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MEMBER RESOURCES For Members Only (The below resources require Membership or Login/Password.) Member-Only Events View Calendar Provider Service and Billing Q & A View the Resource Nonprofit Insurance Solutions Learn More & Get Resources Need Assistance Accessing your Organization's Profile Contact Us Need more details? GET IN TOUCH

OUR WORK We aim to ensure that Ohio’s evolving public policies result in a system that is integrated, efficient, cost effective, and beneficial to those that matter most—children and families. We work closely with state government officials, including leaders at ODJFS, OMHAS, the Governor’s office, General Assembly, and officials at the county and federal levels. Learn More > Educate.| Advocate.| Innovate.| Connect. Mission The Ohio Children’s Alliance, applies the collective strength of its members to sustainably improve the provision of services to children, young adults, and families through policy advocacy, performance improvement, and member support. Our Program Initiatives Professional Education Intentionally providing trainings, workshops, and conference content focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, and evidence-based and best practices in behavioral health, child welfare, and leadership. Details Coming Soon Child & Adolescent Center of Excellence Ohio’s statewide program to assess, improve and expand service and care coordination capacity for children with complex behavioral health needs and their families. Learn More Early Childhood Mental Health Furthering trauma prevention and community supports by connecting child care centers and families with high-quality mental health services. Learn More Ohio Reach A support network program in higher ed institutions across the state of Ohio designed to support former foster youth as they pursue a certificate or degree. Learn More Foster Home Recruitment Partnering with ODJFS’s It Takes Heart Ohio Campaign to increase awareness and the number of qualified kinship, foster care and adoptive families across the state. Details Coming Soon 2022 Annual Highlights 2022 Impact Statement View Our Reports: Vision The best system for better results. Core Values Every child is entitled to respect as an individual with rights, dreams, and hopes. Every child deserves a safe and healthy environment in which to thrive. Serving children in need today will benefit society tomorrow. We are partners in achieving positive outcomes for children and families by addressing their physical, psychological, social, educational, vocational, and spiritual needs. By working together we can do more good for our clients, our communities, and ourselves. We are committed to lifelong learning and continuing education in best practices. Show your support with the "Kids First" specialty license plate > ​ Shop Our Products > Reports Our Work EDUCATE Dedicated to sharing knowledge, resources and opportunities. Ohio Children’s Alliance places deep value on education and collaboration as a direct means to improvement of service provision for Ohio’s families and children. We convene trainings, webinars, committee presentations, and conferences to equip our members with the knowledge they need to remain successful. ADVOCATE Dedicated to building efficient paths to the best outcomes for Ohio’s children. Our Alliance aims to ensure that Ohio’s evolving public policies result in a system that is integrated, efficient, cost effective, and beneficial to those that matter most – children and families. Ohio Children’s Alliance recognizes behavioral health as a critical service to vulnerable children and families. INNOVATE Dedicated to promoting the needs of Ohio’s children by being in front, up front and exceedingly prepared for the future. In the ever-changing child and family services landscape, innovation is imperative. Ohio Children’s Alliance strives to find new ways to engage members, increase efficiency, and expand offerings to provide a dynamic membership experience in service to children and families. CONNECT Dedicated to fostering a respected community of collaborators. Ohio Children’s Alliance was originally created in 1973 to connect providers and in doing so, to strengthen advocacy efforts, information-sharing, and cohesive collaboration in the child and family services sector. We continue to be a stable, effective organization that puts support of our members first. Need more details? Contact us. Contact Us

AmeriCorps Peer Mentors Ky Rodriguez Ky Rodriguez is currently a student at Ohio University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Pre-Law. She is passionate about the environment and has been a strong advocate for foster care youth in the state of Ohio. Ky has also had the pleasure of advocating on behalf of herself and other foster youth on the national level through ACTION OHIO. She hopes to share her experience with other young people and help guide them through the emancipation process. Lamar Graham Lamar Graham is a former foster youth who spent 8 years in care. After completing his first bachelor’s degree and working for some time, he decided to head back to school to get a short-term certificate to pursue a career in supply chain management. He is passionate about sharing his experiences and using it to guide young people currently in the foster care system. Amadea Jennings Amadea Jennings is a senior at the Ohio State University majoring in Social Work. With her education, she plans to work with youth who are currently in, or have aged out of the foster care system. With her experience being a previous foster child herself; her hope is to inspire even just one young person to know all things are possible, despite your background. Cloe Cooper Cloe Cooper is a former foster youth who serves as Housing Liaison for ACTION Ohio . She also serves as a Children's Services Transformation Intern for ODJFS, as a member of the Ohio Supreme Court subcommittee responding to Child Abuse Neglect & Dependency, as a member of the OhioRISE Advisory Council, and as a Peer Mentor through Ohio Children’s Alliance and Americorps. Cloé is the Founder and President of the Fostering Achievement Network a support network for former foster youth attending The Ohio State University. She co-facilitates Project PASSION , which provides no-cost professional attire to current and former foster youth entering the workforce in central Ohio and volunteer's with RLC Columbus , a non-profit organization that seeks to end food waste in the Columbus, Ohio community. Interested in Applying to Become a Peer Mentor? ​ Email Us

