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Testimony before the Senate Finance Committee today included calls to restore funding cut from the House-passed version of the biennial budget, HB 96. The amended substitute version of the budget reduced the increase to the State Child Protection Allocation proposed by the Governor and supported by the House — a $28.7 million reduction to the […]

Now that the biennial budget, HB 96, has passed the Ohio House of Representatives, testimony has turned to the Ohio Senate, with a panel of advocates testifying before the Senate Health Committee today. The County Commissioners Association of Ohio is joining with PCSAO to advocate for funding and policy solutions to the placement crisis for

Voters approved six of seven children services levies in yesterday’s election, including one new and two replacement levies. With little on the primary ballot, turnout was low. Most levies passed with strong margins. Unofficial election results follow: PCSAO is grateful to voters who supported children services levies, given that local dollars account for 47 cents

In testimony today before the House Finance Committee, PCSAO Director of Public Policy Mary Wachtel thanked members of the House Finance Committee for maintaining the Governor’s recommended funding for children services in Sub. HB 96 and for accepting a requested policy change. PCSAO expressed gratitude for much-needed investments and policy, including: Increased funding through the

PCSAO is pleased to present its 2024 annual report. The report highlights a number of accomplishments as the association marks its 45th anniversary this year. In 2024, PCSAO expanded Ohio START to 56 counties and launched Practice in Action Together in eight counties. Grant funding extended the reach of the Ohio Fellowship Program across three

Ashley Roy joins the staff at PCSAO today as initiatives manager. In that role, she will oversee a new federally funded Ohio START coaching model for supervisors and manage implementation of Practice in Action Together (PACT). Roy previously served as an Ohio START caseworker at Brown County Job & Family Services and provided technical consultation

The following statement can be attributed to Angela Sausser, executive director of the Public Children Services Association of Ohio: “We are gratified that in his State of the State address today, Gov. Mike DeWine featured an Ohio START Family Peer Mentor in the audience. Laurel Ridenour with Hope Recovery Community serves as the Ohio START

Advocates for child protection and family services laid out their support today for Gov. DeWine’s proposed budget before the House Finance Committee. Early in the hearing, Ross County Commissioner Jack Everson (pictured, left) expressed the support of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio for the increase to the State Child Protection Allocation ($55 million over

Legislators on the House Children and Human Services Committee heard testimony today from officials underscoring the need for children services funding in Gov. DeWine’s proposed budget. Highland County Job & Family Services Director Jeremy Ratcliff recalled his time leading the county’s probation department and asking commissioners there not to cut his budget in order to

Ghadir Amin joined the PCSAO team Feb. 3 as Initiatives Coordinator. She will support both Ohio START and PACT (Practice in Action Together). Amin previously worked at LifeCare Alliance. She worked closely with volunteers in the Meals-on-Wheels program, ensuring efficient service delivery and fostering meaningful community connections. Passionate about helping seniors and individuals with medical