PCSAO Weekly Update: June 24, 2024

Weekly Update: June 24, 2024

Association News

Membership meeting offers learning, networking opportunities

PCSAO’s executive membership gathered June 20-21 for the spring/summer meeting. Partners from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth shared updates on courts and legal representation, parent/youth ambassadors, and the Child and Family Services Plan goals. Ohio Youth Ombudsman Jen Stotts and Family Ombudsman Jenny Sheriff provided an update on case outcomes and trends included in the office’s annual report. A panel shared promising outcomes from a Supreme Court of Ohio pilot on multidisciplinary representation and the use of Title IV-E funding for family legal representation. Other presentations focused on IDENTITY, Isaiah 117 House, OhioRISE, disaster and emergency preparedness, and the association’s budget and policy priorities. The next meeting will be Dec. 5-6.

PCSAO award nominations closing soon

Nominations for the 2024 PCSAO youth, family, and professional awards will close July 2. Each year, PCSAO recognizes and celebrates the achievements of our youth and families who have been served by Ohio’s public children services agencies, as well as the achievements of our child protection professionals who have served them. The 2024 PCSAO award winners will be announced during the conference. Learn more about the awards and complete the nomination here.

NACo lauds counties for work with children

The National Association of Counties has announced the winners of 2024 NACo Achievement Awards. Six Ohio counties were recognized for work with children and youth, including partnerships with the county children services agency, local initiatives to support foster care, and workforce programs. Winners include Ashtabula, Franklin, Hamilton, Montgomery, and Warren counties. In all, Ohio counties earned 25 awards in various categories, and have received more than 180 NACo Achievement Awards since 2009. View all of the awards at this link, which can be filtered by state and category. Congratulations!

Legislative Committee meets

The Legislative Committee met June 17 and reviewed HB 583 express intent to increase accountability for group homes, and HB 615 regarding certain children in need of protective services. The committee next meets on July 15.

Rules Update

Clearance

The following Business Impact Analysis (BIA) is open for comments until June 28:

Title IV-E adoption assistance, administration, case record requirements, and reimbursement of nonrecurring expenses

The following rules are open for comments until July 2:

Rule 5101:9-6-28 - Title IV-E funding
Rule 5101:9-6-62 - Title IV-E kinship guardianship assistance program
Rule 5101:9-6-28.2 - Kinship support intervention allocation

The following rules are open for comments until July 4:

Rule 5101:2-33-55 - Training requirements for PCSA caseworkers
Rule 5101:2-33-56 - Training requirements for PCSA caseworker supervisors

Filed with JCARR

As of June 23, there are no children services-related rules filed with JCARR.

Annual Conference

Save the date: 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.

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

Award nominations closing soon

Each year, PCSAO recognizes and celebrates the achievements of our youth and families who have been served by Ohio’s public children services agencies, as well as the achievements of our child protection professionals who have served them. The 2024 PCSAO award winners will be announced during the conference. Learn more about the awards and complete the nomination here. Nominations are due July 2.

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 June 11. To view this and previous versions of Tuesday Times, click here.

Family Unification Month webinar

Join The American Bar Association (ABA), along with its national partners on June 25 for a webinar highlighting how community advocates can achieve prevention and reunification planning effectively as a primary goal. This webinar will focus on the importance of cultural connections in supporting families within the Indigenous communities involved with the child welfare system. Learn more and register here.

HPIO issues brief summarizing information from Ohio ACEs Impact Project

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) released a new brief titled, "Taking Action to Prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in Ohio." The brief is a summary of the information and resources available through HPIO’s Ohio ACEs Impact Project and includes guidance for local and state partners working to elevate ACEs prevention policies or program interventions.

Child Protection in the News

June 19 – Ohio program prepares foster parents to care for kids with complex needs – Mahoning Matters

An Ohio program that provides help for foster parents of children with complex behavioral issues is expanding. It offers 24/7 on-call crisis counseling and specialized training enabling more children with these difficulties to stay in a family setting.

June 19 – Future looks bright for TCCS graduates – Tribune Chronicle

Although summer is in full swing, it is still graduation season, and two of the four seniors from Trumbull County Children Services (TCCS) were celebrated for their academic accomplishment on Tuesday at the agency.

June 15 – ODHE announces second cohort of Ohio Reach Postsecondary Designation schools – Northwest Signal

Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) Chancellor Mike Duffey recently named the second group of Ohio colleges, universities and Ohio Technical Centers to earn the Ohio Reach Postsecondary Designation for their efforts to support foster care-connected students.

June 14 – Ohio House passed bills OKing feral pig open season and another to help pregnant women, babies – Ohio Capital Journal

The Ohio House passed more than a dozen bills on June 12—including one that provides supports during pregnancy and the first 1,000 days of life. State Reps. Andrea White, R-Kettering, and Latyna Humphrey, D-Columbus, introduced House Bill 7 last year and the bipartisan bill passed the Ohio House with a 72-20 vote.

Calendar and Job Postings