House Finance Committee hears from children services panel

Advocates for child protection and family services laid out their support for Gov. DeWine’s proposed budget before the House Finance Committee on March 11. Read more here. 

OCWTP establishes road map

The Steering Committee of the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program met March 12. In addition to reports from DCY, PCSAO, RTCs and OUCCAS, members learned about the Ohio Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports, discussed trainer recommendations, and reviewed procedure for adjusting the learning catalog and deactivating courses. Following up on the recommendations from the fall retreat, OCWTP has developed an extensive implementation road map to address inconsistencies in implementation of OCWTP products and processes. The goals of the road map include improving relationships and communication among staff, enhancing implementation, delivering high-quality training and materials, and ultimately improving the experience of youth and families. The steering committee meets in person on April 9.

JFS HRA learns about Social Security Fairness Act

The Job & Family Services Human Resources Association met March 11 for its first quarterly meeting of the year. Members learned about the Social Security Fairness Act and its impact on public employees from Mason Mackovjak of Zashin & Rich. PCSAO presented and gathered feedback on a draft workforce and turnover survey it will use to gather data from 2024.

Community Education Committee prepares for Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is one of the busiest months for outreach and communications staff at county children services agencies, with Wear Blue taking place April 9 and child abuse prevention and awareness events planned throughout. The Community Education Committee met March 14 to hear a presentation from Reba Chenoweth of Montgomery County JFS about some “plug-and-play” graphics, videos, and PSAs that can be easily adapted by other counties. Members had the opportunity to share updates. The next meeting will be in-person (with a virtual option) May 2 in Columbus.

Rules Committee Meets

The Rules Committee met March 13 and received updates from DCY on rules under five-year review, critical incidents, and background checks. Members also received PCSAO legislative updates. The committee meets next on April 3.

Ohio START

Governor highlights Ohio START peer in State of the State address

In his annual address to the General Assembly March 12, Gov. DeWine featured Laurel Ridenour, an Ohio START Family Peer Mentor in Medina County. She was invited to this year’s event to serve as an example of how certified peer support can offer a pathway to employment for people affected by substance use disorder. Read PCSAO’s statement.

2025 Ohio START Summit registration now open!

The 2025 Ohio START Summit will take place May 13-14 at Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center near Columbus. This event brings together more than 200 caseworkers, supervisors, behavioral health providers, and family peer mentors for networking and learning how best to serve Ohio's families struggling with co-occurring child maltreatment and substance use disorder. Learn more on the event website and register here by May 1. Please contact anne@pcsao.org with any questions.

Award nominations open through April 1

Each year, Ohio START recognizes agency staff and partners for their service to Ohio families. For the first time, Ohio START will also honor an Ohio START Family of the Year. Those working on START teams are encouraged to nominate outstanding Ohio START caseworkers, supervisors, family peer mentors, community partners, and families to be honored during the 2025 Ohio START Summit. See here for information about who is eligible for each award and to submit a nomination. Nominations are due April 1.

Sponsor the Ohio START Summit

The Ohio START Summit is a great opportunity to reach Ohio professionals serving families affected by substance use and child maltreatment. Sponsors can benefit from face-to-face networking, brand promotion, and more! Learn more about the available sponsorship levels and sign up here. Space is limited. Sponsorships will close April 14.

About the conference

The 2025 PCSAO Annual Conference: "45 Years of Impact: Celebrating Progress and Innovation" will take place Oct. 1-3 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton, inviting children services professionals from around Ohio for 3 days of learning, networking, and celebrating past accomplishments while looking ahead to the future. Please contact anne@pcsao.org with any questions.

Presenter application now open!

PCSAO is now accepting presenter applications for the 2025 PCSAO Annual Conference. PCSAO is seeking unique workshops 1-3 hours in length that can be offered for social work/counselor CEUs and/or CLEs. Preview the application. Learn more and complete the application here. The deadline to apply is May 1.

Request for training topics

In order to provide the most valuable and relevant content, the PCSAO Conference Planning Committee is seeking recommendations for training topics that are not currently offered through OCWTP or easily accessible elsewhere. Your suggestions will help tailor the conference to better meet the needs of those working in the field. Submit a training idea here.