Weekly Update: February 14, 2022 |
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PCSAO, 12 PCSAs testify against SB 216
PCSAO Director of Public Policy Mary Wachtel offered in-person testimony against SB 216, which would require infants who test positive for substances at birth to be adjudicated an abused child and removed from all contact with the mother until certain conditions are met, unless the exposure was due to medication-assisted treatment. Wachtel encouraged the committee to reject the “one-size-fits-all” approach and examine the unique circumstances of each case. She also highlighted the success families are experiencing with evidence-based programs like Ohio START and MOMSOhio. Twelve county children services agency leaders provided 15 written opponent testimonies as well. A number of other witnesses testified in opposition including representatives of the Ohio Judicial Conference and the Ohio State Bar Association.
Thank you, county association partners
PCSAO was joined by the County Commissioners Association of Ohio and the Ohio Job and Family Services Directors' Association to share each association’s top priorities with the Ohio Child Support Enforcement Agency Directors' Association general membership on Feb. 10. PCSAO’s priorities included the workforce shortage, placement challenges, children services transformation efforts, and specific modernization opportunities. On Feb. 11, PCSAO was invited to present at the Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities membership meeting on the Placement Crisis report that was publicly released on Feb. 2. PCSAO appreciates the ongoing partnership with our fellow county associations.
OhioRISE Advisory Council meets
The OhioRISE Advisory Council met on Feb. 8 and discussed upcoming changes related to provider specialty billing and Intensive Home-Based Treatment (IHBT) services. Aetna provided updates related to day one enrollment and upcoming training. The OhioRISE Advisory Council will meet next on March 8.
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Sausser's Congressional testimony garners extensive coverage
On Feb. 2, PCSAO Executive Director Angela Sausser testified before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee on "America's Mental Health Crisis." Watch and read her testimony here. Below is just some of the local and national coverage of the hearing.
More than half of workers are at risk of mental health problems, and a quarter of kids coming into the system have issues so complex it's hard to place them.
A survey of county children services agencies revealed that in 2021, nearly 1 in 4 (24%) children entered children services custody primarily because of mental illness, developmental/intellectual disability, or as a diversion from juvenile corrections.
On February 2, the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means held the committee’s first hearing on mental health in more than a decade, focusing on America’s current mental health crisis. Testifying on behalf of NACo and the National Association of County Human Services Administrators (NACHSA), Executive Director of the Public Children Services Association of Ohio Angela Sausser discussed the mental health needs of county human services workers.
In a statement submitted to the House Ways and Means for a hearing yesterday on the nation’s mental health crisis, AHA voiced support for several initiatives that would expand access to mental health professionals, enforce parity in mental health coverage, and better integrate and coordinate mental and behavioral health care for patients. Testifying at the hearing were representatives from the Health Disparities Institute; Legal Action Center; Commonwealth Care Alliance; Public Children Services Association of Ohio; and North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services.
Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCASO) Executive Director Angela Sausser was one of five expert witnesses to testify Wednesday before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee in a hearing on "America's Mental Health Crisis."
Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCASO) Executive Director Angela Sausser was one of five expert witnesses to testify Wednesday before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee in a hearing on "America's Mental Health Crisis." The meeting marked the first time in over a decade the committee has discussed mental health, Chair U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) said, and comes as the U.S. is experiencing a crisis on multiple fronts, seeing an increase in demand for mental health services from children and adults while dealing with a workforce shortage exacerbated by the pandemic.
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START holds second consortium meeting
On Feb. 9, Ohio START held the second consortium meeting of 2022 with approximately 75 people in attendance throughout the state. During the meeting, participants received program updates from the director and results from parent surveys conducted by The Ohio State University. Participants also heard a presentation about trauma stewardship and the importance of self-care.
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Pre-Clearance: The following rule is open for comments until Feb. 24:
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Rule 5101:2-36-12 - PCSA requirement for cross-referring reports of child abuse and/or neglect.
The following rules are open for comments until Feb. 25:
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Rule 5101:2-5-36 - Additional requirements for an agency that acts as a representative of ODJFS in recommending treatment foster homes for certification.
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Rule 5101:2-7-16 - Additional requirements for a treatment foster caregiver and a treatment foster home.
Clearance: The following rules are open for comments until Feb. 16:
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Rule 5101:2-44-13 - Public children services agency (PCSA) administration of the post adoption special services subsidy (PASSS) program provides guidance families seeking PASSS funding.
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Rule 5101:2-44-13.1 - Eligibility and application process for the post adoption special services subsidy (PASSS) program.
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Rule 5101:2-5-13 - Required agency policies, plans and procedures.
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Rule 5101:2-9-21 - Care, supervision and discipline.
Filed with JCARR: As of Feb. 11, no additionl children services-related rules have been filed with JCARR.
