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A quick rundown of Ohio child protection news this week |
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Weekly Update for September 14, 2020 |
State updates
- Gov. Mike DeWine announced that Ohio children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals but are now learning remotely five days a week will receive additional food assistance through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program made possible by the Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Parents do not need to apply to receive these benefits. The benefits will be automatically loaded onto existing Ohio Direction cards or a pre-loaded card will be sent in the mail.
- In response to rumors surrounding Ohio's latest non-congregate sheltering order, Gov. DeWine stressed that there are no orders in Ohio to create "FEMA camps" to quarantine citizens against their will. The order creates a funding mechanism to allow for federal reimbursement for communities that choose to offer alternate locations for people to safely quarantine outside of their homes. If a citizen chooses to recover in a quarantine housing location, others in the household can remain at home and unexposed.
- With flu season approaching, Gov. DeWine reminded Ohioans of the importance of getting a flu shot this year.
- On World Suicide Prevention Day, the governor reminded citizens that resources are available for anyone who needs support due to stress, anxiety, sadness, or anger caused by the COVID-19 pandemic or other concerns. Ohioans can reach the Ohio Careline by calling 1-800-720-9616. Residents can also be connected to a trained crisis counselor via the Crisis Text Line by texting the keyword “4hope” to 741 741.
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In an effort to promote mental health, RecoveryOhio has partnered with the Ohio Department of Insurance to launch a series of ads to help Ohioans who have questions about their health insurance coverage when seeking treatment. The PSAs will begin airing next week in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. Ohioans with questions about mental health and substance use disorder benefits can contact the Ohio Department of Insurance at 1-800-686-1526.
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Lt. Gov. Jon Husted reminded Ohioans that the deadline to complete the 2020 Census is quickly approaching. The Census, which only takes about 10 minutes to complete, impacts the state for the next 10 years, including how federal, state and local funding is distributed and determines congressional representation. Ohioans can complete the Census by either going to 2020Census.gov or calling 1-844-330-2020.
ODM unveils cross-system managed care program for kids with complex needs
Maureen Corcoran, director of the Ohio Department of Medicaid, presented on a future managed care program for kids with complex behavioral and multi-system needs called OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence) on a Sept. 10 webinar. OhioRISE will serve as a specialty managed care program that will implement intensive care coordination using the High-Fidelity Wraparound Model. OhioRISE will expand access to services and the continuum of care for children and their families including updating the Intensive Home-Based Treatment (IHBT) benefit, implementing new Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS), and developing Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTF). Using a specified assessment tool, children would be deemed eligible for the program; then, through care coordination, there would be a determination of services within and outside of the OhioRISE program. OhioRISE would have a shared governance model through the Ohio Family and Children First Cabinet Council and would support ongoing initiatives focused on children with complex needs such as the Multi-System Youth (MSY) Action Plan, the Ohio Children Services Transformation Advisory Council’s recommendations, Family First Prevention Services Act, and promoting evidence-based and evidence-informed care. PCSAO applauds the Ohio Department of Medicaid, Governor’s Office of Children’s Initiatives, and Ohio Family and Children First cabinet agencies for designing such a program that will benefit children in custody of PCSAs, children at risk of custody relinquishment or involvement with county PCSAs, and multi-system youth. The model would transform Ohio’s continuum of care for children. Learn more about this program.
Ohio Reach Coalition holds inaugural meeting
A state budget appropriation to the Ohio Department of Higher Education has allowed Ohio Reach to continue supporting post-secondary education for former foster youth. New Ohio Reach coordinator Tina Jacob convened the first meeting of the new Ohio Reach Coalition Sept. 11. The coalition is managed by the Ohio Children's Alliance. It includes a network of 16 liaisons at 12 institutions of higher education that continue to support former foster youth during the pandemic. The website has been relaunched, and emergency funds are available to assist young people in crisis.
OCWTP welcomes new project manager
At its monthly meeting Sept. 9, the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program (OCWTP) State Steering Committee welcomed Laura Graf, who will oversee the OCWTP for the department under Bureau Chief Angela Hughes. In addition to updates, committee members discussed its series on racial equity, capacity for producers for virtual learning, and the purpose of ongoing contingency meetings.
CORRECTION: A summary of the PCSAO board meeting in last week’s Update suggested that ODM staff had briefed the board on a new behavioral health program for children; in fact, PCSAO staff briefed the board.
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Partners in Progress is this week!
PCSAO is pleased to offer an exciting schedule of workshops for our "Partners in Progress" Virtual Conference Sept. 16-17. The two-day conference is structured with a welcome and keynote each morning (no credit) followed by a 15-minute break and then a series of concurrent workshops throughout each day. Attendees will receive a link to the website where they will access all of their content for the day. Download our schedule at a glance if you need a quick guide to remember the lineup of workshops.
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Pre-Clearance: The following rule is in pre-clearance to prepare for five-year review. It is open for comments until Sept. 15.
Clearance: The following rule is under five-year review with no recommended changes. The deadline for comments is Sept. 15.
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Rule 5101:2-33-07 - Delegation of Responsibilities and Contracting for the Performance of Specified Agency Duties.
Filed with JCARR: The following rule was final-filed on Sept. 8:
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Rule 5101:2-33-02 - Public Children services agency requirement to participate in child protection oversight and evaluation.
