Weekly Update: April 18, 2022 |
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Clermont County transitions
Effective April 25, Clermont County Job & Family Services Director Tim Dick will transition to the role of assistant director of administrative services for the county. While the director position is yet to be filled, Anne Gross has returned to Clermont County JFS as the assistant director of child protective services. She previously served in the same role and is an attorney.
Community of Practice examines racial equity
Leaders from 10 county agencies met April 14 for PCSAO's Racial Equity Community of Practice. A presentation from leaders in Fairfax County, VA, showed how equity is being built across county services there. With support from Casey Family Programs, PCSAO has engaged the Center for the Study of Social Policy for a second year on this subject. Participants will select a practice or policy change to implement and measure. Recorded webinars from the 2021 learning series are available on our website along with other resources on race, equity, and inclusion.
OCWTP prepares for LMS changes
The Ohio Child Welfare Training Program State Steering Committee met April 13 in person. With a new vendor and Learning Management System, eSkillz, selected, OCWTP is moving to transition from the current system, E-Track, by the end of the year. The new LMS will offer improved functionality and reporting. Also during the meeting, members saluted Dale Hotaling, director of the Western Ohio Regional Training Center, who will retire after decades of service to OCWTP and to children and families. Congratulations, Dale! The steering committee meets next on May 11.
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Lower, Nash receive OPELRA Pacesetter
The Job and Family Services Human Resources Association was recently recognized at the Ohio Public Employer Labor Relations Association (OPELRA) Annual Training Conference. JFSHRA board members Valarie Nash (pictured, center), Summit County Children Services Human Resources Director, and Courtney Lower (right), Knox County JFS Human Resources Administrator, received this year’s Pacesetter Award for their demonstration of innovative leadership that resulted in a positive impact to public-sector labor relations. Also receiving the Pacesetter Award was Jonathan Downes, Esq., with Zashin & Rich. Congratulations to these three! The JFSHRA has also been nominated for the National PELRA’s Pacesetter Award this year. The association held its bimonthly meeting April 12 and meets next on June 14.
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PCSAO seeking Communications and Events Manager |
PCSAO is seeking a full-time Communications and Events Manager. Cassandra Freeland will be joining our friends at Kinnect in May after two years with PCSAO. We wish her the best and appreciate her amazing contributions to PCSAO's annual conference, Ohio START, and strategic communications (including the Weekly Update). Help us find Cass's successor! PCSAO is a friendly, collegial team that values diversity. Review the job description for duties and qualifications; submit a cover letter and résumé via this online portal. Applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
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Another Successful Wear Blue
PCSAO and public children services agencies around the state held another successful Wear Blue event April 13. Agencies, partners, and communities around the state came together to raise awareness that child abuse is preventable (see news coverage below). It was especially heartwarming to see some agencies take their first all-staff in-person group photos since 2019. View examples including kids, pets, and blue nail polish on the Wear Blue Ohio Facebook page or search #OhioWearsBlue on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms. The 12th annual Wear Blue Day will be April 12, 2023.
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Pre-Clearance: The following rule is open for comments until April 27:
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Rule 5101:2-47-21 - Title IV-E foster care maintenance (FCM) reimbursement for a child placed into a qualified residential treatment program (QRTP).
The following rules are open for comments until April 21:
The following forms are open for comments until April 21:
Clearance: As of April 15, there are no children services-related rules in clearance.
Filed with JCARR: The following rule was original-filed on April 11 with a hearing on May 17:
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Rule 5101:2-47-04 - Intercounty and interstate case management responsibility for foster care maintenance.
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About the 2022 conference
PCSAO is holding its 37th annual conference Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 19-21 at the Hilton Easton. Our theme, “As Our World Turns,” recognizes that the children services field is in the midst of many changes and it can feel like we are spinning so fast, we can’t slow down. At the same time, the theme employs lighthearted humor around soap operas. For those of you who aren’t familiar with them, soap operas are radio or television series characterized by melodrama and sentimentality – kind of like a reality show!
Call for presenters opens
Our call for presenters is now open! Presenters at PCSAO's conference are volunteers; there is no compensation. See a preview of the application here. Ready to apply? Complete the application form here. Applications are due by May 13.
Become a sponsor!
The PCSAO Annual Conference is an opportunity to network with more than 500 children services professionals across Ohio. See our sponsorship flyer for more information regarding sponsorship levels and benefits. See a preview of the application here. Ready to become a sponsor? Complete this form. Sponsorship closes Sept. 1.
