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For Your Awareness
Traverse 101 Webinar Training
New or existing Traverse users at public children services agencies are welcome to register for the next monthly Traverse 101 Training Webinar on June 12 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. During this 60-minute session, you will learn the basics of Traverse, your content management system. On the web platform, we will add finished content (scans, uploads, and virtual prints) to the system and work with forms. On the mobile platform, we will collect information in the field.
At the end of the webinar, we’ll have a bring-your-own problem (BYOP) session where participants can ask questions about how Traverse can improve their business processes.
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Maternal & Infant Wellness |
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Programs focus on eliminating health disparities, improving birth outcomes, and improving the health status of pregnant women, infants, and children to ensure moms and babies celebrate the child’s first birthday.
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Ensuring Safe Sleep for Ohio’s Infants: DCY Partners with Cribs for Kids®
The Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY), Bureau of Maternal and Early Childhood Services and Supports is partnering with Cribs for Kids® and local organizations throughout Ohio to provide Cribettes® and safe sleep education to eligible families (while quantities last). Cribettes® are certified as being compliant with Consumer Product Safety Commission standards, and are part of a safe sleep kit that also includes a fitted sheet and safe sleep educational materials. In order to receive a kit, eligible families must also receive education provided by their local program. In this session, the parent/caregiver(s) receives important education on infant safe sleep practices and how to properly use the Cribette® for their baby.
The linked page lists DCY-funded programs; interested families should contact their local program for more information. Click here for a listing by county of DCY-funded Cribs for Kids® programs.
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Early Childhood Development |
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The Early Childhood Development programs provide technical assistance, education, and referrals for families and youth with evaluations regarding specific needs and disabilities.
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Supporting Child Development: Recognizing Milestones and Providing Guidance
As professionals serving families, you play a crucial role in helping parents and caregivers navigate their child’s development. Every child is unique and reaches milestones at their own pace, but understanding typical developmental progressions can provide valuable insights.
By utilizing developmental screening and monitoring tools, you can empower families with knowledge, reassurance, and early intervention when needed. Click below to access free resources that help assess developmental milestones and support informed decision-making.
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Initiatives work to connect educators, families, and youth to education
services and supports.
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Resource Guide Available for Families/Early Care and
Education Professionals
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Check out the Early Childhood CoE Summer Plans guide. This resource helps early care and education professionals, as well as families, welcome and support children transitioning into new programs for the summer.
Click the photo or the link above to access the guide.
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Free Training Offered for Early Childhood Educators
The FIND Team at the Stanford Center on Early Childhood is collaborating with Action For Children to bring professional development opportunities to Early Childhood educators in Ohio.
REGISTER in OCCRRA to earn PD clock hours.
Don’t need clock hours or not in OCCRRA? REGISTER HERE
What is FIND-PD?
FIND-PD is an online, self-paced training for early care and education professionals who want to transform everyday interactions with the children in their care. The strength-based approach reinforces naturally occurring, developmentally supportive interactions between educators and children.
Practical, Science-Based Strategies
- FIND-PD is grounded in decades of research dedicated to developing evidence-based interventions to support healthy child development.
- It builds on the Filming Interactions to Nurture Development (FIND) “classic” model and other interventions developed by Dr. Philip Fisher, Director of the Stanford Center on Early Childhood.
- FIND-PD uses real-life video examples to illustrate practical strategies to enhance responsive interactions, build child skills, and reduce challenging child behaviors. All strategies are science-based and can be immediately implemented.
Training Features
FIND-PD is designed to fit into educators’ busy schedules. Each course takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete and comprises brief modules that are 20-30 minutes long. Content is available in English and Spanish. Educators can earn professional development clock hours upon completion through the Ohio workforce registry.
Steps to Register & Earn PD Clock Hours
- Log in to OCCRRA with your OPIN using Chrome or Firefox
- Click on “Find Training”
- Select the training, add it to your cart, and complete your registration (no fee required)
- Check for “Upcoming Training” in your profile
- Click the link to register in FIND-PD’s learning platform, complete the training. and your attendance will be verified
For more information: thefindprogram@stanford.edu
Coaching and Networking Opportunities Available for Early Care and Education Professionals
Join Ohio PROMISE in Action to take your skills and strategies to the next level! If you are an early care and education professional in Ohio, you can be part of Ohio PROMISE in Action. You will receive coaching, networking opportunities, and resources (including a participation stipend and universal access materials) to support your learning as you become an Ohio PROMISE Program Leader. Be part of making Ohio more welcoming to all children and families, apply today! The application closes on June 8.