BH PROVIDERS Mental Health Bridge Resources: Referral Management Guide April 2024 Referral Management Demo Slide Deck April 2024 Referral Management Demo April 2024 MHBEC Provider Manual 2024 How to complete MHBEC Services Rendered & Claims Submission Template Jan 2024 How to access your Secure Folder(s) MHBEC Services Rendered & Claims Submission Template 2024(Excel File) MHBEC Invoice Template 2024 (Excel File) Required Documentation for Services Without Caregiver Present MHBEC Provider Map March 2024 MHBEC Provider Incentive Options 2024 Back to Mental Health Bridge Program Interested in Learning More? ​ Email Us Parents of children enrolled in participating child care centers should contact the child care center to make a referral. View Program Flyer See All Our Programs Get the Details

Kids First SPECIALTY PLATES Purchase a Plate & Drive Support for At-Risk Children ​ Ohio drivers can show you care for at-risk children with the new Ohio “Kids First” specialty license plate, which is now available for purchase through the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and oplates.com . Sales of the plate benefit Ohio Children’s Alliance, with $25 of each $35 license plate fee helping to advance the association’s mission. Ohio Children’s Alliance is the oldest statewide child advocacy organization in Ohio, comprised of over 90 community agencies that serve at-risk youth, young adults, and families by providing the support they need to succeed. How to Get Your Plate ​ Go to OPLATES.com , visit any Ohio Deputy Registrar location, or call the Ohio BMV at 1-800-589-TAGS. Online Instructions: Go to OPLATES.com If you want to swap out your current plates with Kids First plates, click “Ohio Plates” and follow prompts (most typical option). If you want to purchase new Kids First plates, click “Special Plates Availability Check” and follow prompts. Select vehicle type. Select “CHILDREN’S ALLIANCE” from the drop box. You will receive a confirmation notice via email from OPLATES.com once you complete your transaction. Do I have to wait until my renewal period to get the Kids First plate for my vehicle? You can exchange your current license plate for a Kids First specialty license plate by choosing the “Exchange Your Plates” option on OPlates.com. Or exchange your plates in person at the Deputy Registrar. Can I personalize my Kids First license plate? Yes, you can personalize your Kids First plate. The fees for personalization of all plates, including the Kids First plate, are retained by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and will not benefit Ohio Children’s Alliance. What if I have a leased vehicle? You can purchase a Kids First license plate for your leased vehicle. To do so, obtain a power of attorney form from the leasing company to submit with your renewal registration form. What happens when I renew my plates next year? Plate renewals will provide continued support to Ohio’s children. A portion of your annual or bi-annual renewal fees will also benefit Ohio Children’s Alliance.

