Weekly Update: May 23, 2022 |
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Southwest District meets
The PCSAO Southwest District met May 18 and received updates from Trustees, PCSAO and OCWTP. The district discussed various applications for the VR headsets, OhioRISE Care Management Entities and CANS, and shared county updates. The district meets next on Aug. 17.
Metro directors prepare for OhioRISE launch
Metro agency directors and senior leaders met May 19 to discuss the July 1 launch of OhioRISE, including Day 1 enrollees, out-of-state placements, CANS assessments, and QRTP issues. The next meeting is June 16.
Conference committee meets
The Conference Planning Committee met May 20 under the leadership of Anne Potts, who is newly promoted to Events and Operations Coordinator. The committee welcomed new members, reviewed the timeline and updates, and considered workshop submissions. The next meeting will be June 17. See below for conference details and keynote speakers.
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PCSAO welcomes Madeline Beal as MSW intern
Madeline Beal is a MSW student at Ohio State and will work with Ohio START for the next three semesters. Madeline received her BSW from Ohio State in 2019 and began her social work career at the Buckeye Ranch immediately following graduation. She began as a caseworker/child protection specialist with Permanent Family Solutions Network (PFSN) managing ongoing cases and an independent living caseload. She then moved to the foster care department, gained her adoption assessor certification, and worked as a licensing specialist. Additionally, Madeline worked with the leadership team to tackle foster family recruitment and retention. Recently, Madeline transitioned to her current role as a foster care case manager. She works with foster families to ensure the children in their care have the necessary supports for successful futures. Please join us in welcoming Madeline to the team!
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PCSAO seeks Communications and Policy Coordinator
PCSAO is seeking a full-time Communications and Policy Coordinator. PCSAO is a friendly, collegial team that values diversity. Review the job description for duties and qualifications; submit a cover letter and résumé via this online portal. Applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
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Pre-Clearance: As of May 20, there are no rules or forms in pre-clearance.
Clearance: As of May 20, there are no children services-related rules in clearance.
Filed with JCARR: The following rule was refiled on May 13 and a hearing was held on April 19:
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5122-29-14 - Mobile response and stabilization service
The following rules were final-filed on May 16 with an effective date of May 26:
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5101:9-6-36 - Emergency services assistance allocations (ESAA) for family preservation
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5101:9-6-36.1 - Emergency services assistance allocations (ESAA) for family reunification
The following rules were original-filed on May 18 with a hearing scheduled for June 23:
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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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5101:2-47-23.1 - Title IV-E agency contracting and contract monitoring
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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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Meet Our Conference Keynotes |
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Elliott Orrin Hinkle (they/them) is a skilled facilitator, trainer, and advisor focused on elevating lived expertise in systems that serve children, youth, and families. They are a graduate of Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Women, Gender, Sexuality, and Queer Studies. Elliott has lived experience in the Wyoming Foster Care System as a young person but calls Oregon home. Elliott is the principal and founder of the consulting firm Unicorn Solutions LLC, which seeks to create positive futures for youth and young adults impacted by systems such as Child Welfare and Youth Mental Health, particularly at the intersections of LGBTQ youth within these systems. Elliot will deliver the keynote address Monday, Sept. 19.
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LaShaun K. Carter currently serves as the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer for Mecklenburg County (Charlotte, NC), where he oversees the Office of Equity and Inclusion and leads through community partnerships, policy analysis and development, training, and data collection. Previously, Carter served as the Assistant Executive Director/Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for Franklin County Children Services and led the development of a first-of-its-kind department designed to collect, curate, and analyze data to inform service delivery and strategic alignment. Ultimately, the goal was to elevate the role data plays in making a difference in the community. A career educator, LaShaun has also led efforts around the critical academic needs of youth in central Ohio. His educational focus revolved around the early warning indicators that predict dropout risk and social-emotional learning data. Notably, his recent work in convening the Columbus community around social justice strategies has resulted in his collaborating with partners seeking to implement similar programs across the country.
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Resources and Opportunities |
Kinnect plans launch of Youth Navigator Program
Kinnect is launching Ohio’s new Youth Navigator Program this fall for people up to age 21 who are currently in foster care and or are transitioning out of it. Like OhioKAN it will provide 1:1 navigation services to youth, providing information and referral, resource linkage, and direct services. The program is currently recruiting people to serve on the Young Adult Advisory Council. This is a great opportunity for youth to use their voice and knowledge to inform the framework of the Youth Navigator Program. Council members will be compensated for their time at a stipend rate of $20 per hour and can receive peer support for meetings. Youth who are interested in serving can contact Marissa Tuma.
Kinnect receives grant for project to reduce congregate care
Kinnect has received a $50,000 grant from the KeyBank Foundation to support efforts to reduce the use of congregate care for youth. With the grant, Kinnect will identify one county child welfare agency and one private provider to partner with to reduce the number of youth placed in congregate care settings or reduce their length of stay. Kinnect will provide an assessment of the county’s placement and practice policies and develop a customized set of strategies to implement with a congregate care provider to improve targeted outcomes for youth and families. Learn more.
OFCA announces conference agenda
The Ohio Family Care Association has released the agenda for the 2022 annual conference, "This Is Us: The Role We All Play in the Future of Ohio's Families," June 17-18 at the Embassy Suites Columbus Airport. The conference is offered in collaboration with Ohio Gap Closers and will feature results of research conducted by the two groups over the last year along with a number of other workshops. Register here.
Annual Ohio Family Engagement Leadership Summit registration opens
The Ohio Family Engagement Leadership Summit is a free day of professional learning and connecting virtually with those dedicated to advancing effective family-school-community partnerships across Ohio and beyond. Hosted by the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center at The Ohio State University, this summit brings research to action by providing schools, families, and community partners with the tools they need to work together to launch all children to success. Register here.
Ohio Reach Scholarship application now open
The Ohio Reach scholarship is a $1,000 renewable award that will be given to three students who are currently enrolled in higher education in Ohio and spent at least one day in foster care after the age of 13. The deadline to apply is July 31. See here for the application.
CANS training availability update
As of May 3, the Center of Excellence (COE) updated the number of seats available for CANS and Care Coordination trainings being offered through the end of June. This training meets the live training requirements to prepare a participant for CANS certification. See here for training dates and availability. The COE is currently developing the training schedule for July 2022-January 2023.
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Child Protection in the News |
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For tens of thousands of children in the U.S., their ‘forever family’ doesn’t last long. USA TODAY investigates: Why do adoptions fail?
Governor Mike DeWine Thursday announced the selection of two individuals to lead the Youth and Family Ombudsmen Office. Jenny R. Stotts will serve as the first-ever Youth Ombudsman, while Jennifer A. Sheriff will serve as the first-ever Family Ombudsman. The office, a recommendation included in the Children's Services Transformation Advisory Council's Final Report, will be housed in the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and is set to open May 31, 2022.
An official who most recently served as Lucas County's child protection ombudsman has been named the state's first family ombudsman, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday.
The decision of how Ohio will spend hundreds of millions of dollars – and maybe more – in opioid settlement money will be up to a new non-profit, whose board met for the first time on Monday.
Child welfare authorities last year removed 229 kids from their homes in Montgomery County due to alleged abuse, which was a large increase from prior years and the second highest tally in the state, according to state data.
The agency that is tasked with removing children from harm acknowledges that 10 of the children died as a result of gun violence.
For Snowville native, Terry Beiitzel, the story of how she ended up becoming a foster mother for 44 years never involved a single moment of clarity or unexpected twist of fate.
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Calendar and Job Postings |
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June 1 | Board of Trustees Meeting
June 3 | Community Education 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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