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Preschool Special Education Resources Now Available on DCY Website
Looking for Preschool Special Education Resources? The Preschool Special Education team is excited to share that we now have dedicated webpages on the Department of Children and Youth (DCY) website to support preschool special education providers, parents and families. Topic areas include the compliance requirements for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B, to questions and answers that preschool parents and families have about the special education process. You can find these resources by visiting the DCY website and selecting either “For Families” or “For Providers”. You can also type Preschool Special Education into the search box. If you have any questions, please contact the Preschool Special Education team.
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DCY Memos and Resources
No updates at this time.
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Family Support & Stabilization |
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Focuses on enhancing the resources and supports available to parents and families.
Ohio START Promotes Resilience and Recovery
In 2017, when the office of then Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, in partnership with the Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO) created the Ohio START (Ohio Sobriety Treatment and Reducing Trauma) model, the opioid epidemic was decimating Ohio families. Implementation of the model began with 17 counties in Appalachian Ohio. Since then, Ohio START housed at and led by PCSAO, has spread throughout the state of Ohio.
PCSAO recently held the 2025 Ohio START Annual Summit where DCY Director Kara Wente praised the model because it brings together the strengths of child protective services, behavioral health, the courts, and lived experience. She said “It’s a whole-family, whole-system approach—and it works.”
Director Wente thanked the caseworkers for their professionalism and focus on the well-being of the children. She also expressed gratitude to the Family Peer Mentors for meeting parents where they are and walking beside them in ways that change lives.
Today, Ohio START is active in 57 counties and growing. It has served thousands of families. And behind every number is a story of resilience and recovery. Parents are more present. Children are more stable. Families are stronger.
For more information about Ohio START, visit their website.
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Governor's Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force 2025 Report
Shows Impact of Collaboration
The Governor's Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force has released its 2025 annual report.
The task force is made up of 13 state departments, including DCY, as well as the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board, Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, and the State Medical Board of Ohio.
The report outlines the collaboration that has led to improved systems of care, the passage of key legislation, the creation of the Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force Summary, and the impact of grants to community-based organizations. These grants were funded by an historic $9 million investment to Ohio’s human trafficking efforts by Governor DeWine’s administration in the biennial state budget.
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988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is Available 24/7
Ohioans who are experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis and their family members can call, chat, or text 988 for help and support.
Did you know that when you call 988, you’re connected to a trained specialist, most often right here in Ohio?
Click the logo on the left to find out exactly what happens when you call.
Last week, Governor Mike DeWine joined leaders from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) to unveil a new specialty license plate intended to increase awareness of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
The OSPF will receive $25 from the sale of each plate to support suicide prevention initiatives in communities throughout Ohio.
Please share this resource throughout your counties.
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Ohio Commission on Fatherhood: Developing Programming through the County Fatherhood Mobilization Initiative
This spring, Terri Simons with the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood (OCF) attended the Morrow County’s Community Conversation meeting, required as part of the Fatherhood Mobilization Initiative (CFMI).
Simons explained the CFMI process to the community leaders, local business owners, and members of the leadership team Morrow County assembled to discuss ideas for how to improve their community.
OCF provides a coach from the Ohio Practitioner's Network for Fathers and Families (OPNFF) to facilitate discussions with this leadership team and discuss various fatherhood ideas and assist with developing the three required goals.
- The program specifies that counties develop a Needs Assessment that surrounds fatherhood issues within their community. This data may consist of employment, income rates, housing, high school graduation rates, infant mortality, Child Support cases, teen pregnancies, single parents vs. married parents, foster and adoption, etc.
- They must hold a Community Conversation Meeting which includes the leadership team, local businesses, and the community leaders to discuss the findings from their needs assessment and show how they can improve the outcomes of fathers and children within their community. The OPNFF Coach will guide them on how to identify and apply for sustained funding for their county fatherhood initiative.
- The leadership team, with the help of their Coach, will develop the Action Plan by including the Needs Assessment data from previous meetings showing how they plan to spend the $10,000 implementation grant funds. The team leader will email their final Action Plan to the Ohio Commission Fatherhood (OCF) for review and approval. The Ohio Department of Children and Youth will send the $10,000 to the county's fiscal agent so that they can plan their event(s) accordingly.