MEMBER LEVELS & BENEFITS Help us ensure that Ohio’s evolving public policies result in a system that is integrated, efficient, cost effective, and beneficial. Benefits of Membership: Advocacy & Resources Ongoing communication via emails, webinars, and in-person meetings to keep members informed about policy updates and best practices Discussion about state and county issues, including Medicaid and ODJFS rules Representation through Lobbying and Advocacy Representation at policy and practice decision-making ‘tables’ that help form the direction of child welfare and behavioral health issues in Ohio Professional lobbyist services in developing and tracking legislation Analysis of policy, practice, and research Access to national issues via our membership to Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, Family-Focused Treatment Association (FFTA), Open Minds, and National Organization of State Alliances for Children (NOSAC) Access to our Collaborative initiatives and membership, Learn More > Access to insurance solutions and free resources from Nonprofits Insurance Alliance > JOIN US TODAY! View Our 2022 Annual Report Leading Change for Child & Family Service Providers Read more details in our 2022 Impact Report Innovation & Best Practices Demonstrate your commitment to higher standards in child and family services by your observance of Ohio Children’s Alliance core values Become a leader within Ohio’s first statewide child advocacy organization Benefit from CEO’s network (15 years with Ohio Children’s Alliance and advocating on behalf of child and family service providers) Gain networking opportunities with important stakeholders Receive invitations to special meetings and committees with state policy makers including ODJFS, OhioMHAS, Medicaid, ODE, the Governor’s office, and managed care plan leaders Enhance your agency’s credentials with opportunities for staff development Participate in regular association meetings with colleagues formed around similar interests, disciplines and concerns including Behavioral Health, Foster Care & Adoption, Residential Centers and Group Homes, Day Treatment Be featured in our membership directory and website Education & Professional Development Take advantage of many opportunities for continuing education with CSWMFT certified provider for Counselors and Social Workers. Receive CEUs directly uploaded to CE Broker. Access to many training events throughout the year on trauma informed care and evidence-based practices, such as TF-CBT Access to member-only webinars, training resources and consultation Discounted registration to Ohio Children’s Alliance conferences, training events, and online Learning Management System Free job posts on Job Board Membership Levels: The cost of full membership to Ohio Children’s Alliance is based on your agency’s previous fiscal year expenditures. Most non‐profit agencies can find this figure on line 18 of their IRS 990 form. Agencies may also find this figure on their JFS 02911 Single Cost Report form under “Total Agency Cost” section. View All Dues Details Additional Cost-Savings Benefits: Participation in the Workers’ Compensation Group Rating Program with Comp Management has saved member agencies thousands of dollars each year. Members typically save 53% on their Workers’ Compensation rate depending on the number of employees and claims history. In addition, this program provides consultation to agencies who have experienced a negative claim history to help design and implement risk reduction strategies that return the agency to eligibility for our discounted program. For more information, contact Kathy Redmond at 614-376-5409. Council on Accreditation provides Ohio Children’s Alliance member agencies a 25% discount on the cost of accreditation. For more information email Zoe Hutchinson or call (212) 871-1972 Nonprofits have the exclusive opportunity to take advantage of a federal law that lets them opt out of the state unemployment tax and only pay the dollar-for-dollar costs of benefits paid to their former employees. For organizations with 10 or more employees, this can mean thousands of dollars in savings. For more information, contact one of UST’s Unemployment Cost Advisors at (888) 249-4788 or fill out a complimentary Savings Evaluation here . Questions About Membership? CONTACT US TODAY MEMBER TESTIMONIALS

Case Transfers Weekly Email 11/25/20 • It is the transferring agency's responsibility to ensure all aspects of the SACWIS and paper case files are up-to-date and accurate. This includes eligibility documentation. It is best practice for the gaining agency to review the case file to ensure it is complete and to consult with the transferring agency if there are any questions about the Participant or discrepancies in the case file(s). Some issues were discovered during the recent BCAT audits of discrepancies that occurred prior to the case transfer. Those discrepancies will be attributed to the transferring agency's audit results. It is also vitally important to review all eligibility paper work to ensure there are no concerns prior to transferring the case; gaining agencies should be sure to conduct their own audit as well. Weekly Email 11/19/20 • Just a continued reminder to keep eligibility documentation at the top of your priority lists. Documentation must be received and reviewed monthly. Again, please be on the lookout for documentation that may be fraudulent as we are seeing an uptick. Please reach out to schools, employers, etc., to verify if you suspect something is not right with the documentation received.

