Weekly Update: August 8, 2022 |
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Conference registration opens to all
Registration for the 2022 PCSAO Annual Conference, "As Our World Turns," is open. Read about the conference agenda, keynote speakers, awards, sponsors, and more on our conference webpage. Register here.
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County transitions
John Folk will be leaving Hardin County JFS, and Jodi Tudor will be the new director. Welcome, Jodi!
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Board of Trustees meets
The PCSAO Board of Trustees met Aug. 3 and approved May and June financial reports, IRS tax form 990 for 2021, and the establishment of a new Finance Committee. Trustees discussed the ODJFS-PCSA workforce grant and the ODJFS-PCSA workforce workgroup as well as the proposed mandated reporter portal; they also received updates related to OhioRISE and PRTF (in and out of state), Kinship Support Intervention program in the Title IV-E clearinghouse, Senate Committee on Addiction and Community Revitalization, Streamlining Access to Information Taskforce, Ohio START, the 2022 Annual Conference, and Tiered Foster Care. The Board of Trustees will meet virtually next on Sept. 7.
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Community Education Committee meets
The Community Education Committee met Aug. 5, with guest speakers including ODJFS (Office of Families and Children as well as Workforce Development) describing the workforce media campaign in development and Patti-Jo Burtnett of Lorain County Children Services reviewing crisis communications. The latter presentation was recorded and will be available to members. Other topics included Kiwanis Comfort Bags and foster care recruitment. The next meeting will be Oct. 7.
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Ohio START consortium meets
The first of two quarterly consortium meetings was held last week. The next opportunity for Ohio START teams to participate in the consortium is on Aug. 10, 9-10:30 a.m. The consortium highlighted the REI work conducted by Ohio START teams over the past year. Our evaluation partners at The Ohio State University presented data relevant to REI initiatives. Additional Ohio START counties interested in joining the workgroup should contact Madeline (intern@pcsao.org). Additionally, we were pleased to have Caretivity join the consortium to present information about the technology currently being used in Athens County to streamline communication among child protection, families, and community partners. More information is available at Caretivity: The Communication App for Social Services Teams.
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Pre-Clearance: On July 13, ODJFS announced discontinuation of Ohio’s Families and Children Rule Review website due to suspension of operations by Family and Youth Law (FYLaw) Center at Capital University Law School. Effective Aug. 1, the Rule Review website will no longer be used for pre-clearance review of rules; however, all other rule review processes already in place will remain.
Clearance: As of Aug. 5, the following rules are open for comment until Aug. 16:
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Rule 5101:9-6-08.6 - Temporary assistance to needy families (TANF) independent living (IL) allocation.
As of Aug. 5, the following rules are open for comment until Aug. 18:
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Rule 5101:2-50-01 entitled “Bridges definitions” provides definitions for key terms used in the Bridges rules. This rule is being amended to update definitions for consistency and clarity.
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Rule 5101:2-50-02 entitled “Requirements for bridges eligibility” outlines eligibility requirements and application process for Bridges. This rule is being amended to align with Ohio Revised Code requirements and identify forms used in the application process.
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Rule 5101:2-50-03 entitled “Bridges termination and reentry” outlines the reasons and process for terminating a participant from Bridges. This rule is being amended for clarity
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Rule 5101:2-51-01 - "Administration of Adoption Assistance Connections to Age Twenty-One (AAC)" provides guidelines for the administration of the AAC program. Language was added or revised including title changes of JFS AAC forms, definition of adopted young adult, case record retention, agreement form, and minor grammatical changes.
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Rule 5101:2-51-02 - "Eligibility for Adoption Assistance Connections to Age Twenty-One (AAC)" outlines the eligibility requirements for AAC that the adoptive parent(s) must assure they continue to provide parental responsibility for the adopted young adult, the adopted young adult also assures ongoing parental support, and the adopted young adult meets one of the five eligibility criteria. Language was added or revised including title changes of JFS AAC forms, eligibility requirements, termination notice mailing formats, and minor grammatical changes.
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Rule 5101:2-51-03 - "Payments for Adoption Assistance Connections to Age Twenty-One (AAC)" outlines the payment process for the AAC program. Minor grammatical revisions were made to this rule
Filed with JCARR: The following rules were original-filed on July 28 with a hearing scheduled for Sept. 1:
The following rules were original-filed on Aug. 4 with a hearing scheduled for Sept. 7:
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Rule 5101:2-46-01 - Administration of the Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP).
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Rule 5101:2-46-02 - Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) eligibility criteria.
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Rule 5101:2-46-03 - Initial determination of the Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) monthly payment amount.
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Rule 5101:2-46-04 - Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) agreement and duration: provision for financial support and services.
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Rule 5101:2-46-05 - Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) monthly payments.
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Rule 5101:2-46-06 - Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) ongoing verification.
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Rule 5101:2-46-07 - Amendment of the Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) agreement.
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Rule 5101:2-46-08 - Suspension of Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) payment.
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Rule 5101:2-46-09 - Termination of a Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) agreement.
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Rule 5101:2-46-10 - Case record requirements for Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP).
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Rule 5101:2-46-11 - Title XIX Medicaid coverage for Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) eligible children.
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Rule 5101:2-46-12 - Title XIX Medicaid coverage for Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) eligible children.
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Rule 5101:2-46-13 - Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) intercounty and interstate case management responsibility.
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Rule 5101:2-46-14 - Requirements for Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) past age eighteen.
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Rule 5101:2-55-01 - Administration of kinship guardianship assistance program connections to twenty-one (KGAP C21).
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Rule 5101:2-55-02 - Eligibility for kinship guardianship assistance program connections to twenty-one (KGAP C21).
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Rule 5101:2-55-03- Payments for kinship guardianship assistance program connections to twenty-one (KGAP C21).
