Weekly Update: January 10, 2022 |
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Legislative Committee meets
The PCSAO Legislative Committee held its last meeting of 2021 on Dec. 20. The committee heard PCSAO updates, reviewed the status of pending legislation as the first year of the 134th General Assembly came to a close and discussed several emerging issues of interest. Jerry Coleman, Stark County Assistant Deputy Director, Legal Services, will continue to chair the committee. We appreciate Jerry’s strong leadership of the committee and are grateful that he has agreed to continue in this role. The committee next meets on Jan. 24.
Rules Committee holds first meeting of 2022
The PCSAO Rule Review Committee held its first 2022 meeting on Jan. 6. ODJFS presented draft rules and memorandum of understanding template in anticipation of the passage of Am. Sub. HB 4, Regarding child abuse and neglect memorandums of understanding, cross-reporting of child abuse and neglect reports by public children services agencies to law enforcement agencies, and notification of reporter rights. The committee also discussed training and implementation of revised case plan rules. The committee next meets on Feb. 3.
Trustees hold first meeting of new year
The PCSAO Board of Trustees held its first meeting of the year virtually on Jan. 5 and approved the November financial report, updated financial procedures, approved a Sec. 125 plan, and revised personnel policies. The board took action on a legislative item, discussed agenda topics for the March 3-4 membership meeting, reviewed results of a board survey, and received updates on PCSAO’s strategic initiatives and efforts. The board will meet virtually on Feb. 2.
Community Education Committee meets
The PCSAO Community Education Committee met on Jan. 7 and talked about child abuse prevention month messaging, Family First, and potential meeting topics for the year. PCSAO provided Family First and association updates. The next meeting is Feb. 4.
Tiered foster care planning continues
The ODJFS Tiered Foster Care Workgroup met Jan. 4 to discuss caregiver characteristics and project status. The broad-based workgroup is developing new tiers, training, supports and other elements to improve foster care, particularly treatment foster care, and will meet regularly through the first half of the year, at least twice a month. Thanks to our leaders from Lucas, Sandusky, Trumbull and Wyandot counties for their efforts!
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Cohort 5 applications due this week
Ohio START is accepting applications for Cohort 5. PCSAO plans to add more counties in 2022. The application can be found here. Applications are due this Friday Jan. 14, and counties will be notified of acceptance by Jan. 25.
Save the date!
The 2022 Ohio START Summit will be May 11 at the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, OH 43210. We look forward to coming together for another day of inspiration, learning and growth. Mark your calendar and look for more information soon.
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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 forms are open for comments until Feb. 5:
Clearance: The following rules are open for comments until Jan. 10:
Filed with JCARR: The following rule was final-filed on Jan. 4 with an effective date of Feb. 1:
The following rules were original-filed on Jan. 3 with a hearing on Feb. 9:
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Rule 5101:2-5-26 - Procedures for revocation, denial of initial certification or denial of recertification of a foster home certificate.
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Rule 5101:2-7-08 - Alternative care arrangements.
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Resources and Announcements |
Governor’s Children’s Initiative releases handbook
The Governor's Children's Initiative announced that Ohio’s Practice and Policy Academy Team has developed a Healthy Families Handbook that showcases a diverse array of training focused on supporting families impacted by substance use disorder. Professionals supporting families and communities experiencing substance use disorder, including medical professionals, may use this handbook as a guide to training available to support your professional development. Find the handbook here.
ODJFS prepares to launch onboarding training
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODFJS) Office of Families & Children (OFC) worked with Accenture to create an online, on-demand platform and onboarding curriculum for new PCSA caseworkers and supervisors. The onboarding training will not replace the Core curriculum requirement, and counties will not be required to implement it. It will be an available resource to supplement each PCSA’s training process. ODJFS is offering staff whose start date is on or after Nov. 2, 2021, access to this new onboarding opportunity at time of launch. Register by submitting staff names and emails here by Jan. 14.
