PCSAO Weekly Update: October 17, 2022

Weekly Update: October 17, 2022

Association News

Human Resources Association meets to discuss workforce grant

The Job & Family Services Human Resources Association met Oct. 11 for its bimonthly meeting to hear an overview of the workforce recruitment and retention grant from PCSAO. County HR directors discussed their plans for funding and their hopes for sustained support due to the ongoing workforce crisis. The next meeting will be Dec. 13.

OCWTP plans evaluation, communication initiatives

The Ohio Child Welfare Training Program State Steering Committee met Oct. 12. The committee discussed needs around the new Learning Management System, which goes live Nov. 30; evaluating various facets of the training program; communicating more effectively through improved web and social media presence; and updating preservice training given reduced training hour requirements. The next meeting will be Nov. 9.

Race Equity Community of Practice identifies next steps

Counties participating in a community of practice focusing on racial equity met Oct. 13 to identify priorities for the remaining meetings this year and begin to develop plans for 2023. Agency leaders discussed the need to include additional counties, identify intersectional issues around poverty (including Appalachian culture) and diverse SOGIE (sexual orientation, gender identity and expression), explore the external process of engaging community stakeholders, and blend principles around safety culture. The next meeting will be Nov. 10.

Ohio START

Ohio START DEI Workgroup to meet

This week Ohio START will continue the conversation about diversity, equity, and inclusion during the DEI Workgroup meeting Oct. 20. The workgroup examines opportunities for Ohio START teams to reach diverse families in their communities and ensure equitable access to substance use disorder treatment for all families.

Rules Update

Clearance: The following rules are open for comment until Oct. 17:

Rule 5101:4-2-03 - Food assistance: Assistance Group Definitions.
Rule 5101:4-4-19 - Food assistance: Countable Income.

Filed with JCARR: The following rules were final-filed on Oct. 11 with an effective date of Nov. 1:

Rule 5101:2-46-01 - Administration of the Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP).
Rule 5101:2-46-02 - Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) eligibility criteria.
Rule 5101:2-46-03 - Initial determination of the Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) monthly payment amount.
Rule 5101:2-46-04 - Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) agreement and duration: provision for financial support and services.
Rule 5101:2-46-05 - Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) monthly payments.
Rule 5101:2-46-06 - Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) ongoing verification.
Rule 5101:2-46-07 - Amendment of the Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) agreement.
Rule 5101:2-46-08 - Suspension of Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) payment.
Rule 5101:2-46-09 - Termination of a Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) agreement.
Rule 5101:2-46-10 - Case record requirements for Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP).
Rule 5101:2-46-11 - Title XIX Medicaid coverage for Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) eligible children.
Rule 5101:2-46-12 - Reimbursement of Title IV-E nonrecurring kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) expenses.
Rule 5101:2-46-13 - Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) intercounty and interstate case management responsibility.
Rule 5101:2-46-14 - Requirements for Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) past age eighteen.
Rule 5101:2-55-01 - Administration of kinship guardianship assistance program connections to twenty-one (KGAP C21).
Rule 5101:2-55-02 - Eligibility for kinship guardianship assistance program connections to twenty-one (KGAP C21).
Rule 5101:2-55-03 - Payments for kinship guardianship assistance program connections to twenty-one (KGAP C21).
Rule 5101:2-56-01 - Administration of the state kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP).
Rule 5101:2-56-02 - Eligibility for state kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP).
Rule 5101:2-56-03 - Public children services agency (PCSA) eligibility determination of the state kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP).
Rule 5101:2-56-04 - Requirements for state kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) past age eighteen.
Rule 5101:2-56-05 - Reimbursement of nonrecurring state kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) expenses
Rule 5101:2-56-06 - Termination of the state kinship guardianship assistance program (KGAP) payments.
Rule 5101:2-56-07 - State kinship guardianship assistance program record (KGAP) requirements.

Resources and Clips

Resources and Opportunities

Join foster youth, alums in Thanksgiving Together

Those who have experienced foster care firsthand know that the holidays can be a painful reminder of lost connections. This is why, ever since 2007, Thanksgiving has been a time for Ohio’s current and former foster youth to gather in November for Thanksgiving Together. Thanksgiving Together welcomes current foster care youth age 14+ and former foster care youth ages 18+. Youth and alumni are welcome to bring one or more guests. Thanksgivings will be held in Xenia and Columbus. Registration is free, but required. Register here.

