News

PCSAO reviews key child welfare legislation and advocates for sound public policy, based on member priorities and Trustee approval. Below is a summary of bills that passed — as well as those that did not pass — during the 135th General Assembly that ended in December that impact public children services agencies and the work […]

An innovative workforce development initiative called the Ohio Child Protective Services Fellowship Program has received a big boost from Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Children and Youth. The Governor’s Office announced today a $2 million federal grant that will help the Ohio Fellowship Program expand throughout northwest Ohio and to two other

Five of the seven new, replacement or increasing children services levies on the Nov. 5 ballot succeeded, and seven of the eight renewal levies passed handily. Voters approved a new levy for Lucas County Children Services and replacement levies in Belmont, Hancock, and Portage, while Franklin County secured a renewal with increase. Successful renewal levies

November is National Adoption Month. More than 3,600 children are available for adoption from foster care across Ohio, waiting for a permanent, loving family. County children services agencies are working with courts to finalize adoptions this month and celebrate the forever families who will be legally created. Resources are available to assist agency staff, recruiters,

PCSAO announced today that former Program Coordinator Christine Morris has been promoted to the position of Ohio START Regional Manager. As the Ohio START Regional Manager, Morris will help lead technical assistance for counties implementing Ohio START, a children services-led intervention model administered by PCSAO that helps families struggling with co-occurring child maltreatment and substance

An August report from the Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service finds that parents benefit in many significant ways from Ohio START, the model that serves families with co-occurring substance use disorder and child maltreatment. Ohio START Parent Interview Findings demonstrates the value of the model based on interviews with 60 parents

The 39th annual conference of the Public Children Services Association of Ohio celebrated the child protection workforce while recognizing outstanding families, youth leaders, advocates and partners. “This Is Us: The Child Protection Team” concluded today after kicking off Monday with a keynote address by Dr. Amy Acton, who shared wisdom from her time as Ohio’s

September is National Kinship Care Month. PCSAO is recognizing kinship caregivers at our annual conference Sept. 9-11. Here are some helpful resources: Gov. Mike DeWine issued a proclamation declaring September to be Grandparent/Kinship Month; The Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator is a  free service for Ohio’s kinship and adoptive families, with OhioKAN Navigators available to

PCSAO announced today that former Ohio START Regional Manager Jen McClellan has been promoted to a new position, Evaluation and Performance Manager. McClellan completed her PhD in social work from Walden University this spring. As the Evaluation and Performance Manager, McClellan will focus primarily on Ohio START, a children services-led intervention model administered by PCSAO

Gov. Mike DeWine’s signature child welfare sobriety and resiliency program, Ohio START, announced today the expansion of its model to include Adams, Madison, Montgomery and Pike counties, marking the addition of a seventh cohort and bringing the total number of participating counties to 56. Ohio START (Sobriety, Treatment and Reducing Trauma) is an evidence-based intervention