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Rule 5101:2-56-01 - Administration of the state kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP).
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Rule 5101:2-56-02 - Eligibility for state kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP).
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Rule 5101:2-56-03 - Public children services agency (PCSA) eligibility determination of the state kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP).
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Rule 5101:2-56-04 - Requirements for state kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) past age eighteen.
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Rule 5101:2-56-05 - Reimbursement of nonrecurring state kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) expenses.
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Rule 5101:2-56-06 - Termination of the state kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) payments.
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Rule 5101:2-56-07 - State kinship guardianship assistance program record (KGAP) requirements.
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Registration now open to everyone!
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. Thank you to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for serving as our first-ever conference partner. Read about the conference agenda, keynote speakers, awards, sponsors, and more on our conference webpage.
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.
Call for gift baskets
PCSAO is collecting gift baskets from agencies to be raffled off during the conference. These gift baskets will serve to engage attendees and show appreciation for all involved. Basket themes should be family friendly (no alcohol) and appeal to a wide audience. For planning purposes, notify Anne Potts at anne@pcsao.org by Sept. 2 if your agency is interested in providing a gift basket. Baskets can be brought directly to the conference and dropped off at the help desk.
Thanks to our World Champion Sponsor
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Thanks to ODJFS for being our Conference Partner!
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Resources and Opportunities |
OCWTP issues annual report
The Ohio Child Welfare Training Program has released its annual report for State Fiscal Year 2021. Entitled “OCWTP Goes Virtual!” the eight-page report details the successful transition to online learning already in progress but hastened by the pandemic. Key data include finances, University Partnership Program, and regional training statistics, along with updates on virtual reality headsets and race/equity work. Read the annual report here.
Nonprofit, public service federal loan forgiveness expands qualifiers
For a limited time, people employed in nonprofits and public service may receive credit for past periods of repayment on federal loans (e.g., student loans) that would not otherwise qualify under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on a borrower’s federal Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments (10 years) for loans in which the borrower began repaying on or after Oct. 1, 2007, under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. More information can be found here.
OhioRISE PCSA office hours scheduled
The Ohio Department of Medicaid launched OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence) on July 1. OhioRISE is Ohio’s first-ever highly specialized program to help youth with complex behavioral health and multi-system needs who are served by Medicaid. All PCSAs are invited to attend special office hours available each Friday from 10-11 a.m. through Aug. 26 to get OhioRISE questions answered and problem-solve any issues. To join these office hours, click here. For more information about the launch of OhioRISE, click here.
YMCA, ODJFS to provide free memberships to foster, kinship families
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services announced that it has partnered with the Ohio Alliance of YMCAs Foundation (Ohio YMCA) to provide free memberships for certified foster homes and approved kinship caregivers who meet certain eligibility criteria. Bridges participants and their children are also eligible. More information can be found here.
Children services hubs offer regional virtual webinars
ODJFS established regional children services hubs last year as part of Children Services Transformation. The goal of the hubs is to begin building more community resources to help partners leverage their daily work, rather than continuing to stretch those that currently exist. PCSA staff are invited to attend a Virtual Connection to meet the hub specialist(s) from the 12 Service Delivery Areas and learn about current supports available. Click here for more details.
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Ohio Children's Alliance conference registration opens
The Ohio Children's Alliance "Paving the Way" conference is for child and family providers, with key state updates, including OhioRISE and ODM, and experts addressing family preservation, behavioral health and community resources, and more. The conference will take place at the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Oct. 11-12. Click here for registration and more details.
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Child Protection in the News |
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NewPath Chief Operating Officer John Parran says the ILS program has been quite successful. The organization says 85% of residents find stable housing coming out of the program, and 75% are employed when they leave. Those outcomes, aided by wraparound services ILS boasts, are rare in a foster care system. It usually ends abruptly at age 18, leaving some young people without a lot of support. But Parran says NewPath faces a challenge in finding a new location. He chalks that up to the sky-high cost of real estate. Cincinnati regularly tops real estate industry surveys when it comes to the recent pace of rent increases. Nonprofit leaders like Strategies to End Homelessness Executive Director Kevin Finn say the high cost of housing has become a big factor for housing organizations in recent years.
Pitts Promise for Foster Youth is a new non-profit organization with its sights set on providing scholarships to Scioto County youth in the foster care system. While she saw that some scholarships were available to students in foster care, Pitts says that strict criteria rendered herself and other students like her ineligible for the funds. Pitts hopes that with less rigorous criteria for the Pitts Promise scholarship fund, that students in foster care will be able to utilize the opportunity more easily.
Lucas County Children Services sponsors a Safety Fair to promote the protection of children at home, in schools, and in the community. The fair will take place on August 27 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Lucas County Conference and Learning Center located on 711 Adams Street.
The YMCA is partnering with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to offer free memberships for certified foster homes and approved kinship caregivers. The free one-year memberships will apply to all 162 YMCAs throughout Ohio. Those who meet certain eligibility criteria will qualify, Bridges participants and their children are also eligible.
Keeping social workers on the job who have to remove children from their parents' homes is difficult - because the work itself is so difficult. To try to keep folks working with Butler County Children's Services, it has been given a large state grant. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has made $15 million available to help local children services agencies retain and recruit frontline workers. Butler County's share is $406,000. The grants are being awarded through the Public Children Services Association of Ohio.
The Miami County Board of Developmental Disabilities, also known as Riverside, is exploring options for a residential facility for children who have autism, to help provide care closer to their homes and communities.
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Calendar and Job Postings |
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Aug. 17 | Southwest District Meeting
Aug. 19 | Conference Committee Meeting
Sept. 1 | Rules Review Committee Meeting
Sept. 7 | Board of Trustees 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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