Public Children Services Association of Ohio

Sponsor the 2026 PCSAO Annual Conference, Sept. 30-Oct. 2! This year's theme, “Resilient Together: Wellness in Child Protection,” recognizes that strengthening the capacity of staff to support themselves and one another will ultimately lead to stronger teams and improved outcomes for families.

Learn more about sponsorship opportunities: https://cvent.me/7odwA2

Nominate an outstanding member of your team for a PCSAO child protection professional award! County public children services agencies are invited to submit nominations for the following awards:

- Caseworker of the Year
- Supervisor of the Year
- Support Advocate of the Year
- Support Staff of the Year

Nominations are due July 3. Read the description of each award and submit a nomination: http://www.cvent.com/c/abstracts/544ccf98-f8de-490d-9a6b-4db312115d10

PCSAO is pleased to welcome Whitney King and Carston Mesnick as PACT Technical Assistant Consultants. Each brings a unique perspective, along with a deep commitment to fostering connection, reflection, and authentic partnership.

Practice in Action Together—PACT—is Ohio’s children services shared practice model, developed with and for child protection professionals hand in hand with the families we serve. Through lived experience, trauma-informed practice, and a shared belief in relationship-centered work, King and Mesnick will help advance PACT’s mission and support counties implementing the model.

The 3,000 Good Things podcast is back for a third season! Join PCSAO's Mike Kenney and Ashley Roy as they talk with frontline staff, agency leaders, and families about the good things happening in child welfare. Each episode will leave you feeling inspired and more equipped to engage with families in a meaningful and transformational way. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ia5PWLTJuidIGHUCz9eSm

Thank you to our silver sponsors of the 2026 Ohio START Summit: Foundations for Living, SMART Recovery USA, Prevention Action Alliance, Sandusky Artisans Recovery Community Center, OhioKAN, and Help Me Grow!

During the 2026 Ohio START Summit, we were pleased to recognize Colleen Stewart of Summit County Children Services as the 2026 Ohio START Supervisor of the Year!

Colleen has worked with Ohio START for nearly a decade, building a culture of respect, collaboration, and accountability that benefits not only her team, but the entire agency. Colleen played a pivotal role in launching the county’s third START dyad, contributed to the implementation of COSTARS, and has been sought out by other counties for her expertise and guidance.

Thank you to our gold sponsors of the 2026 Ohio START Summit, Necco Center and Cadence Care Network!

Each year, the PCSAO START team selects one person to be the START Champion of the Year. We look for someone who has gone the extra mile to ensure START success in their county and state-wide.

This year’s Ohio START Champion of the Year is Tracy Mayfield from Summit County Children Services. Tracy has been with START since its inception in Summit County and has always been a strong advocate for her team and the model. Tracy has laid the foundation for strong peer support at the agency, which employs their peers in house. Summit County, along with Lucas County became the first Ohio START agencies to employ 3 dyads, leading the way to reaching even more families in their community. In addition to advocating and supporting START at her agency, Tracy has been a fierce advocate on the state level, serving on the START Leadership Council for several years and just recently volunteering to serve as co-chair of the committee.

During the 2026 Ohio START Summit, we were pleased to recognize an amazing START dyad at Stark County Job & Family Services. Kensington Thomas was named the 2026 Ohio START Caseworker of the Year and Erica Gross was named the 2026 Ohio START Family Peer Mentor of the Year.

Kensington joined the Stark County START team in 2023 and has emerged as a leader within the agency. Clients frequently share that they have never had a children services experience like the one they had with Kensington.

Erica joined the team in shortly after Kensington, and their connection was apparent from the moment they met. The pair frequently say that the key to recovery is connection—and it is also the key to a successful dyad. Erica’s authenticity and perseverance have inspired both her team and the families she works with.

During the 2026 Ohio START Summit, we were pleased to recognize Lauren Henson and her family as our 2026 Ohio START Family of the Year!

Lauren Henson completed Ohio START in Gallia County almost exactly one year after beginning the program. Throughout her time in treatment, her family rallied around her, assuring her that her children would be well cared for and supported. Lauren became a recovery advocate early in her journey and strives to encourage others who are working toward recovery. In September 2025, she was hired as the peer mentor for the Benefit Bridge Program and is now a certified peer support worker.