Weekly Update: October 3, 2022 |
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Counties enter final month of levy campaigning
With early voting beginning Oct. 12, five counties with children services levies on the ballot are entering the final month of campaigning. Butler, Hocking, Mahoning, Ross and Scioto have levies on the Nov. 8 ballot. Good luck to all! Please contact PCSAO if the list is incomplete.
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'World turns' at annual conference
This year’s theme, “As Our World Turns,” highlighted the fast-spinning nature of the children services system — facing workforce and placement challenges while trying to maximize new state and federal opportunities. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services partnered with PCSAO for the first time to make the conference possible, supporting conference scholarships for two frontline workers in each county through the workforce grant. ODJFS Director Matt Damschroder addressed attendees on Monday and shared a video welcome from Gov. Mike DeWine. Read more about the conference here.
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Ohio START to present at Kempe Conference
This week Ohio START will join research partners from The Ohio State University for a presentation at the Kempe Conference: A Call to Action to Change Child Welfare. The presentation will include preliminary findings from a recent study about the positive impact of Ohio START on parenting and child outcomes as shown through parent surveys.
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Clearance: The following rules are open for comment until Oct. 5:
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Rule 5101:2-53-01 - Definitions Related to the Indian Child Welfare.
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Rule 5101:2-53-02 - General Provisions of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
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Rule 5101:2-53-03 - Determination of Indian Status, Tribal Eligibility and Membership.
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Rule 5101:2-53-04 - Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Notice.
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Rule 5101:2-53-05 - Voluntary Agreement for Temporary Custody of Indian.
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Rule 5101:2-53-06 - Emergency Removal and Involuntary Custody of Indian.
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Rule 5101:2-53-07 - Permanent Surrender or Parental Consent to Adoptive Placement of Indian Children.
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Rule 5101:2-53-08 - Placement Preference of Indian Children describes the requirements of PCSAs and PCPAs.
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Rule 5101:2-53-09 - Procedures for the Transfer of Indian Children to a Tribal Court, a Tribal Title IV-E Agency or an Indian Tribe with a Title IV-E.
The following rule is open for comment until Oct. 12:
Filed with JCARR: The following rules were original-filed on Sept. 23 with a hearing date of Oct. 25:
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Rule 5101:2-1-01 – Children services definitions of terms.
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Rule 5101:2-5-03 – Certification of an agency to perform specific functions.
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Rule 5101:2-9-36 – Additional requirements for children’s crisis care facilities.
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Rule 5101:2-9-43 – Residential infant care center.
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Rule 5101:2-9-44 – Family preservation center.
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Rule 5101:2-38-05 – PCSA case plan for children in custody or under protective supervision.
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Rule 5101:2-38-10 – Requirements for completing the semiannual administrative review.
The following rules were original-filed on Sept. 22 with a hearing date of Oct. 25:
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Rule 5101:2-38-04 – PCPA requirements for completing the semiannual administrative review.
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Rule 5101:2-38-07 – PCPA requirements for completing the semiannual administrative review.
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Resources and Opportunities |
OhioRISE/PCSA open office hours change
OhioRISE open office hours for children services staff has changed. Virtual open office hours will now occur weekly on Fridays at 11 a.m. Here is the link to join the Teams meeting.
October CANS training events scheduled
The Ohio Children’s Initiative CANS assessment tool has been developed for broad application across multiple systems, including youth involved in child protection, developmental disabilities, youth services, and mental health and addiction. The CANS assessment tool gathers all dimensions of the youth and family story to determine needs and strengths and integrates multiple storytellers, capturing the voice of the youth and family to produce a full consensus-based assessment. October's schedule for CANS, CANS booster and qualified individual training will satisfy the Ohio live training requirement and prepare participants to take the CANS certification exam. Find dates and registration links 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.
Child support systems extend training to JFS partners
The ODJFS Office of Child Support will provide training on Child Support System Access for Family Assistance and Protective Services Employees (limited SETS access) and the new Navigating the Central Paternity Registry training. For JFS employees, the calendar information may also be found here.
OCWTP releases annual report
The Ohio Child Welfare Training Program's annual report for the year ending June 30, 2022, can be found here.
