Weekly Update: June 1, 2021
Association News
Metro counties discuss vaccination, quarantines, return to office
PCSAO’s metro counties met for their biweekly check-in May 27. They discussed workforce challenges including worker shortages, wages and benefits, and summer vacations and coverage. The metros will begin meeting monthly, and the next meeting will be July 13.

Flick speaks on state budget investments in multi-system youth
Melissa Flick of South Central Ohio Job and Family Services represented PCSAO on a panel May 28 focused on multi-system youth. The Whole Child Budget Facebook Live event was hosted by the Ohio Children’s Budget Coalition. It featured Flick along with parent and activist Mark Butler discussing several funding streams proposed in the biennial state budget to serve youth with co-occurring mental illness, developmental disabilities, and/or juvenile justice involvement so that they do not have to come into children services custody. Watch the discussion.

PCSAO seeks administrative assistant
Join our team! As we prepare to bid Brian Hearns farewell and wish him luck in his next adventure, PCSAO is hiring our next administrative assistant, ideally starting the week of June 28. We are seeking a full-time employee, but a part-time arrangement may be negotiated. Duties include general office support functions. Qualities: Organized, strong IT skills, good communicator. Review the job description. High school diploma required; AA/BA preferred. Seeking applicants from all backgrounds to ensure diverse talents on our team. E-mail cover letter and résumé to Scott Britton.
Ohio START
Come work with us!
Ohio START is seeking a regional manager to assist with management and implementation of our program, focused on the development and oversight of technical assistance in a specified region of the state. Read more and apply here.

START seeks technical assistance with onboarding
Ohio START is seeking to partner with a vendor to provide technical assistance to PCSAs, behavioral health partners and family peer mentors regarding recruiting, hiring, onboarding and successfully integrating family peer mentors into Ohio START. The request for proposals (RFP) can be found here. Contact Fawn Gadel, Director of Ohio START, with any questions. Proposals are due June 21.
PCSAO Annual Conference
Presenter applications open
PCSAO is planning its 36th annual conference, "Facing the Future Together: Our World, Our Commitment," for Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the DoubleTree Worthington. You are invited to submit the application below if you would like to be a presenter at our conference. Presenters at PCSAO's conference are volunteers; there is no compensation. If you would like to preview the application to see the pieces of information required to complete it, download an example here. You will need to download this template and upload it with your application. When you are ready, submit your application here.

Become conference sponsor, exhibitor
The PCSAO annual conference is an opportunity to reach more than 500 children services professionals across the state. The audience includes child protection caseworkers, supervisors, administrators, attorneys, directors, students and advocates. As a sponsor, you will benefit from face-to-face networking, organization logo included in conference material, on-site sponsorship recognition and publicity on PCSAO’s website. Exhibitor tables may be limited in number depending on health measures in effect at the time of the conference. Become a sponsor here.

Nominate professionals, youth, families for our annual awards
Many youth served by Ohio's child protection system have done wonderful things with their lives. Many have broken generational cycles of abuse, gone on to jobs or college, become foster parents or contributed to their communities in meaningful ways. Do you know young people who fit that description? Nominate them for our Rising Up and Moving On Award.

PCSAO wants to recognize families who stand out within the children services system, including
birth families who have stayed together or been reunified, as well as kinship, foster, or adoptive families who opened their homes. Do you know families whose accomplishments and hard work deserve recognition? Nominate them for Family of the Year.

Each year, PCSAO also recognizes the achievement of professionals who serve Ohio’s public children services agencies. Do you know a child protection caseworker, support staff, or supervisor whose accomplishments and hard work deserve recognition? Nominate a staff member here.

All nominations must be submitted by July 2.

If you have questions, contact Cassandra Freeland.