Legal Updates and Reminders Weekly Email 11/25/20 • If Participants change their address, exit or transfer prior to their required court hearing, it is imperative that you alert your legal team Weekly Email 11/3/20 • As a reminder, please ensure all correspondence regarding Participants remains professional and factual. This includes texts, emails and activity logs both directly with the Participants or internally between staff members. Please understand, any of this type of correspondence will need to be produced if a subpoena is issued. It does not matter if you use you use your personal cell phone or an agency cell phone in the course of your work; all information pertaining to a Participant can be requested via subpoena. • If you receive any subpoenas, signed releases of information or any other requests for program or Participant information from an attorney or law firm, send those immediately to your Regional Coordinator and/or ODJFS Policy Developer. You cannot release any Participant information until any request has been vetted by the ODJFS legal team. Weekly Email 11/4/20 •Starting immediately, our legal team will be entering the SACWIS activity logs for you indicating the required paperwork was sent to the court at least 14 days prior to the scheduled hearing. They have received guidance on how to code the activity logs. A few other reminders: o Your legal team also needs to know when Participants transfer or if their address changes o You should also be checking SACWIS to ensure the activity logs have been entered when getting close to 14 days prior to the hearing. If one happens to be missing, please send the legal team a quick email to resolve the issue. o Also, don't forget to reach out to the legal team if a Participant is approaching the time when a Best Interest or Reasonable Efforts hearing needs to happen and you haven't received any correspondence from them regarding the hearing. Weekly Email 10/13/20 • Process/Timing Change: To comply with State rule and the State Hearings Process, we need to make a change to when Notices of Termination (NOT) are either mailed or delivered to Participants. Moving forward all NOT's must be mailed or delivered to Participants fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the termination date indicated on the Notice of Ineligibility (NOI). If you have any questions about this please reach out to us. o If the 15th day falls on a weekend, the NOT must be mailed or delivered on the Friday before o If the Participant regains eligibility during the fifteen (15) day period prior to termination, simply invalidate the NOT and move forward o Do not terminate or end date anything in SACWIS until the actual NOI/NOT effective date done o Enter an activity log indicating when the NOT was sent or delivered o Enter another activity log if the Participant becomes eligible and the NOT is being invalidated o For Participants turning 21/aging out a NOT at 60 days prior to their 21st birthday is all that needs to be done o The Participant still has 15 days from the day the NOT was mailed or delivered to file an appeal and receive benefits -- this has not changed. The 15 days just occurs before the NOT date now, not after.  If the Participant files an appeal between the time they receive the NOT and the termination effective date, but becomes eligible prior to the termination effective date they should be instructed to withdraw the appeal  If the Participant files an appeal between the time they receive the NOT and termination effective date, but does not become eligible prior to the termination effective date, the same process we have now is still in place  If the Participant is terminated and has filed an appeal, but reenrolls before their hearing, they should be instructed to withdraw the appeal

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP Corporate Sponsorships Help Advance Our Mission & Work ​ Ohio Children's Alliance was founded as Ohio’s first statewide child advocacy organization in 1973. Our mission is to position community agencies for success in serving children. Through connection, advocacy, education, and innovation, we are advancing the field of child and family services and improving outcomes for hundreds of thousands of children and families across our state. By leveraging virtual and in-person experiences in 2022, our various educational opportunities reached more than 2,100 child-serving professionals and more than 450 organizations, with more than 22 corporate partners impacting and enabling these opportunities. View our 50th Anniversary Corporate Sponsorship Options Corporate Sponsor Levels: Interested in Sponsoring as a Premier or Advocacy Sponsor? View the Brochure above to learn more, and contact: Chief Advocacy Officer Sarah LaTourette at sarah.latourette@ohiochildrensalliance.org Become a Sponsor Today Advocate We advocate on dozens of children’s policy issues to leaders in state departments, the Ohio General Assembly, Governor’s office, and the federal government. Join as a corporate sponsor and be a part of the excitement and impact of our advocacy focused Annual Conference, April 18-19. Educate We advance the field of child and family services through our professional education, hosting nationally recognized speakers, state elected officials, a nd leading researchers to showcase new ideas and emerging technology. Join as a corporate sponsor and find more opportunities to share in educating professionals in our sector. Innovate 2022 brought new innovations in service delivery as we grew and expanded our impact. Together, we are expanding resources and access to care for children and families. Our innovation and successes are greatly attributed to the involvement and support of our corporate partners. Connect We advance our mission by connecting advocates, policy makers, and community leaders to advance change. More and more, our programs are also directly connecting young adults and families to new resources. We welcome corporate partners to join and impact connection. Thank you 2022 Corporate Partners! Need more details? Contact us. GET IN TOUCH

PROGRAMS Early Childhood Mental Health The Ohio Children’s Alliance, serving as a subgrantee of the Ohio Department of Children & Youth (ODCY) and Child Care Resource and Referral Association (OCCRRA) administers two statewide programs intended to support, expand and strengthen Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Services. The projects include: Mental Health Bridge (subgrantee of ODCY) — A referral platform will be developed to connect Ohio Child Care centers, and parents of the children enrolled, with a statewide network of ECMH specialists who are available to provide in-home, office-based, and virtual mental health services to Ohio's young children Expand Therapeutic Child Care (subgrantee of OCCRRA) — The goal of this project is to expand access to evidence-based intensive services by providing grant dollars to promote new and expand existing therapeutic child care centers. OhioMHAS certified community mental health agencies will commit to partnering with an ODJFS licensed child care center to design and implement the program. All selected entities will implement a therapeutic child care program built upon evidence-based mental health practices. Learn More Interested in Learning More? Contact Us Today! See All Our Programs Get the Details

