PCSAO Weekly Update: July 29, 2024

Weekly Update: July 29, 2024

Association News

Northeast District meets

Leaders in the Northeast District met July 22 to hear updates on OhioRISE from Merissa McKinstry, director of outreach and engagement for Aetna. Updates followed from the regional training center, PCSAO, and the counties along with a discussion on workforce. The district next meets Oct. 28.

Southeast District meets

The Southeast District met online July 22 and also heard updates on OhioRISE from McKinstry. Updates followed from the regional training center, PCSAO, and the counties, followed by director networking. The district next meets Oct. 28.

ASRC reviews OCAF, TEAM Ohio

The Automated Systems Review Committee met July 24 for a functionality review of initial certification for licensing of facilities in Ohio Certification for Agencies and Families, screen updates in TEAM Ohio, and Medicaid interface for eligibility determination in Ohio Benefits. The next committee meeting will be Aug. 28, and the next functionality review will be Sept. 25.

Ohio START

Ohio PRO 2024 Peer Recovery Summit

Ohio START is a proud sponsor of the Ohio PRO 2024 Peer Recovery Summit. Those attending the summit on Sept. 29-30 are encouraged to visit the START table.

Quarterly Consortium meetings

The Ohio START quarterly Consortium meetings will be held on Aug. 1 and 7. Local START teams are encouraged to attend one of the two meetings where they can receive updates from Ohio START Director Fawn Gadel and the evaluation team.

Rules Update

Clearance

As of July 28, there are no children services-related rules filed in clearance.

Filed with JCARR

The following rules were original-filed on July 24 with a hearing on Aug. 29:

Rule 5101:2-44-03 - Public children services agency (PCSA) administration of the state adoption subsidy program
Rule 5101:2-44-05.1 - Covered families and children (CFC) medicaid eligibility: special needs children
Rule 5101:2-44-05.2 - Covered families and children (CFC) medicaid eligibility for state adoption subsidy recipient moving from or to Ohio
Rule 5101:2-44-08 - Redetermination and amendment of a state adoption maintenance subsidy
Rule 5101:2-44-09 - Requirements for the state adoption special services subsidy program
Rule 5101:2-44-10 - Suspension of a state adoption maintenance subsidy
Rule 5101:2-44-11 - Termination of a state adoption subsidy
Rule 5101:2-44-12 - State adoption subsidy records

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.

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 23. To view this and previous versions of Tuesday Times, click here.

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.

Imagination Library books coming to all eligible kids in foster care

Through a partnership with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, every child between birth and age five in foster care and relative kin placement will receive a monthly Imagination Library book at no cost. Books will begin arriving in August and will continue until each child’s fifth birthday. DCY will manage the personal information, ensuring it remains protected and addresses are updated when a child moves. When Dolly Parton created her Imagination Library program, she wished to have the books mailed to the child’s home. This ensures that every child has access to books, and can spend time reading. For more information, visit this link.

Save the date: CFIS Conference

The CFIS Conference will take place Oct. 6-8 at Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center is Lewis Center. Hotel reservations can be made using the group code 376176 or by the following this link.

36th Annual National Independent Living Conference

Growing Pains 2024, The Independent Living Conference held Aug. 27-30 offers more than 35 sessions for professionals and youth. Visit the conference webpage for more details. Register before July 31 to avoid the rate increase.

NACHSA update

The House Ways and Means Committee adopted two NACHSA-supported human services bills. The Strengthening State and Tribal Child Support Act (H.R. 7906) and the Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act (H.R. 9076) have been passed. Descriptions of both bills and additional information is available in the Ways and Means Committee press release. A summary of the child welfare bill can also be found here.

Child Protection in the News

July 24 – Operation Open Heart: Non-profit pairs kids and first responders to build trust, make memories – WEWS

First responders in Lorain County are volunteering their time and opening their hearts. For five days, Operation Open Heart is hosting its annual summer camp for boys ages 8-15.

July 23 – Local organizations work to end cycle of child abuse – WTVG

The U.S. Department of Justice says poverty is one of the leading stressors contributing to child abuse and neglect. Lucas County Children Services says more than 15% of open cases stem from the east side of Toledo, but the numbers don’t tell the whole story.

July 22 – Ohio initiative aims to address needs of human trafficking survivors – Public News Service

Across the state, Ohio's domestic violence prevention programs are improving their services for human trafficking survivors. A $1.8 million grant from the Ohio Department of Public Safety will help 32 shelters provide human trafficking training and expand case managers. Shelley Marsh, deputy director of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, said it will better serve the needs of individuals who may not realize what has happened to them.

July 19 – Back to school get-ups: LCCS fashion show to raise awareness for foster care – WTOL

Julie Sanderson of the Franklin Park Mall and Sherry Dunn of Lucas County Children's Services talk an upcoming back to school fashion show and the need for fostering.

July 14 – School interventions offer best shot at reducing youth violence – The Conversation

Black youth show up in emergency rooms with gunshot wounds or other violent injuries at an alarming and disproportionate rate in the United States. Some hospitals have violence interventions that can be effective in keeping these kids safer after they are treated, but in most cases, victims are sent back into the world to continue their struggles.

Calendar and Job Postings