Register for behavioral health stakeholder regional listening sessions
The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is convening five in-person regional listening and discussion sessions and three virtual sessions to allow for local input and perspective on issues that the 340 Workgroup has been considering. The goal for these meetings is to facilitate roundtable conversations with representatives of local ADAMH boards, providers, county officials, community leaders, and Ohioans with lived experience and their families that allow OhioMHAS and members of the workgroup to listen and gather feedback around the delivery of behavioral health services in Ohio’s communities. Anyone interested in participating in the roundtable discussions, in-person or virtual, must RSVP to 340ReviewWorkgroup@mha.ohio.gov no later than one week in advance of the meeting date. RSVPs should include full name, organization (if applicable), and county of residence; please also indicate if any special accommodation is needed. The meetings are open to the public, and a public comment period will be part of each of these sessions. The dates and times of these meetings are below.
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Northeast Ohio: Oct. 13, 2-4 p.m., Akron-Summit County Public Library, 60 S. High St., Akron. RSVP by Oct. 6.
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Appalachia/Southeast Ohio: Oct. 27 (location to be confirmed). RSVP by Oct. 20.
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Southwest Ohio: Nov. 7, 2-4 p.m., Warren County Educational Service Center, 1879 Deerfield Rd., Lebanon. RSVP by Oct. 31.
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Northwest Ohio: Nov. 14, 2-4 p.m., Wood County Educational Service Center, 1867 Research Dr., Bowling Green. RSVP by Nov. 7.
Virtual Sessions: To receive a link to these sessions, register by sending an email to 340ReviewWorkgroup@mha.ohio.gov no later than one week in advance of the meeting date.
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Oct. 24, 6-8 p.m. RSVP by Oct. 17.
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Nov. 1, 6-8 p.m. This session is reserved specifically for peers and organizations run by peers. RSVP by Oct. 25.
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Nov. 9, 10 a.m.-12 noon. RSVP by Nov. 2.
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Child Protection in the News |
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When Maria Paparella learned about the challenges some young adults face after they’ve aged out of the foster care system, she created a non-profit designed to help make those first steps into adulthood less daunting. Chair-ity, an organization she began in high school, provides and delivers furniture to those who are moving out of the foster care system and into new spaces.
When a public children services agency (PCSA) case involves parental addiction issues, the obstacles can seem insurmountable. Thanks to the Ohio START program, those families have access to a team of professionals who support their recovery, help them navigate the court system, and work to keep the children in the home.
Public News Service
Education officials in Ohio want state leaders to invest in free school meals for all students. Pandemic-era federal waivers enabling schools to offer breakfast and lunch at no cost expired in June, meaning families in need of assistance have to income-qualify for federal school meal programs. For a family of four, it's about $51,000 a year for reduced-priced meals and $36,000 for free meals. The Ohio State Board of Education is recommending the General Assembly use American Rescue Plan Act funds to offer no-cost breakfast and lunch to all Ohio students through the remainder of the school year.
Whenever the kids at Trimble Elementary/Middle School have a problem, the first person they come to is Becky Handa. The walls of her room are lined with shelves and large plastic tubs, each containing something a kid might need at school. There’s a tub for backpacks. New shirts. Headphones. An entire section dedicated to hygiene products and deodorant. And several baskets of snacks.
Governor Mike DeWine has officially recognized September as Grandparent / Kinship month, shining a light on the dedication and sacrifice made by families who take in relatives during traumatic times.
WRGT
Montgomery County’s Board of Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (MCADAMHS) is receiving $400,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Minority Health to launch a new initiative to demonstrate policy effectiveness to promote Black youth mental health.
Ohio foster parents who care for relatives but do not meet all eligibility requirements under the Child Welfare Act are not entitled to the same maintenance payments as fully licensed foster families, an appeals court panel ruled on Wednesday.
The campaign in support of Scioto County’s Children Services levy is underway, led by a committee of community members called The Committee For the Kids.
The need is considerable for foster parents in the community. Mercer County Children's Services Director Jason Cupp comments.
Allen County Children Services is recruiting Adopt-A-Family sponsors for the holidays. The annual program connects sponsors with families to provide children with presents. Due to community support, ACCS has in the past been able to provide gifts to around 200 children.
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Calendar and Job Postings |
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Oct. 5 | Board of Trustees Meeting
Oct. 6 | Rule Review Committee Meeting
Oct. 7 | Community Education 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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