DONATE Thank You for Your Support! You can choose what your contribution will support: Ohio Children's Alliance - general fund Higher education scholarship fund for former foster youth Emergency fund for former foster youth enrolled in higher education Action Ohio - improving outcomes after foster care Make a Gift 2:Founding Membes Founding Members *Adriel School *Beech Acres Parenting Center *Beech Brook Bellefaire Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Children’s Center *Buckeye Boy’s Ranch The Children’s Home Association of Butler County *The Children’s Home of Cincinnati *The Cleveland Christian Home Cummings Flat Rock Children’s Home Lutheran Orphans’ and Old Folks’ Home Society *The Marsh Foundation School Marycrest School Midwestern Children’s Home *Oesterlen Home for Children Ohio Boys Town Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home Children’s Village of Parmadale Rosemont School Saint Anthony Villa *St. Joseph Home for Children *Current member Need more details? Contact us. GET IN TOUCH

FOSTERING FUTURES PROGRAM The Ohio Children’s Alliance, in collaboration with Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, is excited to launch the Fostering Futures Program. This program will allow skilled, motivated, and driven Ohio Opportunity Youth (OOY) who are interested in pursuing education and training to launch their career. With additional support from The Columbus Foundation, the Ingram-White Castle Foundation, Columbus State Community College, and The Buckeye Ranch we are committed to designing a new career pathway to empower OOY to overcome adversity, achieve goals, and become productive members of our community. The Fostering Futures pilot begins May 2024 in Central Ohio, with course work beginning June 2024. The pilot program will include four main sections: ​ Culinary Skills Training Provided by Columbus State Community College, youth will attend 16 weeks of tailored coursework, ending with an optional credit assessment. Success Coaching Contracted through the Buckeye Ranch, the Success Coach will provide participating OOY with career assistance and resource connections beginning with orientation, through post-placement job mentoring. The Success Coach will distribute Emergency and Normalcy Funds as needed to reduce barriers to success. Employer Engagement Hospitality and Food Service Employers will collaborate with the Ohio Children’s Alliance to provide job placements. Outreach, Engagement, and Recruitment With a focus on program awareness, youth enrollment, and building connections with community partners. Launch your career, with Fostering Futures! ​ ​ ​ Free tailored college credited course through Columbus State Community College Financial support to reduce barriers to help you prioritize classes Receive personalized support from our expert success coaches for the duration of the program Opportunity for paid job placement at Cameron Mitchell Restaurants ​ Student Eligibility: Be between 18 and 24 years old Have an interest in a career in the Culinary or Hospitality field Are facing barriers to employment, are currently or previously unhoused, or were placed in foster care Are able to attend classes and work in Columbus Due to the nature of this opportunity, we are limited to accepting a select group of students. Please note, all applicants will receive an accepted or declined response. Apply Today! Thank you to our program partners!

BRIDGES APPLICATION Please complete the form below: Need more details? Contact us. Contact Us

Notice of Ineligibility and Terminations Weekly Email 10/13/20 • Process/Timing Change: To comply with State rule and the State Hearings Process, we need to make a change to when Notices of Termination (NOT) are either mailed or delivered to Participants. Moving forward all NOT's must be mailed or delivered to Participants fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the termination date indicated on the Notice of Ineligibility (NOI). If you have any questions about this please reach out to us. o If the 15th day falls on a weekend, the NOT must be mailed or delivered on the Friday before o If the Participant regains eligibility during the fifteen (15) day period prior to termination, simply invalidate the NOT and move forward o Do not terminate or end date anything in SACWIS until the actual NOI/NOT effective date o Enter an activity log indicating when the NOT was sent or delivered o Enter another activity log if the Participant becomes eligible and the NOT is being invalidated o For Participants turning 21/aging out an NOT at 60 days prior to their 21st birthday is all that needs to be done o The Participant still has 15 days from the day the NOT was mailed or delivered to file an appeal and receive benefits -- this has not changed. The 15 days just occurs before the NOT date now, not after.  If the Participant files an appeal between the time they receive the NOT and the termination effective date, but becomes eligible prior to the termination effective date they should be instructed to withdraw the appeal  If the Participant files an appeal between the time they receive the NOT and termination effective date, but does not become eligible prior to the termination effective date, the same process we have now is still in place  If the Participant is terminated and has filed an appeal, but reenrolls before their hearing, they should be instructed to withdraw the appeal Weekly Email 10/1/20 • I want to clarify some confusion that arose with NOI's and NOT's after our last regional meetings. All NOI's and NOT's must be either hand delivered to the Participant or left in a secure location at their place of residence or mailed to their last known address. If you want to follow up with an email to the Participant, that is fine, but it must be done only after one of the first three official options has been accomplished and documented in SACWIS.

