Weekly Update: November 15, 2021 |
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Tiered foster care workgroup examines child characteristics
ODJFS hosted two small-group meetings of the Tiered Foster Care Workgroup last week to review recommended tiers for child characteristics in multiple domains. The project, which has engaged a diverse group of stakeholders, will expand and enhance how foster care operates, better meeting the needs of children, caregivers, and agencies. Future meetings will examine training and support for resource families as well as placement tools. An external consultant will set more consistent rates, with stakeholder input. PCSA representatives include Melanie Allen (Sandusky), Deanna Prezioso (Trumbull), Megan Rowe (Wyandot), and Donna Seed (Lucas). The group will continue to meet this year and during the first half of next year.
OCWTP reviews core waiver rules
The state steering committee of the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program met Nov. 10 to discuss training rules for caseworkers and supervisors along with methods for integrating a system to achieve skill mastery. The committee spent the afternoon in strategic planning. The next meeting is Dec. 8.
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Join the Ohio START team!
Ohio START and PCSAO are seeking a part-time regional technical assistance consultant to assist with the implementation and sustainability of the Ohio START model in Northeastern Ohio. The consultant will be responsible for providing technical assistance including adhering to model fidelity and enhancing collaboration among community partners. Read more and apply here.
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Pre-Clearance: The following rules are open for comments until Nov. 28:
Clearance: The following rules are open for comments until Nov. 15:
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Rule 5101:2-47-21 - Title IV-E Foster Care Maintenance (FCM) reimbursement for a child placed into a Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP).
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Rule 5101:2-25-01 - Uniform Definitions of Title XX Services and Other Definitions of Terms Used in Chapter 5101:2-25 of the Administrative Code.
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Rule 5101:2-25-02 - Title XX Administration.
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Rule 5101:2-25-03 - Title XX County Profile.
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Rule 5101:2-25-07 - Title XX Eligibility and Reimbursement.
The following rules are open for comments until Nov. 18:
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Rule 5101:2-33-29 - Verification of United States citizenship and immigration status for all children in foster care.
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Rule 5101:2-47-03.1 - Qualified and Disqualified Non-Citizen Eligibility for Foster Care Maintenance and Independent Living Services.
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Rule 5101:2-47-17 - Foster care maintenance program reimbursability: Reimbursements for FCM and child care for public foster homes, relative homes, and prefinalized adoptive homes.
Filed with JCARR: The following rule was original-filed on Nov. 10 with a hearing on Dec. 16:
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Rule 5101:2-38-07 - PCPA case plan for children in custody or under court-ordered protective supervision.
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Resources and Announcements |
HPIO offers webinar on Ohio’s addiction response Nov. 16
The Health Policy Institute of Ohio will present findings from its final policy brief in the Taking Action to Strengthen Ohio's Addiction Response series on Nov. 16 at 1:30 p.m. The project has cataloged and assessed state-level policy changes and identified strengths, gaps and opportunities for improvement on a range of substance use topics over two years. The 30-minute webinar will provide:
- An update on where Ohio stands on addiction-related trends;
- A summary of Ohio's addiction policy strengths, gaps, challenges and opportunities for improvement;
- A prioritized set of policy recommendations;
- Insights on addiction, race, and geography; and
- A new framework to describe the factors that contribute to drug overdose deaths.
NCWII, Annie E. Casey Foundation offer forum on staff turnover Nov. 17
On Nov. 17 at 4 p.m., the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) and the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI) will offer a forum on peer-to-peer exchange on staffing challenges both prior to and during the pandemic and the ways in which jurisdictions are addressing them. Following brief polling and sharing to better understand workforce trends across the country, leaders and workforce experts from AECF, NCWWI, Jefferson County, CO, and Connecticut will engage in a panel conversation/Q&A highlighting effective recruitment and retention strategies.
ODJFS releases guidance, schedules Nov. 30 webinar on bills of rights
ODFJS released a Policy Practice and Guidance Document on the Foster Youth Bill of Rights and Resource Family Bill of Rights. It will hold a webinar on the rules developed to implement them on Nov. 30 from 1-2:30 p.m. Register for the webinar here. The join link for the webinar is here. Find ODJFS publications here.
Ohio Academy of Pediatrics launches Store It Safe campaign
At its annual meeting this fall, the Ohio Academy of Pediatrics (Ohio AAP) launched the Store It Safe campaign. Store It Safe began more than five years ago as a unique partnership of healthcare providers, firearm safety experts, and community organizations established to keep children safe from unintentional firearm deaths and teens safe from suicide by firearms. Ohio AAP has a variety of resources available to help prevent youth suicide including literature and a social media kit. Find more information here.
CANS assessor training available throughout December
The Ohio Department of Medicaid and the Ohio Children’s Initiative have announced December Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessor training as well as boosters. CANS is a support tool in the clinical decision-making process to determine eligibility into OhioRISE, level of care, and service planning. The Ohio CANS assessment tool has been developed for broad application across multiple systems, including youth involved in child protection, developmental disability, youth justice, and mental health and addiction services. Read the CANS FAQ or find more information on the OhioRISE website. Find enrollment information for training here.
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Child Protection in the News |
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November is National Adoption Month, and a Marion couple, Brian and Tamy Glenn shared their story of adoption and foster care with the Marion County Commissioners Tuesday in honor of Marion County's participation in celebrating Adoption Month.
Only two-thirds of eligible Ohio families received their expanded child tax credit payments between July and September, according to analysis by the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis.
The Ohio Supreme Court has adopted amendments that will add "Child Welfare Law" to the fields of law subject to specialization designation in Ohio. The amendments define Child Welfare Law as the practice of law representing children, parents, or the government in all child protection proceedings. Proceedings include emergencies, temporary custody, adjudication, disposition, foster care, permanency planning, termination, guardianship and adoption.
FreshWater
Parents and caregivers of Northeast Ohio: Monday, Nov. 15 is the deadline to make sure you receive advance payments from the expanded child tax credit program. Most parents and caregivers are eligible for thousands of dollars in assistance, with decreasing levels of money available for those making above $150,000 per year for married couples, above $112,500 per year as a head of household, or above $75,000 per year for a single parent.
A pilot project for a northeast Ohio court is showing how a community can support and stabilize families through the struggles of child custody issues – and six new pilot projects are following the lead.
Nearly three years ago, DeJionette "DJ" Norton went from parenting zero children to four children in the span of a week when she and her husband took in her four half-siblings. DJ, who hopes to formally adopt the children this year, knew she needed help—especially with her youngest, Symphony.
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Calendar and Job Postings |
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Nov. 15 | Legislative Committee Meeting
Dec. 2-3 | 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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