Agency transferring foster homes

See foster care transition Q/A (2/2/10)
See What is your interest? (2/2/10)

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Foster parents gather information at forums

Feb. 5, 2010 -- Hamilton County foster parents learned more about area private networks and public agencies during evening and afternoon forums this week at the Department of Job and Family Services. By April 1, agency foster homes will transition to private or public networks.

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Details about public forums

Feb. 2, 2010 -- Hamilton County foster care providers transitioning to other public or private networks can learn more about their options at public forums to be held on Feb. 4 and 5 at the county’s Department of Job and Family Services.

The forum will be held at room 6SE401 at the JFS building, 222 E. Central Parkway in downtown Cincinnati. The sessions are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4, and 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 5.

The agency is asking more than 200 agency foster homes to transition to other private or public networks by April 1. The move will provide the homes with greater support and resources, while allowing the agency to deploy its limited resources in areas with more urgent need, such as investigating abuse cases or providing services to strengthen families.

Providers have been invited to the forum to answer questions and provide information about their services. More than 30 have been invited. Foster parents can show up at any time during the event and visit tables at their leisure.

For more information, please see press release

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SWOFCA offers help

Feb. 1, 2010 -- The Southwest Ohio Family Care Affiliate (SWOFCA) serves as an advocate to local foster families and is available to assist as families make the transition from Hamilton County to other private or public foster care networks. If you would like to consult with SWOFCA representatives Deb McMullen or Pat McCollum, here is the contact information:

SWOFCA
P.O. 24094
Cincinnati, OH 45224
Phone: 946-1842

Deb McMullen:
Phone: 344-3626
E-mail: debmc7212@aol.com

Pat McCollum
Phone: 477-6041
E-mail: rahabpw2@aol.com

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Provider Fair
222 E. Central Parkway, 6th Floor
Feb. 4: 4:30-6:30 p.m.  
Feb. 5: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
See information for providers

For a transcript of the Jan. 27 Live Chat, please CLICK HERE
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Jan. 21, 2010 -- As of Jan. 22, Hamilton County's Department of Job and Family Services will begin working exclusively with contracted providers for foster care services. All county foster homes will transfer to network providers or other public agencies. This change will allow the homes to receive additional support and resources, while the county can reallocate its limited resources to more urgent areas of need.

This change is not radical -- more than three-quarters of Hamilton County's foster children are in network homes now -- nor is it a comment on the agency's need for foster homes. The agency sincerely appreciates the valuable work its foster parents do and will help them transition to private networks.

Hamilton County foster homes have the option to transition to private network agencies or to other public agencies.

* For a list of network providers, click here.
* For a list of other public agencies offering foster care, click here.

Click here for a letter recently sent to the county's existing foster care providers.