Thanks to our World Champion Sponsor
State and Federal Updates
Gov. Mike DeWine announcements this week:
  • Gov. DeWine called on managed care companies to continue efforts to increase vaccine uptake among Ohio Medicaid beneficiaries. The vaccine uptake among Medicaid beneficiaries is 22 percent as compared to a 45 percent uptake among Ohioans overall.
  • Gov. DeWine challenged managed care plans to implement new efforts earlier this month, and since then, new efforts have included partnering with pharmacies, providing staff to help run vaccination events, providing transportation to and from the vaccination locations and working with providers to help them create vaccine opportunities outside of normal business hours and locations.
  • ODJFS Director Matt Damschroder sent a message about vaccination asking agency partners that have events planned to consider adding a vaccination clinic to them. If you have an event that would be a good candidate for a vaccination site, contact Lillian.Clossman@jfs.ohio.gov, and ODJFS will assist with coordination.
  • Gov. DeWine clarified information about isolation and quarantine in regard to Ohio's school students. Beginning on June 2 and in accordance with CDC guidance, vaccinated children do not have to quarantine or be tested if they are exposed to COVID-19.
  • Unvaccinated children who are exposed to COVID-19 should quarantine if the exposure took place outside of a classroom setting where masks were required to be worn.
  • Unvaccinated children should also isolate if they test positive for the coronavirus.
  • Local health departments should determine if quarantine or isolation should occur.
  • Individual school districts will decide whether or not to continue masking and social distancing in school settings.
Rules Update
Pre-Clearance: As of May 28, there are no children services-related rules in Pre-Clearance.

Clearance: The following rules are open for comments until June 4:
  • Rule 5101:2-5-02 - Application for an Agency to Perform Specific Functions: Amended Applications.
  • Rule 5101:2-5-03 - Certification of an Agency to Perform Specific Functions.
  • Rule 5101:2-5-04 - Recertification of an Agency to Perform Specific Functions.
  • Rule 5101:2-5-13 - Required Agency Policies, Plans, and Procedures.
  • Rule 5101:9-6-08.6 - Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Independent Living (IL) Allocation.
  • Rule 5101:2-42-12 - Assessment to Determine Child’s Placement into a Qualified Residential Treatment Program.
 
The following rules are open for comments until June 10:
 
Filed with JCARR: The following rules were final-filed on May 18 with an effective date of June 1:
  • Rule 5101:2-5-33 - Foster caregiver preplacement and continuing training.
  • Rule 5101:2-5-38 - Payment of foster caregiver training stipends; reimbursement of training allowances to recommending agencies.

The following rule was original-filed on May 19 with a hearing date of June 23:
Resources and Clips
Resources
New resources on LGBTQ+ youth, suicide
In partnership with the Trevor Project, the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation has produced a new infographic that explores the foster care system in the United States and shines a light on the unique challenges facing LGBTQ youth, who are at higher odds of being in the foster care system and face an increased risk of suicide. While the challenges are substantial, there are some clear solutions and strategies to support these children and youth, including improving access to LGBTQ-affirming health services and schools. Read more.

Respite program available statewide
Earlier this year, the Child and Family Health Collaborative of Ohio, in partnership with CareSource, launched a statewide Respite Care Program that offers therapeutic relief to families and other caregivers of children enrolled in CareSource’s Medicaid plan. The collaborative’s network of respite care practitioners, respite homes, and respite programs are available now. This vital service helps caregivers stay healthy and ready to continue caring for their loved ones. Over 50 children have already been served since the program started in February 2021! To qualify for the respite program, CareSource members must be under the age of 21, a resident of Ohio, have a qualifying mental health diagnosis and not be in PCSA custody. The program is free of charge to families. To refer children and families into the program, visit the collaborative's website. Questions can be directed to Lorie Stadtmiller

Pathways to Community Plans of Safe Care event
On June 7 at 10 a.m., the Governor’s Children’s Initiative and the Ohio Departments of Job and Family Services, Health, Mental Health and Addiction Services, Developmental Disabilities, and Medicaid are hosting “Pathways to Community Plans of Safe Care.” During the event, you will learn how agencies are building infrastructure that can efficiently support children and families. Join Teams Live Event Here.
Child Protection in the News
A new bill in honor of Takoda Collins passed Ohio’s House of Representatives with bipartisan support.
 
Every May, a northeast Ohio court with a specialized docket does something unique to celebrate National Drug Court Month. This year, it’s the participants who are lending their voices.
 
Everyone who works in foster care agrees that it’s ideal to place children in kinship care, meaning with relatives, friends or neighbors who are familiar to them.
 
Identifying and addressing youth homelessness takes a trained and thoughtful eye. Advocates, including Lighthouse, see a troubling trend aggravated by the pandemic: an avalanche of need for youth homelessness services.
Calendar and Job Postings
June 2 | Board of Trustees Meeting
June 3 | Rules Review Committee Meeting
June 4 | Community Education Committee Meeting

Note: Meetings will be held via web meeting until further notice.

Looking for a career in child protection? Or a new position to challenge yourself?