Activity Logs Weekly Email 12/4/20 • Back and forth calls/text/emails that occur within the same day can be documented in 1 activity log, but activities that occur on different days should be entered separately. In other words, you cannot enter two or more days of correspondence in a single activity log; they must be entered on the date they occurred. Weekly Email 10/1/20 • Just a reminder to be sure to add an activity log clearly indicating a copy of the signed Bridges Plan was provided to the Participant. The requirement to send a copy of the signed plan to Participant is seven (7) calendar days after they signed it. o Also, proper coding of activity logs is essential. There are resources on the Portal to help guide you through the proper coding. Refer to Activity Log Coding Guide for notes needed to document visits outside of the home, court hearings, email correspondence and text correspondence. The Case Closure Template, Monthly Home Visit Template, Supervisor Activity Log Template and the Case Transfer Template all provide specific guidance for those activities. Weekly Email 8/26/20 • As a reminder -- verbal signatures is the option of last resort and is part of the COVID Flexibility only. Additionally, if not reviewing these documents in person, then the Liaison/Supervisor needs to call the young adult and review with them. Simply sending a text message asking if they understand them is not sufficient. I understand we are working with a text generation, but reviewing an application for a State program and the document that puts someone in the Care and Placement of the State requires a conversation to ensure understanding. Weekly Email 8/20/20 • Activity logs need to be detailed and must have the creator's signature. Time must be taken to ensure notes are complete and fully detail the event with or on behalf of the Participant. • Supervisor and Monthly Home visit templates must be used. These tools were developed to ensure very important case information, dates and follow up actions are not being missed. Taking the time to complete them fully from month to month is also another great way to become familiar with cases and any updates for hearings, emergency situations, etc. Not to mentioned, they provide others with a window into the case should any additional intervention or technical assistance be needed. Weekly Email 8/7/20 • Some additional Activity Log and Template reminders: o All Activity Logs need to have the creator signature -- they are not complete without it. o The Activity Log Template for Monthly Home Visits needs to be used at least monthly and please ensure the narrative is detailed. See the guide and examples on the Portal for help. o The Case Closure Summary Template needs to be completed for each closure to ensure all case closures are done completely and correctly. The Case Closure Template is also on the Portal.