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Announcements and Resources
Systems of Care series in September
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is offering a Linking Systems of Care for Ohio’s Youth Virtual Research Series throughout September. Each week will showcase two of the symposium presentations, highlighting innovative work across Ohio that bridges the gap between research and practice. Sessions remaining include:
- Sept. 15, 1-2 p.m.: The Needs Portal: A Resource Referral and Management Information System
- Sept. 22, 1-2 p.m.: Promoting Racial Equity in Child Welfare CQI and Evaluation
- Sept. 24, 1-2 p.m.: Public-Private Collaboration to Transform Child Welfare Systems for LGBTQ+ Youth
- Sept. 29, 1-2 p.m.: Focusing on Services, Gaps and Needs for Ohio’s Traumatized Youth and Crime Victims
CDC federal eviction moratorium webinar Sept. 15
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a sweeping moratorium on most evictions that took effect on Friday. The CDC took this step out of concern that mass evictions and homelessness will accelerate the spread of COVID-19. Unlike the many local eviction moratoriums in Ohio that have now expired, the CDC’s order requires tenants to take action in order to be protected. The Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio is hosting a webinar on Sept. 15 to help attendees understand the moratorium and what tenants need to do in order to be protected. Register here.
Panel discussion on building birth and foster parent relationships Sept. 15
Join the Birth and Foster Parent Partnership (BFPP) and Dr. Jerry Milner, Associate Commissioner, Children’s Bureau, on Sept. 15 for a discussion about building birth and foster parent relationships to promote reunification. Participants will learn about two new resources created by the BFPP. Register here.
NCWWI and Children’s Bureau to offer worker recognition event Sept. 15
The National Child Welfare Workforce Institute and the Children’s Bureau will offer a one-hour virtual recognition event Sept. 15 at 3 p.m. designed to get people inspired and refocused on "the heart work." Hear from child welfare leaders and service recipients expressing their appreciation for how children services systems have adjusted their practice to serve families and children under unprecedented and challenging conditions.
Ready, Set, Soar Ohio relaunches Sept. 23
On Sept. 23 from 10-11 a.m the Ready, Set, Soar Ohio campaign will host a virtual relaunch. Coalition members have worked through the pandemic to realign the campaign’s priorities in light of the challenges families with infants and toddlers continue to face. Check the website for more information. Register here.
SACWIS interface with child support enforcement agency Sept. 25
On Sept. 25, the SACWIS finance team will host a webinar from 9-11 a.m. to discuss a new interface with child support enforcement agencies. The interface will automate the child support referral process and send custody, eligibility, demographic, foster care maintenance payment details and documented parents, including their demographics and employment, to child support. This webinar is intended for workers who are determining eligibility and for fiscal workers, caseworkers, or legal staff who deal with paternity. Register here.
Webinar on multi-system youth with autism Sept. 25
The Ohio Interagency Work Group on Autism is hosting a webinar on "Multi-System Youth with Autism" on Sept. 25. The webinar will feature a panel of state officials to discuss challenges faced by Ohio’s families and the ongoing efforts to make change. Register here.
National Adoption Month webinar Sept. 30
The Child Welfare Information Gateway and AdoptUSKids are holding a National Adoption Month webinar on “Engage Youth: Listen and Learn” Sept. 30 from 2-3:30 p.m. Register here.
Buckeye Neighbors Helping Neighbors
ODJFS has produced a fact sheet to educate people who are not children services professionals about the extraordinary stresses families are experiencing, the challenges of mandated reporting when children are learning remotely, and the many positive steps that neighbors, employers, faith-based partners and others can take to better support the children and families in their communities. Download the flyer here.
Short-term certificate program launched for foster youth
The Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) has awarded 19 grants to Ohio institutions intended to provide support to students in foster care who plan to pursue short-term credentials and certificates. The Short-Term Certificate Foster Youth Grant Program provides funds across 16 community colleges and three universities earmarked to support foster care youth in programs that take less than a year to complete. To see a full list of program guidelines and participating institutions, click here.
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Child Protection in the News
Thousands of Black and Hispanic Americans could go uncounted in the nation’s census this year because of the coronavirus pandemic and other disruptions that discouraged households in poor and heavily minority neighborhoods from filling out their forms.
Allen County Children Services and the Lima Public Library will host “Win With Kin,” a drive-thru family resource fair, from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 26, in the Children Services parking lot, 123 W. Spring St., Lima. A dozen organizations and service providers including Allen County Family and Children First Council, WIC, Allen County Public Health, SAFY, Crossroads Crisis Center and the Allen County Council on Aging are expected to participate and provide information for kinship caregivers.
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Profiles of Hope and Courage
Katherine: 'It's so important to be doing preventive work'
Katherine is a caseworker in the Alternative Response Unit with Athens County Children Services. Katherine enjoys working with families through the process and getting to do different things than she would in a traditional response role.
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.
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Sept. 16-17 | PCSAO "Partners in Progress" Annual Conference
Sept. 21 | PCSAO Legislative Committee Meeting
Note: Meetings will be held via web meeting for the foreseeable future.
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Public Children Services Association of Ohio | 614-224-5802 | www.pcsao.org
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