Meeting the child welfare mission of safe children, stable families and supportive communities takes a broad approach and requires multiple sources of funding.  Many Public Children Services Agencies in Ohio are finding that state and local investments of TANF funds can be used and braided with other funding sources to help meet this mission.  The August 31 PCSAO Executive Membership meeting highlighted numerous examples for effective and allowable investments, building on previous local work and state policy and priorities with TANF funding.  Please use the following items as you enhance your local services for strengthening families, ensuring children are raised in safe, stable homes, finding permanent kinship and/or adoptive homes when needed, and supporting youth as they transition from foster care into adulthood.  Below you can link to numerous resources that should be helpful in enhancing your local efforts: 

PCSAO Overview - Investing TANF in Child Welfare

ODJFS Resources: 

     PRC Reference Guide is a great resource.

Specific Child Welfare Section – pages 52 - 59 (Children at Risk of Abuse or Neglect, Youth in Transition, Family Formation, Prevention of Out-of-Wedlock Pregnancies, Non-custodial Parents).   Also example for including services within your local PRC plan.

    July 18, 2006 ODJFS TANF Adopt & IL guidance letter from Rick Smith “Notice of forthcoming allocation letters for…TANF AdoptOhio Kids Incentives, Multi-Ethnic Placement and Independent Living”.  This letter outlines allowable and suggested use of the SFY 07 TANF Allocation under the Governor’s Executive Order. Has examples! 

County Resources: 

    “Use of TANF in Child Welfare” by Mead Wilkins, Director of Medina County DJFS.  Special focus on investing in youth resiliency activities.

    Franklin County Children Services AdoptOhio Incentives Program for 2006/07, from John Saros, Director of Franklin CCS.  Adoption finalization incentives for families that adopt certain waiting children.

    TANF for In-Home CPS strategies from John Fisher, Director, Licking County DJFS. 

    Lorain County Children Services’ School Success Initiative.  Links research to education supports for foster children, to greatly improved outcomes.

Additional Resources 

Pregnancy Prevention & Unplanned Pregnancies. Power point from Crystal Ward Allen, PCSAO Executive Director.  Useful program, research and legal information.