OHIO FAMILY & CHILDREN FIRST COORDINATORS ASSOCIATION CCAO Winter Conference December 2008 Welcome!

What are the Family and Children First Councils - Rooted in Ohio’s strong state commitment to collaboration with the establishment of the children’s Cabinet Council and the Ohio Family & Children First Initiative. Rooted in Ohio’s strong state commitment to collaboration with the establishment of the children’s Cabinet Council and the Ohio Family & Children First Initiative. Endorsed by Governor Ted Strickland and connected to his Turnaround Ohio Initiative. Chaired by Mrs. Frances Strickland. Endorsed by Governor Ted Strickland and connected to his Turnaround Ohio Initiative. Chaired by Mrs. Frances Strickland.

Why Family and Children First Councils are important - “…. You can, … achieve whatever visions you may have by tapping into resources and expertise of others…. We call this Collaborative Advantage.” From “Managing to Collaborate” Chris Huxham and Siv Vangen

FCFC Mandated Members At least three parents whose families have received services of a member agency Director of Mental Health and Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Services Director of Mental Health and Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Services Health Commissioner Health Commissioner Director of County Job and Family Services Director of County Job and Family Services Superintendent of the county Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Director of County Children Services Juvenile Court Judge (advisory) Superintendent of the county’s largest School District Each County Council must include the following

FCFC Mandated Members School superintendent representing all other school districts School superintendent representing all other school districts Representative of the County’s largest City Representative of the County’s largest City President of the Board of County Commissioners President of the Board of County Commissioners Representative of the regional offices of the Department of Youth Services Representative of the regional offices of the Department of Youth Services Representative of the county’s Head Start agency Representative of the county’s Early Childhood Coordinating Council Representative of a local nonprofit entity that funds, advocates, or provides services to children and families

Additional partners have been included, e.g. United Ways, Faith, and Business Partners. Family and Children First Councils Dynamic and Continually Developing

What are we about - Family and Children First Councils bring together public agencies, community organizations, other collaborative partners and parents committed to:

Improving the well-being of children and their families.

Streamline and coordinate existing services and reducing duplication.

Work to ensure that Ohio’s children will be safe, healthy, and succeed in school.

The Family and Children First Councils continually challenge public agencies and private partners to coordinate and streamline services to better serve children and their families and use available resources more effectively.

We do this by - Building Community Capacity – mobilizing child and family serving partners to address the needs of children and families through planning and implementing evidence-based programs; Building Community Capacity – mobilizing child and family serving partners to address the needs of children and families through planning and implementing evidence-based programs;

We do this by - Coordinating Systems of Service – providing a formulized venue to facilitate the alignment of resources, polices, and services with and for children and families; Coordinating Systems of Service – providing a formulized venue to facilitate the alignment of resources, polices, and services with and for children and families;

We do this by - Engaging and Empowering Families – recruiting and support families to become active contributing members on Council and advocate on behalf of child and family; and Engaging and Empowering Families – recruiting and support families to become active contributing members on Council and advocate on behalf of child and family; and

We do this by - Sharing Accountability for FCF’s Vision – monitoring, evaluating and communicating progress and successes with the commitment to assuring all families and children thrive. Sharing Accountability for FCF’s Vision – monitoring, evaluating and communicating progress and successes with the commitment to assuring all families and children thrive.

Family and Children First Councils are about building bridges of hope for children, youth, and their families through strategic partnerships and collaborative problem- solving.

Family and Children First Councils continually work to identify assets, strengths and needs in their county to develop innovative solutions that fit with the culture and character of their communities. Family and Children First Councils Dynamic and Continually Developing

Family and Children First Councils – Core Mandates Development and implementation of a process that annually evaluates and prioritizes services, fills service gaps where possible, and invents new approaches to achieve improved child well-being; ORC

… development of a countywide, comprehensive, coordinated…system for infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities or delays and their families… ORC Family and Children First Councils – Core Mandates

… ensure ongoing input from a broad representation of families who are receiving services within the county system. - ORC Family and Children First Councils – Core Mandates

Maintenance of an accountability system to monitor the county council's progress in achieving results for families and children ORC

Each county shall develop a county service coordination mechanism All family service coordination plans shall be developed in accordance with the county service coordination mechanism. Each mechanism shall include all of the following: All family service coordination plans shall be developed in accordance with the county service coordination mechanism. Each mechanism shall include all of the following:

SERVICE COORDINATION (1) Referral process (2) Team meeting and planning process (3) Family driven process (4) Strengths based process (5)Family support available (6) Tracking and monitoring outcomes (7) Confidentiality assured (8) Due process available

Family and Children First Councils New Requirements of HB 289 Establishing local indicators and monitoring the county's progress toward increasing child well-being. A … process to identify local priorities to increase child well- being.

Family and Children First Councils New Requirements of HB 289 Local priorities focus on Ohio’s Commitments to child well-being: Expectant parents and newborns thriving; Expectant parents and newborns thriving; Infants and toddlers thriving; Infants and toddlers thriving; Children being ready for school; Children being ready for school; Children and youth succeeding in school; Children and youth succeeding in school; Youth choosing healthy behaviors; and Youth choosing healthy behaviors; and Youth successfully transitioning into adulthood Youth successfully transitioning into adulthood

Family and Children First Councils – New Requirements of HB 289 Development of a four-year strategic plan that identifies the county's interagency efforts to increase child well-being. Development of a four-year strategic plan that identifies the county's interagency efforts to increase child well-being. Report annually to the County Commissioners and the State Cabinet Council on progress made in improving child well- being Report annually to the County Commissioners and the State Cabinet Council on progress made in improving child well- being

Local Strategic Planning for Emerging Issues – HB289 Guernsey County & Madison County How Does FCFCs Effect You???

What can you do… Continue to support the Ohio Family and Children First Initiative and local Councils 1. Ensuring that local planning and decision- making related to achieving positive outcomes for children and families occurs through the County Family and Children First Council. 2. Strengthening and supporting the role of the Family and Children First Councils in ensuring strong inter-system coordination to reduce duplication of services and barriers to children and families who need services.

For more information, presentations, position papers, resources, local council contact information and Annual Report please visit

Help us to continue to build upon our successes! Thank You!

CONTACTS: Carol Lichtenwalter, President Carol Lichtenwalter, President Ohio Family & Children First Coordinators’ Association Ohio Family & Children First Coordinators’ Association Phone: (330) , ext. 304 Phone: (330) , ext Chad Hibbs, Director Chad Hibbs, Director Guernsey County Family & Children First Council Guernsey County Family & Children First Council Phone: (740) Phone: (740) Saundra LaPrise, Executive Director Saundra LaPrise, Executive Director Madison County Family & Children First Council Madison County Family & Children First Council Phone: (740) Phone: (740)