Award nominations
Each year, PCSAO recognizes and celebrates the achievements of our youth and families who have been served by Ohio’s public children services agencies, as well as the achievements of our child protection professionals who have served them. We are now accepting award nominations from public children services agencies for the Leaders of Tomorrow, Family of the Year, and Child Protection Worker, Support Staff and Supervisor of the Year awards. Nominations are due by July 8. The 2022 PCSAO award winners will be announced during the annual conference. Local agencies will notify winners prior to the event, and help make their arrangements. Read the descriptions and find nomination links on our awards page.
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Resources and Opportunities |
Ohio Children’s Trust Fund seeks Family Success Network pilots
The Ohio Children’s Trust Fund (OCTF) is releasing a Request for Grant Applications for Family Success Network Expansion to four additional pilots. Details about the request for grants can be found here. An informational webinar will be held April 29. Register here.
Find more information about Family Success Network here.
Ohio Fatherhood Commission 'Dad and me' competition
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and Ohio Commission on Fatherhood is excited to announce the launch of a statewide contest for youth of Ohio ages 2 through 18. Find the submissions requirements here. A parent or guardian of the applicant must submit the entry based on the youth’s age group. All applications and creative entries must be submitted in person or postmarked by April 30. Find the application here. Please submit the completed application and creative entry to Passages Connecting Fathers and Families, P.O. Bo 91831, Cleveland, OH 44101-3831. About 40 creative entries for each age group will be selected to receive free admission to the inaugural Fatherhood Festival for up to four family members over Father’s Day weekend in June. More information about the Fatherhood Festival can be found here.
Father's Feelings Project webinar
The Ohio Children’s Trust Fund will be offering a Father’s Feelings Project webinar April 20 at noon with research fellow Brittany Pope of OhioGuidestone’s Institute of Family and Community Impact. Brittany will discuss strategies for professionals to improve their engagement with fathers, sharing insights from fathers and first-hand experiences from professionals working with new dads, and the importance of engaging dads in child care and family services. Register here.
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Child Protection in the News |
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As a member of the National Safe Parents Coalition, I am writing about proposed House Bill 508, which would create a presumption for shared parenting in Ohio. I share the desire to ensure the best interest of children in family court, but a 50/50 presumption will not meet that goal, especially in cases where abuse and safety concerns are raised.
While workforce shortages are plaguing nearly every field these days, the stakes are particularly high for Ohio's county children's services agencies. The pandemic exacerbated turnover, as about 38% of Ohio child-protective services workers left their positions in 2020.
The skies may have been gray for the better part of Wednesday, but make no mistake the color blue was prevalent throughout the greater Lima region.
Montgomery County Children Services received about 1,700 more reports related to child abuse and neglect in 2021 than in 2020, marking a 15 percent increase. About 13,000 reports were received last year.
A total of 857 cases of child abuse and neglect were investigated last year in Wood County. That is 62 more cases than in the prior year. This morning, to raise awareness of the issue, 857 colorful pinwheels were planted in front of First United Methodist Church, at 1526 E. Wooster St., in Bowling Green.
Keeping children safe from abuse and neglect is complicated responsibility and it requires the attention of the entire community. Officials with Lucas County Children Services are spending April -- National Child Abuse Prevention Month -- drawing attention to the ways in which all of us can play a part in protecting the youngest people in our community.
Jen Yasho, an intake caseworker since 2008 for Job and Family Services, Children Services Division, may not think of herself as a “hero” for the work that she does, but the Columbus-based Ohio Children’s Trust Fund begs to differ.
Toledoans made their message loud and clear on Palm Sunday this year: stop the violence and protect the people who live here. "Because we all love our city. We absolutely love the community we live in. All of us have been plagued by the news and watching and hearing about death after death after death as a result of violence," said Lisa McDuffie, YWCA President and CEO.
Bikers from the Ohio Coalition of Clubs helped children in foster care enjoy the Easter holiday on Saturday afternoon. On Saturday, April 9, children gathered at the Haines Children’s Center on North Main Street in Dayton for an easter egg hunt. According to a release by Montgomery County, bikers from various clubs brought gifts and treats, including cotton candy and snow cones.
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Calendar and Job Postings |
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April 21 | Northwest District Meeting
April 22 | Conference Committee Meeting
April 25 | Southeast District Meeting
April 25 | Northeast District Meeting
April 25 | Legislative Committee Meeting
April 28-29 | New Executives Orientation
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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