Weekly Update: June 13, 2022 |
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Walther moves to Clermont
Congratulations to Warren County Children Services Director and PCSAO Trustee Susan Walther, who this week takes the helm as director of Clermont County Job & Family Services. Clermont Director Tim Dick has taken a position at the county administration level and will be missed. Warren’s Deputy Director Shawna Jones will serve as interim there.
Placement crisis draws interest from youth-serving coalition
PCSAO was invited to present its February placement crisis report to the Ohio Interagency Council for Youth June 7. Council members appreciated the information and engaged in helpful discussion about the challenges. They also heard from OSU College of Social Work’s Rebecca Phillips about PCSAO’s workforce report and how the two issues are connected.
Opiate conference highly successful
The Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities hosted Ohio‘s 2022 Opiate and Other Drugs Conference: Helping People Recover June 6-7 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Columbus with approximately 1,000 attendees, 42 breakout sessions and excellent keynote speakers. PCSAO would like to sincerely thank OACBHA for providing 13 scholarships for conference registration to Ohio START PCSA staff. These scholarships allowed START caseworkers, family peer mentors and supervisors, who would otherwise not have been able to attend, to participate in this excellent conference. By all accounts, the conference was a huge success and we are already looking forward to next year’s event!
OCWTP looks to new learning management system
At is monthly state steering committee meeting June 8, the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program continued preparations for the launch of a new LMS to replace E-Track later this year. Also, four new institutions are planning to join the University Partnership Program. New learning competency definitions were reviewed. The next meeting will be Aug. 10.
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Pre-Clearance: As of June 10, there are no children services-related rules in pre-clearance.
Clearance: As of June 10, there are no children services-related rules in clearance.
Filed with JCARR: The following rules were original-filed on June 3 with a hearing on July 7:
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Rule 5101:2-33-26 - The county child abuse and neglect memorandum of understanding.
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Rule 5101:2-36-12 - PCSA requirement for cross-referring reports of child abuse and/or neglect.
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About the 2022 conference
PCSAO is holding its 37th annual conference Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 19-21 at the Hilton Easton. Our theme, “As Our World Turns,” recognizes that the children services field is in the midst of many changes and it can feel like we are spinning so fast, we can’t slow down. At the same time, the theme employs lighthearted humor around soap operas.
Become a sponsor!
The PCSAO Annual Conference is an opportunity to network with more than 500 children services professionals across Ohio. See our sponsorship flyer for more information regarding sponsorship levels and benefits. See a preview of the application here. Ready to become a sponsor? Complete this form. Sponsorship closes Sept. 1.
Award nominations
Each year, PCSAO recognizes and celebrates the achievements of our youth and families who have been served by Ohio’s public children services agencies, as well as the achievements of our child protection professionals who have served them. We are now accepting award nominations from public children services agencies for the Leaders of Tomorrow, Family of the Year, and Child Protection Worker, Support Staff and Supervisor of the Year awards. Nominations are due by July 8. The 2022 PCSAO award winners will be announced during the annual conference. Local agencies will notify winners prior to the event, and help make their arrangements. Read the descriptions and find nomination links on our awards page.
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Resources and Opportunities |
Youth Navigator Network seeks young adults to serve on council
OhioKAN is launching Youth Navigator Network this fall for youth and young adults who are currently in foster care and/or are transitioning out of it. Like OhioKAN, the new Youth Navigator Program will provide 1:1 navigation services to youth, including information, referral, and resource linkage services. They are currently seeking youth and young adults up to age 21 to serve on the Young Adult Advisory Council. See here for the nomination form.
Ohio Children’s Trust Fund launches Triple P website
The Ohio Triple P website is now live for parents and caregivers to access free Triple P online courses and other resources. Click here to visit the website. If you or your organization currently offers Triple P programs and you would like additional providers trained, or if your organization plans to offer Triple P in the future, you can contact OCTF@OCTF.ohio.gov to get on the interest list to receive free Triple P facilitator training.
Legal bus tour sponsored by OhioKAN
OhioKAN is sponsoring a bus tour around the state offering legal services and supports to kinship and post-adoptive families. The Ohio Justice Bus is a mobile legal aid office and technology hotspot that allows legal and pro bono attorneys to travel and provide legal services to Ohioans at no cost to clients. The JusticeMobile provides legal education and resources to people in areas that may not traditionally have access to proactive legal resources. To learn more and find upcoming tour dates, click here.
Minority Professional Leadership Development Program application opens
Minority Professional Leadership Development Program (MPLD), a program of AdoptUSKids, is now accepting applications through Sept. 26 for the next cohort. This 12-month fellowship is designed for emerging minority leaders working in child welfare. It includes hands-on experience, exposure to national experts, and mentorship opportunities. The fellowship will start in January 2023. It is a great opportunity and is totally free. Learn more about the fellowship and the application. If you have questions, feel free to contact mpld@adoptuskids.org.
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Child Protection in the News |
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The foster father who helped his wife kill their 3-year-old foster son, Marcus Fiesel, will have his first parole hearing next month. As David Carroll's parole hearing approaches, Holly Schlaack, a local child advocate, talked to WLWT about how far the foster care system has come.
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Director Matt Damschroder today announced that 52 counties are receiving a total of $5 million in performance incentives for their children services efforts. It is part of a new program that rewards counties for meeting certain performance metrics.
National Foster Care Month in May celebrates Ohioans who care for children in times of crisis, and as the calendar turns, the focus shifts to an important objective. June is National Reunification Month, which highlights bringing families back together. Heather Mason, a foster parent in Lancaster, explained foster children need safety and stability.
A federal judge will decide if a lawsuit filed by the parents of a 4-month-old child who died in foster care has the merits to proceed, after Lucas County Children Services argued the complaint ought to be dismissed.
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Calendar and Job Postings |
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June 17 | Conference Committee Meeting
June 23-24 | Executive Membership Meeting
Note: Some meetings are being held via web and others in-person.
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Looking for a career in child protection? Or a new position to challenge yourself?
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