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| The Office for Children and Families joined with the Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO) to sponsor a collaborative state and county planning and implementation effort for children and adult services in Ohio. This process continues the work of the Child Welfare Reform Shareholders Group , considers issues facing at-risk adults, and focuses on improving the ways we serve Ohio's most at-risk children, adults and families and their communities. This effort responds to the ongoing need to consciously accelerate our system's capacity to deliver effective services that are guided by federal and state laws, best practice standards, and federal and state outcome measures. |
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| In December 2001, OCF convened an Executive Leadership Forum to discuss the strategic planning model. This group included top level administrators from several state agencies, advocacy groups and professional organizations. These leaders were asked to support the planning process by committing staff time for leadership/guiding activities and by communicating the process and encouraging their partners and constituents to become involved in the community environmental scans. |
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A Guiding Group was then formed to lead the development and full implementation of the strategic program plan in the years ahead. The Guiding Group is composed of approximately 40 people and includes the Deputy Director of OCF and other administrative and program personnel. It also includes representatives from many segments of the public children and adult services system and key stakeholder groups, such as foster parents, providers, child advocates, Child Welfare Reform Shareholder Group members, and others with an interest in improving our system.
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Child and Family Services Review/Program Improvement Plan
We are currently working on revisions to the 2002 - 2004 Strategic Plan and will incorporate the findings and goals stated in the Child and Family Services Review and our federally approved Program Improvement Plan. In addition, these findings and goals have been incorporated into the Child and Family Services Plan for 2005 - 2009. The Child and Family Services Review and the Program Improvement Plan have assisted us in the coordination of efforts aimed at the safety, well-being and permanency of children and families. This coordination will continue through the life cycle of the CFSP 2005 - 2009.
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Environmental Scans and Communicate the Plan Sessions:
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The two year strategic planning process began with a series of 15 environmental scans in January 2002. More than 500 individuals attended these scans and provided information on their hopes for Ohio's children, adults, families and communities and on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges faced by the children and adult services system. The data compiled from these scans were used by the Guiding Group in developing this strategic plan.
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Additionally, once the Guiding Group drafted the strategic plan, a series of 12 Communicate the Plan Sessions were scheduled for March 2002. More than 200 individuals attended these sessions to determine if the Guiding Group accurately, and adequately, incorporated the feedback gained from the 15 Environmental Scans.
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Incorporation of the Governor Taft's Commitments:
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To help ensure that the strategic planning process supports achieving federal and state priorities related to child welfare, the session began by reviewing the outcome measures used for the federal Child and Family Services Review and Ohio's Commitments to Child Well-Being.
The federal measures include three areas: |
Safety:
- Children are first and foremost protected from abuse and neglect.
- Children are safely maintained in their own homes whenever possible and appropriated.
Permanency:
- Children have permanency and stability in their living situations.
- The continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved for children.
Well-Being:
- Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children's needs.
- Children receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs.
- Children receive adequate services to meet their physical and mental health needs.
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These federal goals reflect many of Ohio's Commitments to Child Well-Being as outlined by Governor Taft. Ohio's commitments are broad based and achieving them will take the concerted efforts of state and local governments and their partners and stakeholders. These commitments are:
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- Expectant parents and newborns thrive.
- Infants and toddlers thrive.
- Children are ready for school.
- Children and youth succeed in school.
- Youth choose healthy behaviors.
- Youth successfully transition into adulthood.
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