PCSAO Weekly Update: July 22, 2024

Weekly Update: July 22, 2024

Association News

Registration opens for 2024 PCSAO Annual Conference

Child protection caseworkers, supervisors, administrators, clinicians, attorneys, and advocates are invited to join us Sept. 9-11 for three days of learning and celebrating the accomplishments of youth, families, and child protection staff from around the state of Ohio. View the agenda and workshop offerings here. Registration closes Aug. 26. Register here.

East Central District meets

The PCSAO East Central District met July 19 and received a presentation from Aetna regarding OhioRISE updates with the District sharing RISE successes and challenges. PCSAO provided updates related to DCY communications, Children Services Placement Crisis Working Group, legislation, rules, and the annual conference. The District discussed HB615, intern programming, a new facility for victims of human trafficking, Lexis/Nexis issue, and a creative approach to refusing placing children in PCSA agencies. The meeting concluded with PCSAs providing county updates. EC District meets next on Oct. 18.

Northwest District meets

Leaders from PCSAO’s Northwest District met July 18. Northwoods presented on its new case aide product. Discussion included the Ohio Fellowship Program and PCSAO updates. The district meets next on Oct. 17.

Legislative Committee meets

The Legislative Committee met on July 15 and continued its review of SubHB583 to increase accountability and oversight of group homes and HB615 regarding certain children as in need of protective services. In addition, the committee welcomed representatives from the Ohio Grandparent Kinship Coalition and the Ohio Poverty Law Center to discuss their organizations’ efforts to expand the grandparents’ power of attorney and caretaker authorization affidavit to kinship caregivers beyond grandparents. The committee next meets on Sept. 16.

Conference Planning Committee meets

The PCSAO Conference Planning Committee met July 19 to discuss the opening of conference registration and to select the winners of the Child Protection Professional Awards which will be announced during the conference. The committee meets next on Aug. 16.

Ohio START

Foundations 3 training

Ohio START is offering Foundations 3: Treatment Provider Strategies on July 23-24. This training is intended for START teams and their treatment partners. Attendees will learn critical information to facilitate systemic engagement. START staff and partners can register here.

Rules Update

Clearance

The following rules are open for comments until July 22:

Part 3 of 3 Chapter 42 rules

Filed with JCARR

The following rules were original-filed on July 17 with a hearing on Aug. 22:

Rule 5101:2-49-01 - Adoption assistance application process
Rule 5101:2-49-17 - Case record requirements for adoption assistance
Rule 5101:2-49-21 - Reimbursement of Title IV-E nonrecurring adoption expenses for a child with special needs
Rule 5101:9-6-26 - Title IV-E Family First Prevention Services Act
Rule 5101:9-6-28.3 - Title IV-E Family First Prevention Services Act

Annual Conference

2024 PCSAO Annual Conference Sept. 9-11

The 2024 PCSAO Annual Conference, taking place Sept. 9-11 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton, is an exciting opportunity to share best practices, connect with colleagues, and be inspired to continue this important work. The conference draws more than 500 child protection professionals from around Ohio including caseworkers, supervisors, administrators, clinicians, attorneys, and advocates. In recognition of Child Welfare Worker Appreciation Week, this year's theme is "This Is Us: The Child Protection Team." Visit our conference webpage to learn more. Contact anne@pcsao.org with any questions.

Registration now open!

Child protection caseworkers, supervisors, administrators, clinicians, attorneys, and advocates are invited to join us for three days of learning and celebrating the accomplishments of youth, families, and child protection staff from around the state of Ohio. View the agenda and workshop offerings here. Registration closes Aug. 26. Register here.

Become a sponsor

The 2024 PCSAO Annual Conference is an exciting opportunity to network with more than 500 children services professionals. Learn more and sign up as a conference sponsor on our event website.