OUR STORY Founded in 1973, Ohio Children’s Alliance is Ohio’s first statewide child advocacy organization. Formerly known as the Ohio Association of Child Caring Agencies, the Ohio Children’s Alliance is Ohio’s premiere membership organization for community agencies who serve vulnerable children and families. Learn Our History Learn About Our Work While priorities change overtime, the needs of children do not. Our children deserve a system that provides for their needs and optimal growth. We have a vision for the best system for better results. Through its mission, the Ohio Children’s Alliance, Inc. applies the collective strength of its members to sustainably improve the provision of services to children, young adults, and families through policy advocacy, performance improvement, and member support. ​ The Ohio Children’s Alliance provides partners with community agencies to drive solutions to Ohio’s most complex problems facing children, families, and communities. For over 40 years, Ohio Children’s Alliance has worked to ensure that Ohio’s evolving public policies result in a system that is integrated, efficient, and beneficial to those that matter most – children and families. View the List Our alliance had 32 founding members. Our History On January 5, 1973, Ohio Children’s Alliance, “The Alliance” (then: Ohio Association of Child Caring Agencies) became the first statewide child advocacy organization in Ohio. Founded by a group of child welfare leaders, its purpose was to twofold: first, to create an advocacy presence to communicate the needs of children and providers to the state government; and second, to improve the quality of treatment services for children. Its first officers, President George Stevens, President-Elect Don Harris, Secretary John Caddey, and Treasurer Len Ziglar are credited as its founders. The Alliance’s first office was donated by the UMCH Family Services campus in Worthington, Ohio, and clerical support was donated by Oesterlen Services for Youth. In 1976, Ohio Children’s Alliance hired its first Executive Director, the late Ms. Virginia Colson Leidheiser. Virginia had previously been chair of the Franklin County Children Services Board and led efforts to create the first source of state funding for child welfare. During the 1970s, Ohio Children’s Alliance was responsible for achieving many “firsts”: First statewide newsletter of child welfare issues First statewide conference for public children service agencies and private providers First advocacy group to represent the needs of children and families to the Ohio General Assembly First statewide organization to join the Child Welfare League of America and participate in national-level advocacy efforts First major supporter for the establishment of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program in Ohio Further collaboration and training efforts with public children service agencies led to formation of the Public Children Services Association of Ohio in 1980. The Ohio Association of Child and Youth Care Professionals also formed out of Ohio Children’s Alliance and became an independent entity of its own during this time. In the 1980s, the Alliance membership and staff grew. Agencies began providing care and support to children in home and community-based settings, including treatment foster homes. In 1985, Virginia Colson retired and Penny Wyman, a legislative aide in the Ohio House of Representatives, succeeded her as Executive Director, a position she kept for twenty-six years. During the 1980s, the Alliance also moved into its own office on 400 East Town Street in downtown Columbus. During the early 2000s, Ohio Children’s Alliance moved into the LeVeque Tower in downtown Columbus and further expanded its staff and member resources. In 2005, the Alliance became a pioneer in developing one of the first software systems in the country for child welfare and behavioral health outcome management. The Outcomes Data Project (ODP), was an innovative solution to support agencies’ abilities to measure their program performance and provide an objective basis for clinical and financial decision making. Since its official launch in 2007, 22 member agencies participated in the project. Data findings from the project have been featured in several professional journal articles and Ph.D. dissertations. The project ended in 2016. In 2011, Associate Director Mark Mecum was named CEO, and moved Ohio Children’s Alliance into a location on Bethel Road in northern Columbus for five years, and later to their present location at Corporate Exchange, also in northern Columbus. In 2017, the Alliance founded a provider network, the Child and Family Health Collaborative of Ohio, which provides an opportunity for health plans and other payors to partner with participating community providers to improve health and social outcomes, achieve savings, foster health integration, and establish administrative efficiencies. 1:History 2:Founding Membes Founding Members *Adriel School *Beech Acres Parenting Center *Beech Brook *Bellefaire *Berea Children's Home Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Children’s Center *Buckeye Boy’s Ranch The Children’s Home Association of Butler County *The Children’s Home of Cincinnati *The Cleveland Christian Home Cummings Flat Rock Children’s Home *Lutheran Orphans’ and Old Folks’ Home Society *The Marsh Foundation School Marycrest School Midwestern Children’s Home *Oesterlen Home for Children Ohio Boys Town Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home Children’s Village of Parmadale *Rosemont School *Saint Anthony Villa *St. Joseph Home for Children *Current member Need more details? 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Housing Weekly Email 12/11/20 • Clarification on FYI Vouchers: Because Bridges is extended foster care, our Participants cannot receive both the FYI voucher and be served in Bridges simultaneously. Right now, our best strategy is still to assist Participants with the voucher process as part of their discharge plan from Bridges. The timeframe to start the process will depend heavily on the availability/timing of receiving the voucher. Best practice dictates that at approximately 90 days prior to termination, contact is made with the local housing authority to determine the availability and timing. This is because, if a voucher is received by a Participant, they have a very short window of time to use the voucher which may include finding an approved landlord and moving. If not used in that window, they risk losing it and cannot get it again; vouchers can only be received one time. o For Participants terminating from Bridges who may wish to reenroll, they will need to be aware prior to termination that they have a choice: They can either apply for an FYI voucher and work with their county's post emancipation services for additional support or reenroll in Bridges without the FYI voucher. The best strategy here is to explain that if they reenroll in Bridges, we will pay rent and provide all of the other services until they turn 21 at which time, they can apply for the FYI voucher and get the most benefit from it. o If by chance a young person wants to enroll in Bridges who already has an FYI voucher, they will need to terminate the voucher with the housing authority prior to enrolling in Bridges. o Another great strategy is to advocate to landlords to become Section 8 certified which would significantly benefit Participants by not having to move upon discharge. Weekly Email 11/13/20 • Please remember that we should not be contacting a young adult still in PCSA/IV-E Court/DYS custody without obtaining permission first. Once you have reached out to their worker and received permission to contact the young person, simply enter it into an activity log. Weekly Email 11/4/20 • Eligibility Clarification: Some applications have been submitted with a weekly pay stub or work schedule indicating the Participant will or did work 20 hours for a given week which is not sufficient to determine eligibility. In order for a Participant to be eligible for Bridges, he or she must show 80 hours over a consecutive 30-day period. Therefore, documentation that supports only 20 hours in a given week is not sufficient because we need to show 80 hours over 30-days. Weekly Email 10/23/20 • A few words on our In-home and Supportive In-home housing types: o When using the Supportive In-home housing type, please ensure that additional supports are actually taking place. Additional supports are typically in the form of life skills (assistance with cooking, shopping, budgeting, homework, cleaning, transportation) and "family" interaction (sharing meals, holidays, special events). When doing visits, check in to be sure these kinds of activities are occurring. o The base rate for these housing types is $300 for In-home and $400 for Supportive In-home. Depending on the services, this rate can be increased slightly. If there are other expenses the Participant and the Provider have agreed to share such as utilities, food, phone/internet, those will be annotated accordingly on the Participant's budget. o Regardless of the In-home type, a Host Home Agreement (found on the Portal) needs to be accomplished. This includes a walkthrough "inspection" of the living situation to ensure it is safe and habitable. • Guidance for Landlords to become Section 8 Certified (Provided on the Portal) o Many of the landlords serving our Participants are already section 8 certified which allows the Participant to remain stably housed in their existing apartment as they transition out of Bridges if they have a Section 8 certificate or FYI voucher. If their landlord is not section 8 certified there is a good chance the Participant will need to move in order to continue to afford the rent post Bridges. o Please provide this information to as many Landlords as possible to help our Participants remain stably housing and avoid the stress of moving. o Remember that FYI vouchers need to be part of the Participant's exit plan and they should be encouraged to apply for these vouchers 3-6 months prior to program exit. We will provide additional information/updates in our December Regional meeting regarding FYI Vouchers. Weekly Email 10/13/20 • If you need a date corrected for a housing, service tier, or a dependent record please send these requests to your ODJFS Policy Developer vs. utilizing the Helpdesk. Doing so will ensure updates happen quickly.