Southwest Ohio Thanksgiving Dinner: Nov. 12, 12:30-3 p.m. at Emerge Banquet Center, 2690 West Enon Road, Xenia 45385 (associated with the Emerge Emancipation Program).
Central Ohio Thanksgiving Dinner: Nov. 20, 1-4 p.m., Reynoldsburg High School’s Summit Campus, 8579 Summit Road, Reynoldsburg 43068.

Pandemic Health Emergency extended

As expected, HHS has extended the Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration for another 90 days. HHS signaled previously that it would provide a 60-day notice before it expires, so stakeholders will look for an announcement in mid-November to know if it will be extended again in January.

Attend Kinnect's upcoming trainings

Kinnect is expanding training offerings throughout the state, offering four open registration trainings with CEUs for $50 per person through the end of 2023. Additionally, if you are interested in bringing a session to your agency, contact Tracy Cordaro. Register and find more information here. Upcoming virtual sessions:

Leaning into Engagement of Fathers, Oct. 24, 1-4 p.m.
Identifying System Barriers to Family Engagement and Strategies to Overcoming Them, Nov. 21, 1-4 p.m.
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Expression SOGIE 101, Nov. 30, 1-4 p.m.
Unpacking the ‘No’: Navigating Family Resistance, Dec. 19, 1-4 p.m.

Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR) training offered

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) is hosting a one-day in-person workshop designed to train behavioral health providers on how to recognize and assess suicide risk, plan for client safety, and manage the ongoing care of at-risk clients. "Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk" (AMSR) is scheduled for Dec. 8, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Corporate College East in Warrensville Heights. The training is free, but there is a $30 fee for lunch and beverages. The registration deadline is Dec. 1. Registration and more detailed training information is available here. Participants who fully complete this training will also be eligible for 6.5 hours of continuing education credits from APA and NASW. Per AMSR standards, partial credit will not be awarded. Register here. For questions or additional information on the workshop, contact Austin Lucas, 614-429-1528 or austin.lucas@ohiospf.org.

OhioRISE/PCSA open office hours

OhioRISE open office hours for children services staff have changed. Virtual open office hours occur weekly on Fridays at 11 a.m. Here is the link to join the Teams meeting.

Child Protection in the News

Oct. 8 - Guest column: Finding a way to step up in a despairing world - Herald-Star

What is so drastically wrong with our society that children - 5-year-olds - are taking their own lives? Where do these ideas even come from with children so young? While the pandemic has contributed to the mental health crisis with our children, the fact is that researchers noticed an increase in these suicides as early as 2012. Pre-pandemic. But they can't say exactly why. But as despairing as the above headlines are, there is hope: Family-based intervention lowers long term suicide risk in youth (National Institute on Mental Health, Sept. 29.) Also: Family Recovery Center

Oct. 9 - Ongoing substance use disorder crisis demands state, federal policy responses: Brian Lane and Daniel Lettenberger-Klein - Cleveland Plain Dealer

The substance use disorder crisis in our region, and across the country, is not going away. In fact, it’s getting worse. The state of Ohio is ground zero for opioid overdose deaths, leading the nation with an overdose death rate of 38.3 per 100,000, compared to 21.6 per 100,000 nationally. And it’s not just about opioids anymore. The crisis has worsened and evolved. We are now in the fourth wave of the epidemic characterized by concurrent stimulant and synthetic opioid abuse.

Oct. 13 - Babes in Arms: Rising Number of Ohio Kids Killed by Domestic Violence - Public News Service

A new report shows there were 112 domestic violence-related deaths in Ohio in a recent 12-month period, including 22 youth, the highest number in the past seven years. Officials noted every domestic violence death is a tragedy, but advocates said data this year on youth fatalities is truly shocking. The Ohio Domestic Violence Network report on domestic violence-related fatalities reveals the highest number of youth fatalities since the count began seven years ago. Also: 2022 Ohio Domestic Violence Fatalities: July 21, 2021-July 30, 2022

Calendar and Job Postings