Weekly Update: January 18, 2022 |
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Patton named Hamilton County JFS director
Hamilton County Commissioners voted Jan. 13 to approve the promotion of Michael Patton, who has worked for Hamilton County Job and Family Services since 1993, to agency director effective immediately. He has held many executive roles at the agency, including leadership positions in child support, children services program support, workforce development and public assistance. His most recent title was Assistant Director for Child Support, Building Services and Fatherhood Initiatives. (See article below for more information.) An earlier version of the Weekly Update listed Director Patton's name incorrectly. We regret the error.
Legislative task force holds second meeting
The Task Force on Streamlining County-Level Information Access met Jan. 11. Chaired by Rep. Jim Hoops, the task force is looking to improve data sharing among the various information systems within county human services. Committee members discussed suggestions regarding single-staff person access to multiple systems, read-only access, information propagation across systems, and more. The goal is to improve efficiency, customer experience, and child and caseworker safety. The task force plans another meeting before the end of the month.
OCWTP meets
The Ohio Child Welfare Training Program State Steering Committee met Jan. 12. The committee noted that the contract deliverable regarding virtual reality headsets has been achieved, reviewed proposed training rules, made plans for the annual trainer conference April 25, and reviewed results of the strategic planning process. The next meeting is Feb. 9.
Workgroup reviews foster caregiver characteristics
The ODJFS Tiered Foster Care Workgroup met Jan. 12 to review changes to caregiver characteristics and plan an aggressive schedule of meeting twice a month through the end of June to address remaining issues, including agency supports and services, level of care, and rate-setting. Next month’s meetings will be Feb. 1 and 16. The goal is to finalize a new structure for foster care and then pilot new tiers, rules, and rates through the summer.
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Join our team!
PCSAO is seeking a program coordinator to assist with the implementation of Ohio START and the advancement of best practices within children services. See the job posting here. Sound like a good fit? Apply here.
Governor encourages counties to join Ohio START
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recorded a video (below), along with the Trumbull County START team, encouraging counties across Ohio to participate in Ohio START. Cohort 5 applications are open until Jan. 21. Counties will be notified of acceptance in late January. Apply here.
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Pre-Clearance: The following rules are open for comments until Feb. 5:
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Rule 5101:2-33-26 - The county child abuse and neglect memorandum of understanding.(DRAFT)
The following rules are open for comments until Feb. 13:
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Rule 5101:2-47-18 - Title IV-E foster care maintenance (FCM) program reimbursability: Reimbursements related to the difficulty of care needs of a child placed in a foster home, relative home, or pre-finalized adoptive home.
The following forms are open for comments until Feb. 5:
Clearance: As of Jan. 14, there are no children services-related rules in clearance.
Filed with JCARR: As of Jan. 14, there are no children services-related rules filed with JCARR.
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Resources and Announcements |
NCSACW offers webinar on needs of adolescents at risk of suicide
The National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) will host a webinar called “Meeting the Moment: How child welfare and substance use disorder treatment professionals can address the needs of adolescents at risk of suicide and mental health concerns” on Jan. 19 at 10 a.m. Participants will learn strategies to help the increasing number of adolescents at risk of suicide and mental health concerns. Register here.
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids® offers Feb. 16 webinar
The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids® (WWK) program is offering a virtual information session Feb. 16 from 9-10:30 a.m. Topics will include the expansion of the WWK program in Ohio, the role of WWK adoption recruiters vs. caseworkers, and common systemic and legal barriers to achieving permanency for youth in foster care. Register here.
February CANS training schedule available
Beginning this year, the Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (CABH COE) is fully responsible for providing statewide professional development activities related to the Ohio Children’s Initiative Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment tool. Professional development includes live training, technical assistance, coaching, office hours, and the development of practice communities. February CANS training dates and registration can be found here. After the CANS training with the CABH COE, attendees must register on the Praed Foundation’s website and complete the certification exam to become certified assessors. The cost of the exam will be waived with a coupon code you will receive from the CABH COE upon completion of the training.
