Weekly Update: August 30, 2021
Association News
Wente to leave ODJFS for Future Ready Columbus
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Matt Damschoder announced that Assistant Director for Health and Human Services Kara Wente will leave her position in mid-September. Her service of 17 years at ODJFS, Damschroder said, "has resulted in stronger, more stable families, and a better Ohio." PCSAO has appreciated Wente's leadership, her ability to grasp the children services system quickly and thoroughly, and her collaboration with county agencies. We wish her the best of luck in her new venture at Future Ready Columbus. Michael McCreight will step back into his former position while the department searches for a replacement.
Ohio START
Vendor selected for peer mentors
PCSAO is excited to announce that Ohio START is partnering with Family Life Counseling and Psychiatric Services Inc. to provide technical assistance to Ohio START Family Peer Mentors, their employers, and public children service agencies implementing the Ohio START program. The technical assistance will be led by Brychelle Mullins, former family peer mentor for Richland County Children Services. Mullins will provide information regarding implementation of the START model, recruitment and onboarding of family peer mentors, and best practice for peer support. Family Life was organized and opened under the direction of Dr. Steven Burggraf in 1999. With very small beginnings, Dr. Burggraf established a working relationship with Richland County Children Services and Richland County Juvenile Court and has since grown the organization to provide mental health and recovery services for the entire family. Family Life’s therapy approach is to treat the entire family, not just the individual in recovery. The goal is to renew and maintain the family structure and support group with an emphasis on returning the individual to a healthy family and community life.
PCSAO 2021 Annual Conference
Register now!
Registration for PCSAO's 2021 annual conference is now open. We have 45 exciting in-person workshops as well as a hybrid option. Information is available on our conference webpage. We hope you can join us!

Become a conference sponsor
The conference is an opportunity to reach more than 500 children services professionals across the state. The audience includes child protection caseworkers, supervisors, administrators, attorneys, directors, students and advocates. As a sponsor, you will benefit from face-to-face networking, organization logo included in conference material, on-site sponsorship recognition and publicity on PCSAO’s website. Exhibitor tables may be limited in number depending on health measures in effect at the time of the conference. Become a sponsor here. If you have questions, contact Cassandra Freeland.

Thanks to our World Champion Sponsors
Gift basket drive!
With PCSAO’s annual conference next month, we are working hard to make this a great event and we need your help! As we have done in the past, we are collecting gift baskets from agencies to be raffled off during the conference. These gift baskets will serve to engage attendees and show appreciation for all involved. Most gift baskets feature a theme. No matter what theme you choose, please be sure that your basket is family friendly (no alcohol) and appeals to a wide audience.

Gift basket ideas include (but are not limited to):
  • Supporting Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses – assorted goods from women- and minority-owned businesses (a helpful business directory can be found here)
  • Game Night – Snacks, games, cards, and other activities
  • County Inspired – Anything inspired by or made in your county
  • Autumn – Candles, décor, fall snacks, flavored coffee grounds, etc.
  • Rainy Day – Books, movies, snacks, comfy wear, etc.
  • Salty & Sweet – Assorted salty and sweet snacks
  • Self-Care – Notebook, aroma therapy, lotions, soaps, candies, bath bombs, etc.
  • Sustainability – Reusable water bottle, shopping bags, straws, etc.

For planning purposes, notify Anne Potts at anne@pcsao.org by Friday, Sept. 17 if your agency is interested in providing a gift basket. Baskets can be brought directly to the conference. 
Annual conference keynote speakers
Dr. Rachel Elahee
Dr. Rachel Mitchum Elahee will be our keynote speaker on Thursday, Sept. 30. She is a leadership expert who challenges audiences to choose the habits, actions and mindset necessary to achieve life satisfaction, professional productivity, and peace of mind. Dr. Rachel’s work has inspired a wide range of audiences, and her down-to-earth humor compels audiences to laugh while they learn. She is a licensed psychologist, certified executive coach, and author of the book “Choose You! Reignite Your Passion For Life.” Dr. Rachel earned her PhD from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
Molly Tierney
Molly Tierney will be our keynote speaker on Wednesday, Sept. 29. Molly is a Managing Director and the Child Welfare Industry Lead in Accenture’s North America Public Sector Practice, where she leverages her 25+ years of expertise to enable states and cities to improve outcomes for vulnerable citizens. Prior to joining Accenture, Molly spent 10 years as the director of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services where she managed the city’s child welfare and public assistance programs. During that time, she developed a reputation as a passionate reformer of foster care. In five years, the number of children in foster care declined 60 percent, while adoptions increased 60 percent.
ODJFS Director Matt Damschroder
PCSAO is honored to have ODJFS Director Matt Damschroder as our breakfast speaker Friday, October 1. Director Damschroder is no stranger to the important work of children services agencies. He and his wife have two adopted children. They understand the importance of supporting families and children. His commitment to children services issues and to children services staff really come through when you meet him. Prior to joining ODJFS, Damschroder served as director of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services and in the office of then-Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted as well as leading the Franklin County Board of Elections. A native of Columbus, he holds an M.A. in Public Policy and Management from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs and a B.S. in Business Administration from the Max M. Fisher College of Business, both at The Ohio State University.
Rules Update
Pre-Clearance: The following rules are open for comments until Sept. 4:
  • Rule 5101:2-38-01 - Requirements for PCSA family case plan for in-home supportive services without court order.
  • Rule 5101:2-38-05 - PCSA family case plan for children in custody or under protective supervision.
  • Rule 5101:2-38-07 - PCPA family case plan for children in custody or under court-ordered protective supervision.
 
