Weekly Update: April 25, 2022 |
|
Brenneman moves to Muskingum County
Congratulations to Coshocton County JFS Director (and PCSAO Board Treasurer) Danny Brenneman, who will become director of Muskingum County JFS at the end of the month. Danny's leadership within PCSAO, sound oversight of the association's finances, and management of the dues committee has been greatly appreciated -- as has his service to the children and families of Coshocton County. Muskingum JFS does not have children services responsibility, but it's good to know Danny will remain within the larger system.
Northwest District appoints Allen as trustee
At its quarterly meeting April 21, the Northwest District appointed Melanie Allen, director of Sandusky County JFS, to PCSAO's Board of Trustees to fill the vacancy created by Cassandra Holtzmann's move to Summit County. Members also discussed workforce and placement challenges. The next meeting will be July 21.
East Central District appoints Burns as trustee
The East Central District met April 15 in Coshocton County to hear a presentation from the ODJFS policy team on new requirements due to the passage of HB 4, the ODJFS training unit, and regional training centers. The East Central District appointed Heidi Burns, director of Morgan County JFS, to PCSAO's Board of Trustees to fill the vacancy created by Danny Brenneman’s move to Muskingum County. Other discussion included trustee and PCSAO updates and county updates. The district next meets July 15.
OAPG meets
The Ohio Adoption Planning Group met April 20 to hear updates from partner organizations. Members were particularly interested in the new Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program and in the Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator program taking over operation of the Post Adoption Special Services Subsidy in July.
Workgroups pull double duty on tiered foster care
The ODJFS tiered foster care effort held simultaneous meetings on April 20 to finalize child characteristics and caregiver skills. The state is moving forward to modernize Ohio's foster care system, with a focus on expanding the number of and supports for treatment resource families who can prevent youth from entering congregate care. Workgroups will continue meeting, typically twice a month.
Metro counties talk workforce, placements, foster care grants
PCSAO’s Metro counties met April 21 and talked about agency successes, workforce and placement challenges, foster care recruitment and retention grants, and their experience with Qualified Residential Treatment Facilities (QRTPs). The group meets next on May 19.
PRT Advisory Council meets
The Youth-Centered Permanency Roundtables Advisory Council met April 22 to discuss a new statewide facilitator option and related communications, report out county updates, and review outcomes in the ongoing evaluation. Participating counties are holding more PRTs now than in 2021, although evidence suggests some benefits to online meetings.
|
|
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.
|
|
START concludes series with Foundations II |
On April 22, Ohio START concluded the foundational learning series with Foundations II: Family Peer Mentor Hiring & Supervision. PCSA and behavioral health leaders participated in a full day of learning about the critical role of Family Peer Mentors (FPMs). Participants engaged in discussions about how to recruit and hire for this unique position. Additionally, the importance of continued collaboration was highlighted as a key component of successful supervision. |
|
Pre-Clearance: The following rule is open for comments until April 27:
-
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 rule is open for comments until May 5:
Clearance: The following rules are open for comments until May 2:
-
Rule 5101:2-5-28 - Agency cause for denial of initial certification, denial or recertification or revocation of a foster home certificate.
-
Rule 5101:2-5-33 - Foster caregiver pre-placement and continuing training.
-
Rule 5101:2-5-38 - Payment of foster caregiver training stipends; reimbursement of training allowances to recommending agencies.
-
Rule 5101:2-33-26 - The county child abuse and neglect memorandum of understanding.
-
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 May 4:
The following forms are open for comments until May 4:
-
JFS 01200 - Fire inspection report for homes or residential facilities certified by ODJFS.
-
JFS 01348 - Safety audit.
-
JFS 01385 - Assessment for child placement update.
-
JFS 01447 - Assessment of relative or nonrelative substitute caregiver.
-
JFS 01653 - Medical statement for foster care/adoptive applicant and all household members.
-
JFS 01667 - Adoption information disclosure.
-
JFS 01673 - Assessment for child placement.
-
JFS 01691 - Application for child placement.
-
JFS 01692 - Application for adoption of a foster child.
Filed with JCARR: As of April 22, there are no children services-related items filed with JCARR.
|
|
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.
|
|
Meet Our Conference Keynotes |
|
Elliott Orrin Hinkle (they/them) is a skilled facilitator, trainer, and advisor focused on elevating lived expertise in systems that serve children, youth, and families. They are a graduate of Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Women, Gender, Sexuality, and Queer Studies. Elliott has lived experience in the Wyoming Foster Care System as a young person but calls Oregon home. Elliott is the principal and founder of the consulting firm Unicorn Solutions LLC, which seeks to create positive futures for youth and young adults impacted by systems such as Child Welfare and Youth Mental Health, particularly at the intersections of LGBTQ youth within these systems. Elliot will deliver the keynote address Monday, Sept. 19.
|
|
LaShaun K. Carter currently serves as the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer for Mecklenburg County (Charlotte, NC), where he oversees the Office of Equity and Inclusion and leads through community partnerships, policy analysis and development, training, and data collection. Previously, Carter served as the Assistant Executive Director/Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for Franklin County Children Services and led the development of a first-of-its-kind department designed to collect, curate, and analyze data to inform service delivery and strategic alignment. Ultimately, the goal was to elevate the role data plays in making a difference in the community. A career educator, LaShaun has also led efforts around the critical academic needs of youth in central Ohio. His educational focus revolved around the early warning indicators that predict dropout risk and social-emotional learning data. Notably, his recent work in convening the Columbus community around social justice strategies has resulted in his collaborating with partners seeking to implement similar programs across the country.
|
|
Resources and Opportunities |
OhioRISE module 3 training April 29
Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) will hold Module 3 of the OhioRISE community and provider training series April 29 from 1-5 p.m. This module will cover enrollment, OhioRISE services, billing and claims, and IT systems. ODM encourages providers and any local system and community partners that serve multisystem youth to attend. Register here. A recording will be available on the OhioRISE webpage following the live training session if you are unable to attend. Office hours will be held on May 10 from 11 a.m.-noon and 2:30-3:30 p.m., and on May 12 from 9-10 a.m. Module 4 will cover local and statewide systems engagement. Look for more information on it soon.
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 are excited to announce the launch of a statewide contest for youth of Ohio ages 2 through 18. Find the submission 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.
|
|
Child Protection in the News |
|
Trumbull County Children Services 22nd annual Rising Up and Moving On community luncheon was all about connections — the connections TCCS staff makes with people, said Tim Schaffner, executive director.
The cries for help from Ma'Khia Bryant's Ohio foster home began weeks before the 16-year-old was killed by police gunfire one year ago today. In the year since, one of those shortcomings has been addressed. Legislation creating the Youth and Family Ombudsman Office passed in February. The new resource, located within the state's Department of Job and Family Services, will be available to foster children starting May 31.
Here's a riddle for you: What goes from 250 to 3,500 and does it in three years? Answer: The square footage of the Colors+ Youth Center in Fairview Park, the only LGBTQ+ youth center combined with mental health services focused solely on LGBTQ+ young people and their families in Northeast Ohio.
A first-of-its-kind national study has found that a special program adopted in many states to help some families at risk of child maltreatment has been surprisingly successful.
With children spending less time at school at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it meant fewer abuse and neglect referrals were being called in by teachers, doctors, coaches and other mandated reporters. That trend continued into 2021, but by the end of the year the numbers had caught back up to normal levels, said Candy Emmert, executive director of Muskingum County Adult and Child Protective Services.
|
|
Calendar and Job Postings |
|
 |
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.
|
|
|
|
Looking for a career in child protection? Or a new position to challenge yourself?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