Morrow County's assigned coach is Dr. Michael Newsom. He will provide three to six months of training (in-person, virtual, or via conference call) to the leadership team on how to develop or improve programs that help fathers become better parents, partners, and providers.
If your county is interested in learning more, please reach out to OCF.
Pictured above, left to right: Terri Simons, OCF; LeAnn Laughbaum, Morrow County Office of Child Support; OPNFF Coach Dr. Michael Newsom; Valerie Hart, Morrow County Child Support Administrator
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Can’t Get an Appointment? Telehealth Provides Immediate Mental and Behavior Health Support to Eligible Families
Behavioral and Mental Health Telehealth is available now for eligible children, youth, and families. This service provides immediate virtual mental and behavioral health support. This initiative is aimed at increasing timely access to behavioral and mental health supports to better meet the needs of children, youth, and families. Telehealth services can help to fill gaps, such as waitlists, that may exist until ongoing services can be established for the family.
This informational flyer can be shared with community members and families. To access this service, a child, youth, or family must be referred by a Public Children Services Agency (PCSA), Family and Children First Council (FCFC), or Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Consultant.
For questions or for information on how a PCSA, FCFC, or IECMH Consultant can make a referral, please contact Telehealth@childrenandyouth.ohio.gov.
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DCY Memos and Resources
No updates at this time.
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Children Services, Foster, Kinship, and Adoption |
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Children Services, Foster, Kinship, and Adoption programs provide caregivers with support via resources for their individualized needs.
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Save the Date for Ohio CASA’s 2025 Celebrate Kids!
Conference -- 30 Years of Impact Attorney Scholarship
Opportunity
Licensed attorneys who have served as a child’s guardian ad litem or counsel in Ohio juvenile court, or—new this year—counsel for a public children services agency in the past three years, may be eligible for FREE registration for the 2025 Celebrate Kids! Conference.
The 30th annual conference will take place September 24 – 26 at the Hyatt Regency, in downtown Columbus.
Registration Includes:
- Up to 12 hours of Sup.R. 48 credit, continuing legal education (CLE) including selected attorney professional conduct hours, and continuing professional education (CPE) credit
- Meals and snacks: breakfast and lunch on Thursday, breakfast on Friday
- Free parking at designated lots
Note: The attorney scholarship does not cover hotel accommodations. However, Ohio CASA has secured a discounted rate of $150/night (including tax) at the Hyatt for all attendees.
Conference registration opens in early July.
Please contact Megan Heydlauff with questions about attorney scholarship eligibility.
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New State Adoption Maintenance Subsidy (SAMS) Income Guidelines Available
DCY Director Kara Wente has issued a Procedure Letter to inform children services stakeholders that a new table is to be used starting July 1, 2025 to determine state adoption maintenance subsidy (SAMS) payments.
SFY26 Income Guidelines Now Available for the Kinship Permanency Incentive Program
Updated income guidelines are available for State Fiscal Year 2026 (SFY26) for the Kinship Permanency Incentive Program. For more information click on Procedure Letter 17.
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Programs are designed to provide support for teens and young adults who either are in foster care or have aged out of foster care systems and need assistance.
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Foster Care Month: Youth Celebrating Success
During May’s Foster Care Month, the Transitional Youth team at DCY received several inspiring stories from our partners. With the permission of all involved, Cuyahoga County shared a compilation of these stories. Lorain County contributed additional stories, detailing the journeys of hard-working young people who have promising futures ahead of them.
One of those was about Michael. Over the past few years, Michael has transformed into a responsible, loyal young man. Like many youth entering foster care, he initially struggled with frustration and anger. However, Michael has faced these challenges head-on and is now emerging as a young adult who is ready to take on the world.
Last summer, Michael successfully completed a work experience program, allowing him to save a significant amount of money in preparation for his emancipation. His work ethic and determination have truly shone through in his accomplishments.
In high school, Michael excelled on the football field and is now preparing to run track this spring. With graduation on the horizon, he is set to complete his high school education this spring and has ambitious plans for his future. Michael is preparing to join the Army, where he hopes to continue his journey of personal growth and service.
Above all, Michael is deeply committed to his friends, family, and community. He is always ready to lend a helping hand to those he cares about, demonstrating his loyalty and dedication to those who mean the most to him.
Michael's story, like many of Ohio's youth in care, is one of perseverance, dedication, and a promise for a bright future.
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DCY Memos and Resources
No updates at this time.
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