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A quick rundown of Ohio child protection news this week |
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Weekly Update for September 21, 2020 |
State updates
- Gov. Mike DeWine announced the state has launched the Schools Dashboard and the Children’s Dashboard to provide school districts and parents the best information to make decisions about their child’s education and social interactions.
- The Schools Dashboard will show new and cumulative COVID cases reported to schools by parents/guardians and staff.
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The Children’s Dashboard, developed in consultation with the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association, includes information about cases and hospitalizations related to COVID-19 among children aged 0-17. Both dashboards are available at coronavirus.ohio.gov.
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Gov. DeWine announced that Ohio has its first documented case of the flu. He reminded Ohioans of the importance of getting a flu shot this year. Anyone without a primary healthcare provider can visit vaccinefinder.org to find nearby pharmacies and other healthcare locations offering the flu vaccine.
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The governor announced that the state has released a Rapid Response Guide for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers. It will support local health districts in developing culturally appropriate plans to respond to outbreaks in the migrant and seasonal farmworker communities. The Ohio Department of Health is awarding $2.6 million in CARES Act funding to agricultural camp operators to improve the health and safety of migrant workers, worksites and camps to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
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Gov. DeWine reminded parents that Halloween activities will be different this year and he encouraged parents and children to wear a mask, practice social distancing, avoid large groups, and to stay home if sick. Final decisions on whether to hold or participate in trick-or-treating or other events should be made by local communities, individuals, and parents. The state will be developing guidance for Halloween and it will be posted on coronavirus.ohio.gov.
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ODJFS has started distributing $300 per week in Lost Wages Assistance to eligible unemployment insurance recipients. This assistance is available to Ohioans who received traditional unemployment benefits, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Trade Readjustment Assistance, SharedWork Ohio or extended benefits for weeks ending Aug. 1 through Sept. 5. Updates on this process can be found at jfs.ohio.gov/lwa.
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Partners in Progress was a huge success!
PCSAO’s first virtual conference was a success! Thank you to all of our “Partners in Progress” who helped make our 40th anniversary so meaningful (even if it wasn’t the in-person celebration we had hoped for). Special thanks to our brilliant keynote speakers and presenters, our talented award winners (learn more below), our special guests from the State of Ohio, our more than 500 attendees, UnitedHealthcare and our other generous sponsors, and our PCSAO board of trustees, membership and staff.
Continuing education training credit is being processed and will be available in the coming days and weeks to registered participants whose attendance can be verified.
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Pre-Clearance: As of Sept. 18, there are no children services-related rules in pre-clearance.
Clearance: The following rule is under five-year review. The deadline for comments is Sept. 25.
The following rule packet is under five-year review. The deadline for comments is Sept. 29.
The following rules are amended:
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Rule 5101:5-1-01 - Regional prevention councils operation and regional prevention council member duties.
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Rule 5101:5-1-02 - Regional prevention coordinator duties and selection process.
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Rule 5101:5-1-03 - Boards of county commissioners appointing of regional prevention council members.
The following rule was rescinded.
Filed with JCARR: As of Sept. 18 there are no new children services-related rules filed with JCARR.
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Announcements and Resources
Human trafficking webinars scheduled
PCSAO's anti-human trafficking coordinator, Bhumika Patel, will help lead two upcoming webinars:
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Sept. 29, 1-2:30 p.m.: "Human Trafficking, Substance Use Disorders, and Trauma" will look at the intersection of human trafficking, substance use disorders, and trauma. For many survivors of human trafficking, substance use disorders are a significant health concern and may have been used by traffickers as a means of power and control, or used as a coping tool for managing the overwhelming impact of trauma. This webinar will discuss ways to support survivors through the provision of trauma-informed care, peer support, and comprehensive direct services. Register.
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Sept. 30, 2-3:30 p.m.: "Rethinking Human Trafficking Public Awareness" will cover the many misconceptions of the crime that continue to be fueled by misleading public awareness materials. Raising awareness is key to fighting sex and labor trafficking; therefore, it is critical that awareness efforts be trauma-informed and survivor-centered to avoid perpetuating common myths. This webinar will provide promising practices for raising awareness of human trafficking while centering the voices of survivors. Presenters will discuss strategies to engage in ethical storytelling, develop inclusive materials, and avoid sensationalism. Register.
CRPs release annual report of recommendations
The 2019-2020 Ohio Citizen Review Panel report has been released with recommendations from the five regional panels across the state. Managed through a contract between ODJFS and The Ohio State University College of Social Work, Citizen Review Panels (CRPs) are charged with evaluating the impact of child protective services policies and practices on children and families in the community, providing public outreach and evaluating the extent to which a state is adhering to its CAPTA state plan. Conducted by citizens outside public children services but with some expertise on the subject, the evaluation involves examining polices, practices, and procedures of state and county child protection agencies. CRPs then make recommendations via an annual report to ODJFS with the goal of improving the system. The Executive Summary for the year ending June 30, 2020, is also available, as is a Strategic Plan. The Office of Families and Children is currently reviewing the report and will respond after comparing the recommendations in the report with the recommendations forthcoming from the Children Service Transformation work. ODJFS intends to establish a single path to move the continuum of children services forward in a more intentional and cohesive manner.
Child health, wellbeing forum Sept. 29
The Health Policy Institute of Ohio is holding a virtual forum Sept. 29 titled “Improving child health and wellbeing: Creating opportunities for all Ohio children to thrive.” This forum will discuss the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on Ohioans including recent effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendees will learn about the biological impact of ACEs and trauma; best practices for screening, treatment and prevention; and considerations for Ohio’s response to ACEs in the midst of the pandemic. Register here.
Video training series available for kinship caregivers, professionals
Dr. Joseph Crumbley, in partnership with PA KinConnector, has released a new video training series for kinship caregivers and professionals. The free series consists of five video training modules for kinship caregivers and seven modules for professionals.. Highlights include “How Family Dynamics and Relationships Change,” “Engaging Birth Parents in Kinship Care,” and “Differences Between Kinship and Non-Relative Foster/Adoptive Families.” The caregivers series can be found here. The professional series can be found here. A description of the modules can be found at www.drcrumbley.com under Training.
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Child Protection in the News
According to a new tracking system from the Ohio Department of Health, Franklin County has the most COVID-19 cases for children under 18.
The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services received 78,706 reports of child abuse and neglect from March to August, down from 99,303 reports last year during the same time period.
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PCSAO Outstanding Agency Staff |
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PCSAO Outstanding Agency Staff |
This week during our conference, PCSAO honored three children services professionals for going beyond expectations and achieving extraordinary outcomes for children and families through their work in the agency and in the community. Read about them here.
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Sept. 21 | Legislative Committee Meeting
Oct. 1 | Rules Review Committee Meeting
Oct. 2 | Community Education Committee Meeting
Oct. 7 | Board of Trustees Meeting
Note: Meetings will be held via web meeting for the foreseeable future.
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