Sponsor benefits include:

Face-to-face networking and exhibitor table
Organizational logo included in conference materials
On-site sponsorship recognition
Publicity on PCSAO’s website

Meet our conference keynotes

Dr. Amy Acton is a physician and community leader who has spent over 35 years pursuing her passion for public health and wellness. She is in private practice in Preventive Medicine and Global Public Health. Whether as Director of the Ohio Department of Health during early days of the COVID pandemic, Vice President of Human:Kind at the Columbus Foundation, or professor in global public health, Dr. Acton has inspired interdisciplinary, cross-sector teams to address our most challenging issues and raise the bar higher, ensuring the community conditions in which all of us can flourish and realize our full potential.

Corey B. Best is a Black father, community organizer, activist, and leader. Corey founded Mining For Gold in 2020 as part of the larger movement that is in the active pursuit of racial justice, liberation, and freedom. Mining For Gold embraces the universal application of co-design and community organizing to guide child- and family-serving systems toward a more robust and healing way of thinking and practicing. Since 2020, Mining For Gold has held a brave container to explore the impact of racialized America with over 3,000 child- and family-serving leaders and staff.

Thank you to our diamond sponsors

Resources and Clips

Resources and Opportunities

DCY Tuesday Times

The Ohio Department of Children and Youth shared updates and other pertinent information pertaining to children services and other program areas on July 9. To view this and previous versions of Tuesday Times, click here.

YCPRT counties continue permanency efforts

The Youth-Centered Permanency Roundtables Advisory Council met July 19 for its quarterly meeting. Following updates from Kinnect and county partners, the group engaged in brainstorming and resource sharing to improve practice and fidelity. Participating agencies include Athens, Hardin, Lorain, Muskingum, Warren, Williams, and Wood, with recent expansion to Adams, Allen, Jackson, Jefferson, and Marion.

OAPG meets

The Ohio Adoption Planning Group met July 17 for its quarterly meeting. Updates led to discussion about the need for in-person meeting and planning. The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 18.

OFCA Cincinnati Regional Conference

Join Ohio Family Care Association (OFCA) on Sept. 28 for a one-day conference "Strengthening Families: Healing and Interconnection.” Designed for primary, kinship, foster, adoptive caregivers, and professionals in the field. Learn more and register here.

Save the date: Ohio Fatherhood Summit

Save the date for Ohio's Fatherhood Summit on Sept. 24-25 hosted by the Department of Children and Youth (DCY) and Ohio Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families (OPNFF). More information to come.

The 2024 International Virtual Conference: A Call to Action to Change Child Welfare expects to draw 2,000 participants from 25 countries on Oct. 7-10 as part of a growing global movement to bring radical and lasting change to the way child welfare systems work. Choose from more than 200+ sessions, including a presentation by PCSAO's Mike Kenney and Lara LaRoche about Ohio's Children Services Shared Practice Model, PACT. Learn more about the conference and register here.

Child Protection in the News

July 16 – A lasting impression - TCCS honors former director at ceremony – Tribune Chronicle

Following 12 years as the executive director at Trumbull County Children Services, where he left a lasting impression on co-workers and the area’s youth, its residence hall was named the Timothy E. Schaffner Residential Treatment Center.

July 15 – Isaiah 117 House receives a helping hand – WTVG

The mission of Isaiah 117 House is to support foster children on one of the hardest days of their lives; and now, 13 Action News and the Yark Automotive Group are supporting them with a helping hand. In her 12 years as a foster parent, Jennifer Bohnsack has seen firsthand how difficult it is for children when they transition into the foster care system.

July 15 – Trumbull County Children Services dedicates treatment center to former executive director – WFMJ

Trumbull County Children Services honored one of its own with a major dedication Monday afternoon. The organization dedicated its residential treatment center to its former executive director of 12 years who started his career as a childcare worker in residential services.

Calendar and Job Postings

July 22 | Southeast District Meeting

July 24 | Ohio START Leadership Council

Note: Some meetings are being held via web and others in-person.

View the full calendar for details.

Looking for a career in child protection? Or a new position to challenge yourself?

Check out the latest job openings in child protection at PCSAO.

New OMJ landing page for children services jobs!

Read our 2023-2024 Strategic Modernization Plan

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