with helping children in difficult and sometimes life-threatening situations is being called out for not doing enough to address child safety issues.
Calendar and Job Postings
March 10 | Rules Review Committee Meeting
March 11 | Community Education Committee Meeting
March 16 | Southwest District Meeting
March 18 | Conference Committee Meeting
March 21 | Legislative Committee Meeting

Note: Some meetings are being held via web and others in-person.
View the full calendar for details.
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