Redbook training series recordings available
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Supreme Court of Ohio have partnered with the National Association for Counsel for Children (NACC) to release the 2021 recording of the Ohio Specific Red Book virtual training series. The series is comprised of the following sessions:
- Session 1: Key Advocacy Moments in an Ohio Child Welfare Case
- Session 2: In Court and Out-of-Court Advocacy and Collaboration Throughout an Ohio Child Welfare Case
- Session 3: Selected Topics in Ohio Child Welfare Law and Practice
- Session 4: Evidentiary Laws, Objections, and Trial Advocacy for Ohio Child Welfare Attorneys
The series is open to Ohio attorneys who represent children/parents, Juvenile/Family Court staff, children services staff, or any community professional interested in learning more about child welfare law. It is funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is offered at no cost. The series is also provided as a strategy to increase high-quality legal representation for children and parents involved in children services court cases. The recorded series has been approved for 6 CLEs. Registration is being managed by NACC and can be accessed here until Aug. 30, 2022.
Ohio CareLine offers 24/7 help for mental health crises
The Ohio CareLine is a toll-free emotional support call service created by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and administered in community settings. Behavioral health professionals staff the CareLine 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They offer confidential support in times of personal or family crisis when individuals may be struggling to cope with challenges in their lives. When callers need additional services, they will receive assistance and connection to local providers. Call 1-800-720-9616 to connect. Find more information here.
Ohio Department of Insurance offers toolkit for understanding benefits
Understanding health insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorders can be complicated or difficult to navigate. The Ohio Department of Insurance has developed a toolkit to help consumers, providers, and advocates understand benefits and coverage for mental health and substance use disorders. Find more information here.
Eastern Ohio Leadership Conference offers annual conference March 30-April 1
The East Central and Southeast Ohio Regional Training Centers will present the 28th Annual Eastern Ohio Leadership Conference, “Back and Better Than Ever,” on March 30 – April 1 at the Carlisle Inn in Sugarcreek. It is open to all PCSA and JFS directors, managers, and supervisors from across Ohio and will focus on current issues and challenges they face today. As always, the conference is free. Details are still being finalized, and the brochure will be made available to RTCs and via the PCSAO Weekly Update within the next several weeks. Contact Darla Zajack with questions.
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Child Protection in the News |
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For the first time in months, eligible families will not receive a child tax credit direct payment. The enhanced child tax credit, included in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan signed into law by President Joe Biden in March, provided eligible parents with up to $3,600 per child over the course of a year.
Scioto County is in the grip of a CPS drug crisis, but the county shouldn’t count on the state bailing us out. “Based on what I’m seeing from the state, I don’t think they’re sending any more money our way.” County Commissioner Bryan Davis told the Scioto County Children Services Board not to expect an infusion of cash from the State of Ohio.
The reimbursement rates for foster parents, who care for our most vulnerable children, are nothing short of abysmal and these parents deserve better.
A nationwide advocacy group called Operation Stop CPS is calling for the return of two Dayton children to their birth parents after being removed from their home by Children Services.
Hamilton County commissioners voted Thursday to appoint the first African American to serve as director of Job and Family Services. Michael Patton has worked in the department for nearly three decades and has been an assistant director for Child Support, Building Services and Fatherhood Initiatives since 2016.
In the United States, about 20,000 teenagers age out of the foster care system annually. Statistics tell us that 25% of these teens will not earn a high school diploma and 40% will end up homeless.
Summit County Children Services Executive Director Julie Barnes is retiring after nearly a decade in the role and more than three decades in the child welfare field. "On May 1, when I retire officially, I will have been in the field of child welfare for 32 years, so it just feels like it's time," said Barnes, whose last working day is April 29. "I'm ready. I want to spend some time with my family."
Another child has died while under Scioto County CPS care, this time an 18-month-old girl. Now the mother of the little girl has been arrested and charged with child endangerment.
In the last year, 14 children in Hamilton County have died. Job and Family Services said eight of those deaths were due to confirmed abuse, while six are still under investigation.
When it was time for Hannah Carrington to tell her story to a news reporter, she began with a sad, straightforward statement. "Well," she said, "practically my entire childhood was filled with neglect and abuse from my parents." Still, Hannah considers herself fortunate.
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Calendar and Job Postings |
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Jan. 19 | Southwest District Meeting
Jan. 20 | Northwest District Meeting
Jan. 21 | East Central District Meeting
Jan. 21 | Conference Committee 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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