OUR GOVERNANCE Officers: ​ President Sarah Steuer Youth Advocate Services ​ President-Elect Jane Anderson CHOICE S ​ Immediate Past-President John Banchy Best Point Education & Behavioral Health Secretary Paul Haffner Lighthouse Youth & Family Services ​ Treasurer Vickie Thompson- Sandy The Buckeye Ranch General Representatives: LaVisa Bell Beech Brook ​ Leigh Hall Wingspan Care Group ​ Cheryl Tarantino Northeast Ohio Adoption Services ​ Nancy Harvey Community Teaching Homes ​ Matt Kresic Cadence Care Network ​ Rebecca Ranford Beech Acres Parenting Center Kelli Ott Thrive Therapeutics ​ Matt Mitchell Pressley Ridge ​ Terry Jones Eastway Corporation ​ Charity Wheeler Journey Home Foster Care ​ Rich Graziano The Village Network Annual Reports: 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 File Archive IRS 990 Forms: 2022 2021 2019 2018 2017 2016 Need more details? Contact us. Contact Us

Learn How We're Making an Impact See our recent accomplishments ! 2023 Annual Report EDUCATE Sharing knowledge, resources, and opportunities. ADVOCATE Building efficient paths to the best outcomes for Ohio's children and families INNOVATE Promoting the needs of Ohio's children by being in front, up front, and exceedingly prepared for the future. CONNECT Fostering a respected community of collaborators. Ohio Children’s Alliance applies the collective strength of its members to sustainably improve the provision of services to children, young adults, and families through policy advocacy, performance improvement, and member support. MORE ABOUT OUR WORK MEMBER TESTIMONIALS

PROGRAMS Early Childhood Mental Health: Mental Health Bridge Established in 2022, Ohio Mental Health Bridge is a new program aimed at expanding access to mental health services for children in Ohio child care centers licensed by ODJFS. An Innovative Early Childhood Program The program offers an online referral tool that assists in setting up ongoing mental health services for children delivered by mental health agencies located in their community. Services may include office-based therapy, home-based treatment, virtual mental health visits, and more. Ohio’s Mental Health Bridge will build upon and supplement other state government investments in early childhood mental health. Find resources below for behavioral health providers and for childcare centers. ​ ​ ​ Learn how we're bridging the gap for mental health access: Access Referral Form Families can learn more here: Interested in Learning More? ​ Email Us Parents of children enrolled in participating child care centers should contact the child care center to make a referral. View Program Flyer See All Our Programs Get the Details A Network of Trusted Experts Participating mental health providers are OhioMHAS certified, nationally accredited community mental health agencies with specialization in child and family mental health. Provider specialists possess various credentials and certifications including: Ohio Infant Mental Health Credential and Ohio Early Childhood Mental Health Credential, Parent Child Interaction Therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), and NMT (Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics). Participating providers are clinically integrated within the Child and Family Health Collaborative of Ohio. ​ Learn More & Find Resources: For Behavioral Health Providers > For Childcare Centers >