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Resources and Announcements |
Foster care recruitment and retention grant opportunity
The ODJFS Office of Families and Children (OFC) is offering $5 million in grant opportunities to support agencies in their efforts to recruit and retain foster caregivers. Funding comes from the state budget for SFY2022-23. While this funding is available to support recruitment and retention of both family and specialized foster caregivers, OFC will prioritize funds to recruit, retain and support treatment foster caregivers. Eligible agencies must apply for this funding opportunity through the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association dashboard here. Applications will be accepted from Feb. 10-28, and they will be approved or denied by March 15.
Registration open for Feb. 18 OhioRISE Module 1 training
Registration is open for OhioRISE Module 1 training on Feb. 18, 8 a.m.-12 p.m for all local system partners and providers that serve multi-system youth. PCSAs are encouraged to attend as the module will cover an overview of OhioRISE eligibility and enrollment. Click here for more information about Module 1 Training and to register. For more information about OhioRISE meetings, trainings, listening sessions and office hours, click here.
ROX offers “I Matter” event Feb. 27
Ruling Our Experiences (ROX), along with the Center for Family Safety & Healing at Nationwide Children's Hospital and the ADAMH Board of Franklin County, is offering a free online event on Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. called "I Matter," for girls in grades 6-12 and their female mentors and caregivers. The event will cover how to access resources, education, and support for teen dating relationships. Find more information here and register here.
Kinnect to Family announces focus groups on permanency planning
Kinnect to Family announced that it will hold focus groups in early March for birth parents, kinship caregivers, foster parents, and professionals. These one-hour focus groups are intended to provide Kinnect to Family with insight into what kinship and foster caregivers want to know related to permanency planning for youth for whom they are caring. Birth parents, kinship caregivers, and foster parents are eligible to receive $50 gift cards for their participation. Find more information and sign up below:
Human Trafficking Awareness Summit offers online session for child welfare
The 13th annual Human Trafficking Awareness Summit will be held virtually March 3 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sessions will explore the role law enforcement, health care and social services play in the fight against sex trafficking and labor trafficking. It will also provide resources and ideas for attendees to use in their work to identify and eliminate all forms of human trafficking in their communities. Additionally, this year’s event will feature a presentation on the family impacts of human trafficking survivors. There is also a session on "Child Welfare’s Role in Responding to Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children." Find more information and register here.
Eastern Ohio Leadership Conference registration opens
The 28th Annual Eastern Ohio Leadership Conference, “Back and Better Than Ever,” will be held at the Carlisle Inn in Sugarcreek on March 30-April 1. Find the conference brochure here (refresh your browser if the link will not open). Register no later than March 21. There is no registration fee, nor are participants required to attend all three days. Contact ECORTC staff with questions.
ODJFS issues updates on KSP, safety assessment, PASSS
ODJFS announced that Kinship Support Program payments will increase from $10.20 per day per child to $10.80 per day per child effective Jan. 1, 2022. KSP payments are issued directly from ODJFS to eligible kinship caregivers The increase will be reflected in KSP payments beginning in February 2022 and be retroactive to Jan. 1. The legislation that created the program required an annual increase based on the cost of living.
ODJFS issued revisions to the CAPM safety assessment and the actuarial tool. The Safety Assessment has been improved by restructuring to differentiate between possible safety threats, indicators of child vulnerabilities along with the presence or absence of adult protective capacities. An updated actuarial tool is also available and can be used as a standalone.
ODJFS issued guidance to counties about the Post Adoption Special Services Subsidy (PASSS) administration transitioning from the county level to the state level, to be administered by OhioKAN. Exploring this change was one of the recommendations of the Children Services Transformation Advisory Council. Effective July 1, the PASSS program will be administered by ODJFS through OhioKAN. OhioKAN will begin accepting applications May 1. Find all of these ODJFS communications on their publications page, and information on OhioKAN here.
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Child Protection in the News |
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Jera Stewart of Jera's Heavenly Sweet realized her dream of owning her own bakery about five years ago. Her daughter Brianna Stewart is a master decorator.
Ohio legislators passed two bills on crimes against children during House and Senate sessions Wednesday, both prompted by cases from the Dayton area.
Four years ago, Rondye Brown reached “the darkest place” in his life. Feeling trapped in an endless cycle of crime, prison and substance abuse, Brown decided on what he believed to be his best solution.
Opponents to SB216 (Johnson) came out in force Tuesday to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. One of the major criticisms from a number of witnesses focused on the bill's requiring infants found to be "substance abused" at birth to be removed from contact with the mother until certain conditions are met -- an approach several called "one size fits all."
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Calendar and Job Postings |
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Feb. 18 | Conference Committee Meeting
Feb. 28 | Legislative 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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