Portage County Jobs and Family Services reported the county was accepted into cohort 2 of PACT (Practice and Action Together), a program of the Public Children Services Association of Ohio that focuses on strengthening relationships between families and caseworkers and improving equity and healing in the child welfare process. Caitlin (Speaker 8) said the county applied with support from Director Jeffrey and that acceptance was confirmed on Oct. 24.

Separately, JFS staff described temporary leasing of an additional space near the OhioMeansJobs Center to support increased juvenile court visitation; because partner organizations (Family and Community Services, now Access Family Services and Children's Advantage) can absorb the increased visitation capacity, the county will not renew that lease after June 30 and visits have already shifted to Children's Advantage's site on Maine.

The board thanked presenters; staff said more materials about PACT participation and the human services levy would follow in subsequent packets.