Under a federal mandate from the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), Ohio is required to assemble an independent evaluation of the impact of child protection policies and practices on children and communities. Ohio is home to 5 regionally positioned panels that review a variety of child protection issues annually, under the management of The Ohio State University. The annual report from the 2019-2020 fiscal year has been released.
Athens County CASA Director Jenny Stotts is the chairperson of the panel housed in Southeastern Ohio, which also includes professionals from a variety of sectors throughout the area. The region's panel focused their evaluative efforts on the gaps in the continuum of care for youth and teens in foster care along with a review of responses to safety concerns raised in congregate care facilities. The effort will continue into the next year with plans for youth and alumni surveys as well as youth and alumni centered focus groups.
An executive summary of the findings along with the full, comprehensive report is available for download below.