Attend #ClearTheCrib safe sleep webinar

Trainees for Child Injury Prevention (T4CIP) and Prevent Child Injury (PCI) are co-hosting a webinar Oct. 26 from 2-3 p.m. about safe sleep as part of T4CIP's #ClearTheCrib Day of Action and PCI's #SafeSleep outreach week. Register for the webinar here. 

CarePortal available free to all PCSAs

CarePortal exists to help vulnerable children and families. Requests submitted through CarePortal come from caseworkers at government child welfare agencies or other child-serving organizations approved by CarePortal to vet needs. Churches can also identify and submit needs within their own church and community through the Church Entered Needs feature. Find more information here and watch an informational video here. To learn more about CarePortal, contact the Ohio Area Director at olyvia.frederick@careportal.org.

Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation to host suicide risk client safety training

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) is hosting a one-day in-person workshop on Dec. 8 designed to train mental and behavioral health providers on how to recognize and assess suicide risk, plan for client safety, and manage the ongoing care of at-risk clients. The training is free, but there is a $30 fee for lunch and beverages. The registration deadline is Dec. 1. Register here. For questions, contact Austin Lucas at austin.lucas@ohiospf.org.

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 ages 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. 

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, today (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.

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.

Oct. 14 - Local officials vigilant as overdose death spike seen in Southwest Ohio - Springfield News Sun

A recent spike in overdose deaths in Cincinnati from drugs laced in fentanyl has health officials and law enforcement here concerned about a similar outcome.

Oct. 15 - Kinship keeps families together - Star Beacon

The opportunity to provide children with care, by people they know and love , is a key component of the Kinship program coordinated by Ashtabula County Children Services. More than 160 children are being cared for by family members, or people the children have known for a long time, according to ACCS records The agency provides services to assist the relatives, often grandparents, as they seek to raise the children.

Oct. 18 - Ethics Commission Review Not Required Before Prosecutors Pursue Ethics Charges - Court News Ohio

The Supreme Court of Ohio today upheld the conviction of a former Williams County sheriff for violating state ethics laws when he posted confidential information about children services cases on a sheriff's office website. A Supreme Court majority rejected Steven Towns' claim that prosecutors could not charge him with an ethics crime without the allegations first being reviewed by the Ohio Ethics Commission. Writing for the Court majority, Justice Jennifer Brunner stated the Ethics Commission has the authority to initiate ethics investigations against public officials and refer cases to local prosecutors, but there is no prerequisite that charges can only be levied after the Ethics Commission considers the claim.

Oct. 18 - Native American adoptions subject of upcoming Supreme Court case, film to screen at OSU - Columbus Dispatch

In one of the most excruciating scenes of the documentary “Blood Memory,” a Native American adoptee named Marie Valerie recalls how her white adoptive mother would make her bathe with Clorox bleach.

Oct. 20 - Ohio youth prison guard punches handcuffed teen over stolen candy bars - Columbus Dispatch

Youth prison guard punches handcuffed teen over stolen candy bars, video shows.

Oct. 20 - Opinion: Raising children with disabilities is a community responsibility - Cincinnati Enquirer

The evening of Feb. 17 was dark, cold and rainy in the western suburbs of Cincinnati. At an isolated intersection, motorists spotted a 5-year-old boy wandering alone in the rain. According to media reports, the boy, who was nonverbal, was soaking wet and attempting to flag down cars in a desperate plea for help.