IWGA offers series of conversations about autism
The Interagency Work Group on Autism (IWGA) is inviting Ohioans to join a series of discussions about autism. Each discussion focuses on one “life domain” from Charting the LifeCourse. The target audience is people with autism, family members/caregivers, community members, educators, health/human service agencies, and policymakers. Sessions include:
- Jan. 21: Safety & Security: Staying safe and secure – emergencies, well-being, guardianship options, legal rights and issues.
- March 11: Social & Spirituality: Building friendships and relationships, leisure activities, personal networks, and faith community.
- May 20: Advocacy & Engagement: Building valued roles, making choices, setting goals, assuming responsibility and driving how one’s own life is lived.
Registration is required All meetings take place via Zoom from 9-10:30 a.m. Register for the January meeting here.
OFCA seeks parent participants for racial disparities survey
The Ohio Family Care Association (OFCA) is conducting a survey to gather insight into parents’ experience with racial disparities in the child welfare system in the state of Ohio. The project is being facilitated by Ohio Gap Closers LLC, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of all children, especially those who come through the child welfare system. They are seeking parent participants in four parent groups throughout the state of Ohio. The parent groups are as follows:
- Foster Parent: Licensed, temporary caregiver for a child who has been removed from the primary home.
- Kinship parent: Informal or formal caregiver temporarily caring for a child who has been removed from the primary home and who had a prior relationship to the child before placement.
- Adoptive Parent: Legal parent of a child not by birth.
- Primary Parent: Permanent parent of a child prior to child being removed and a case opened.
Those who meet the criteria and are willing to participate should complete this brief parent participant survey. Applicants will receive an email inviting them to complete the Racial Disparities Parent Participant Interest Survey. All surveys and communication will be completed via email. No identifying information will be shared from this project.
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Child Protection in the News |
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Despite the ongoing threat of the pandemic, families gathered to celebrate the joys of the season. But many kinship caregivers in Ohio struggled to provide children in their care with basic stability and security - let alone holiday toys and treats.
New data reveals a promising trend in the well-being of Ohio's kids. In 2020, 16.8% of Ohio children lived in poverty, nearly 423,000 children, the lowest percentage reported since 2000.
As director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, I know the critical needs of the 3,100 children currently awaiting adoption in Ohio’s foster system—including approximately 20 in Athens County. As the father of two children adopted through the foster system, I’ve personally experienced the highs and some of the lows of “the system” but know firsthand the joy of being a foster and adoptive parent.
Logan County leaders made an official decision in October to shut down its local juvenile detention facility at 104 S. Madriver St. by the end of the year and look at ways to expand local programs for the area’s troubled youth.
A photograph shows a child with red marks on his arms and shoulder. The marks came from a staff member at a youth behavioral treatment facility who allegedly struck him with a tree branch.
The tragic death of Marcus Fiesel in 2006 was a wake-up call none of us wanted.
The mix of fentanyl with other drugs has been the leading cause of opioid deaths in Cuyahoga County in 2021, according to a report released by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The White House is refusing to give up on the president's top legislative priority: the Build Back Better Act. Without it being passed, the child tax credit is likely going away. Families were eligible to receive up to $3,600 per child over the past few months.
The holidays will be a little brighter for a lot of teens this season. For the second year in a row, every teenager in foster care in the state of Ohio will receive two $25 gift cards, thanks to an outreach spearheaded by one local church.
Youths placed in residential facilities by children services agencies — who struggle with behavioral challenges or past family trauma — often spend the holidays away from their families, and instead with facility staff, therapists and roommates.
Missouri’s social services agency is so short-staffed that child welfare workers are being assigned up to 50 cases at a time, more than double the normal caseload, said Lara Roberts, an organizer for Communications Workers of America Local 6355, a union that represents agency workers.
There has always been a need for foster families locally, but that need was exacerbated during the opioid addiction crisis. It has not fully abated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When opioid addiction began to ravage Suzanne and Jesus Valle's Ohio community more than two decades ago, the husband and wife saw another crisis unfolding.
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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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