The following rules are open for comments until Sept. 10:
  • Rule 5101:2-7-08 - Alternative care arrangements.
  • Rule 5101:2-5-26 - Procedures for revocation, denial of initial certification or denial of recertification of a foster home certificate.
 
Clearance: As of Aug. 27, there are no children services-related rules in Clearance.
 
Filed with JCARR: The following rule was final-filed on Aug. 24 with an effective date of Sept. 3:
 
The following rules were original-filed on Aug. 26 with a hearing on Sept. 29:
Resources and Clips
Resources and Announcements
ODM delays next-gen managed care implementation
The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) announced that it will delay the Next Generation managed care launch, which includes OhioRISE, until July 2022. ODM said the launch provides Ohio Medicaid, managed care entities, and providers the time needed to test and validate systems and processes to ensure readiness prior to going live. Several components of the new program are designed to reduce the administrative burden on providers and streamline access to care. Read the press release here.

HPIO analysis identifies strategies to prevent childhood trauma
A new policy brief from the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, “Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): A strategic approach to prevent ACEs in Ohio,” identifies 12 strategies that state leaders can use to prevent adverse childhood experiences. An earlier HPIO report found that more than one-third of Ohio adults (36%) reported exposure to two or more ACEs. An HPIO analysis estimated that more than $10 billion in annual healthcare and related spending in Ohio could be avoided if exposure to ACEs were eliminated.

NCWWI, Children's Bureau offer worker recognition event Sept. 14
As part of Child Welfare Worker Appreciation Week Sept. 13-17, the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute and the Children's Bureau are hosting a one-hour virtual recognition event on Sept. 14 at 3 p.m. This year’s speakers will talk about the ability to positively influence a life's trajectory through the heart, the head, and the hands. They include:
  • Ohio native Adrian McLemore with the Annie E. Casey Foundation
  • Children's Bureau Commissioner Aysha E. Schomburg 
  • Vernita Thompson, MSW and Kristy Colvin, MSW from the University of Buffalo
  • Sarah Crisafi, MEd. E-RYT, Educator and yoga teacher

This event is all about celebrating the people who do so much to empower children, youth, and families facing a variety of life challenges and obstacles. Register here.

ODJFS offers SACWIS training Sept. 15
ODJFS OFC staff is offering CPS and IV-E policy, field office, and Ohio SACWIS prevention services training on Sept. 15 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. via a MS Teams Live Event. The training will cover Ohio Administrative Code rule 5101:2-40-05 entitled PCSA Requirements for Providing Family First Prevention Services. This new rule, effective April 1, 2021, outlines the prevention services program requirements for a PCSA in the provision of prevention services to families. Complete this registration form, and a pop-up message containing the attendee join link to the webinar will appear on the screen. The link should be copied into an Outlook appointment for the attendee. Please contact Renee Lupi with questions. 
 
ODJFS will also offer SACWIS training on Family First Prevention Services (FFPS) eligibility/reimbursability on Sept. 15 from 1- 4 p.m. via a MS Teams Live Event. The training will cover FFPS eligibility, reimbursability, payments, provider invoicing and Ohio SACWIS screens specific to the new prevention services eligibility/reimbursability functionality. The intended audience for this training event is agency staff responsible for FFPS implementation including Ohio SACWIS data entry. Register here, and a pop-up message containing the attendee join link to the webinar will appear on the screen. The link should be copied into an Outlook appointment for the attendee. Please contact Lisa Howard with questions.

Kempe Center to host second Call to Action to Change Child Welfare Oct. 4-7
The Kempe Center will host the second annual virtual conference, A Call to Action to Change Child Welfare to reconvene and expand the international community of practice brought together during the inaugural event, where 1,400 participants from 20 different countries came together to debate, innovate, and discuss ways to transform child welfare. This year's contributors will include children and young people, family members, leading practitioners, advocates, academics, and managers from all over the globe. The registration fee is $100. Register here.
Child Protection in the News
Scioto County featured prominently in the story of the opioid addiction epidemic that has devastated hundreds of cities and towns across the United States. Its Dreamland Pool in Portsmouth was used to illustrate a hinge point in the evolution and depths of the crisis in Sam Quinones’ National Book Critics Award-winning, “Dreamland: The True Tales of America’s Opiate Epidemic.”
 
Members of the FOA are looking forward to the 8th annual Rally 4 Recovery after being forced to go virtual in 2020.

Ohio pushed back its projected launch date of its revamped and reformed Medicaid managed care system to July 1 of next year, the Ohio Department of Medicaid announced Wednesday. The initial timeline set the launch of the long-awaited system in January.

Advocates for Ohio children cared for by adult relatives have asked a federal appeals court to hear their claims that an improper gap exists between the payments those relatives and licensed foster care parents receive. At issue are relatives who aren’t licensed caregivers but are approved to care for children taken from their parents. The arrangement is often referred to as kinship care.

The Wilson Children’s Home in West Union has been an effigy of strength and security for youth for over a century.
Calendar and Job Postings
Sept. 1 | Board of Trustees Meeting
Sept. 2 | Rules Review Committee Meeting

Note: Some meetings will be held via web and others in-person.
View the full calendar for details.
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