Family violence prevention funds using combined federal and state dollars are being allocated to all 88 county department of human services (CDHSs) for the purpose of facilitating the networking between professionals at the local level who may be involved in working with Ohioans who are victims of family violence. This funding initiative is designed to encourage a multi disciplinary approach toward preventing family violence and developing appropriate strategies for intervening with families experiencing family violence through the development of open forums or round table meetings. It is also being used to provide an avenue whereby counties may ensure that they are implementing the family violence provisions of House Bill 408, which requires the CDHS to assess, for Ohio Works First applicants, whether family violence may necessitate the applicant's assignment to an alternative work activity. While previous networking initiative were started between adult protective services and the local domestic violence shelters to address the differences and similarities in philosophies, laws, and service delivery across systems, this networking initiative expands the requirement for coordination to other program areas in which individuals who are at risk of family violence may be involved.

Required participants shall include:

• CDHS staff who provide social service or protective services to adults age 18 or older;
• CDHS staff who are responsible for conducting family assessments (as required by House Bill 408) for families participating in Ohio Works First and for making alternative work activity assignments;
• Child Support Enforcement staff who work with participants to establish paternity, collect child support, make determinations whether good cause exemption may be utilized and determine if information about family members should be protected from release (including but not limited to information maintained within the Federal Child Support Case Registry); and
• Staff or representatives of local domestic violence shelters which serve the county.

Other suggested participants may include, but limited to: public children services agency staff, judges, law enforcement personnel, clergy, hospital staff, emergency medical technicians, school counselors, and representatives of the local mental health board.

To meet federal reporting requirements, the CDHS shall submit to ODHS no later than July 31, 2000, a written report which identifies the following information:

(a)Activities carried out through the use of the funds, including copies of minutes from meetings held and participants by profession or interest/advocacy area.

(b)Written protocols and procedures for:

i.Coordination between CDHS adult protective/social services staff and staff of the local domestic violence shelter

ii.Conducting family assessments to determine whether an applicant for Ohio Works First, or other public assistance programs which the CDHS administers, is a victim of domestic violence and whether the applicant may need to be assigned to an alternative work activity under Ohio Works First while the applicant addresses problems he or she is experiencing related to domestic violence.

iii.Reporting to ODHS, for statistical purposes, the number of applicants who have been identified as being victim of domestic violence;

iv.Coordination with the CDHS, Child Support Enforcement Agency, and the local domestic violence shelter when case involve Ohio Works First applicants for whom the establishment of paternity or the collection of child support requires special handling due to the applicant and/or the children being at risk of domestic violence;

v.Assuring that participants in CDHS and CSEA programs are aware of the availability of domestic violence services in their area.

Reports shall be submitted to:

Carrie Anthony, Administrator

Ohio Department of Human Services

Family Violence Prevention

65 East State Street, 5th floor

Columbus, Ohio 43215

Counties requiring technical assistance may contact their appropriate district representative or Carrie Anthony, Administrator, Family Violence Prevention at 614-644-6140.