THE HONORABLE GAIL PAVLIGA

Rep. Pavliga is serving her second term in the Ohio House of Representatives, representing Ohio’s 72nd House District, which encompasses nearly all of Portage County. She chairs the House Behavioral Health Committee and is a member of the Finance and Higher Education Committee.

Before being elected to the House, Rep. Pavliga was very involved in her community. With a PhD in educational psychology from the University of Akron and a master’s degree in individual/family studies/counseling and a bachelor’s degree in psychology/science, the Representative has taught at the college level for 20+ years and serves as a Christian counselor and life coach at the Christian Counseling Alliance.

It’s no surprise that Rep. Pavliga quickly became a leading voice in Columbus for behavioral health, child, and family issues. And that leading voice goes beyond her “formal” roles in the legislature. Rep. Pavliga is accessible, driven, and laser focused on doing all she can to make sure that Ohio children, youth, and families are healthy and thrive.

She has sponsored 12 bills and cosponsored 88 more. Her peers rely on her expertise in behavioral health issues. She is a consummate advocate for the needs of her district. She has been persistent in addressing the treatment/placement crisis for children, a true legislative champion.

CHEYANNE, 18, MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Cheyanne is a young woman whose resilience and determination have set her apart as a true Leader of Tomorrow. Cheyanne has overcome challenges throughout her life with strength and grace, navigating the complexities of foster care, shouldering responsibilities beyond her years as she cared for her younger siblings, all while maintaining her pursuit of education and personal growth.

At Trotwood Madison High School, Cheyanne excelled both academically and in extracurricular activities. She captained the varsity soccer team, displayed leadership as Command Sergeant Major in JROTC, and maintained an impressive academic record while pursuing college-level coursework. Her love of reading and her aspirations to travel and learn foreign languages reflect her curiosity about the world and her commitment to continuous self-improvement.

Cheyanne intends to become an EMT, a career choice driven by her desire to serve others and make a meaningful impact in times of crisis. With some college credit already under her belt, she intends to pursue a bachelor’s and eventually a master’s degree in Biological Science from Wright State University.

Beyond her professional ambitions, Cheyanne desires to become a foster parent to teens. Just as someone believed in her, Cheyanne believes in the potential of foster youth, and wants to offer guidance she knows firsthand can change lives. “Some people view us as troublemakers and not worth the time,” she wrote, “but really we just need a little love and guidance in the right direction to become successful.”

Cheyanne has not only overcome adversity but has used her experiences to inspire others and effect positive change wherever she goes. She exemplifies what it means to turn challenges into opportunities and to forge a future filled with promise and possibility.

DOMINIQUE, 18, ADAMS COUNTY

Dominique’s path has been paved with determination, marking him as a role model and leader in his community.

When Dom entered care, he found a home in a kinship placement with his best friend’s parents. They went on to become licensed foster parents, and their close bond with Dom means that he will always be part of the family.

Throughout his time in high school, Dom excelled in sports, including football, track, and wrestling. Even when unable to play football senior year, he cheered his team from the sidelines. His dedication earned him recognition as the SVC Athlete of the Year for fall football in 2023 and the Scholar Athlete Award for Track.

Academically, Dom’s achievements are equally impressive. He graduated as Salutatorian of his class and was inducted into the National Honor Society. His hard work and determination were further acknowledged with multiple scholarships, including a prestigious Presidential Award to attend Wittenberg University, where he will continue his football career.

Beyond his academic and athletic pursuits, Dom works at Kroger and finds joy in spending time with his foster family and friends. His ability to turn adversity into opportunity is an inspiration to all who know him.

ELIAS AND EZRA, 17, SUMMIT COUNTY

Elias and Ezra are twins with an unbreakable bond. Their personalities may be quite different, but they share qualities of resilience, compassion, and determination.

Elias, with his outgoing nature and love for cooking, dedicates his time to Jobs for Ohio Graduates, theater, and Upward Bound, where his passion for math and science shines.

Ezra, known for his skill in wrestling and his academic achievements, balances leadership roles on the student council with volunteer work.

Both are involved with their church, and beyond their individual accomplishments, Elias and Ezra share a deep bond with their older sister and maternal grandmother.

Elias and Ezra are role models in their community and inspirations to all who come into contact with them. Their recent recognition with Summit County Children Services’ Youth Achievement Award underscores their dedication and positive impact on those around them. We know they will continue having an impact as they pursue their dreams of military service for Ezra and higher education for Elias.

KALVIN, 18, MAHONING COUNTY

Kalvin is one of the most self-sufficient young men we have encountered. His nomination portrays his story as “one that inspires great movie screenplays”: a young person who encountered a host of “doubters” and “naysayers” but who ended up proving them all wrong.

Kalvin navigated the complexities of the foster care system, finding stability with a family that provided him with the support and guidance he needed. Kalvin demonstrates an extraordinary work ethic and commitment to his education. He never loses sight of his goals. He worked tirelessly in high school, holding down two jobs while excelling academically and graduating this past spring.

When he turned 18, he made the decision to remain in agency custody to ensure that he could complete his education and secure a stable future. His tenacity extended beyond academics; he pursued real estate licensure classes on weekends, using his own earnings to finance his classes and secure his own apartment. (The agency later reimbursed him for the cost of the class.)

Beyond his personal achievements, Kalvin has emerged as a mentor to his peers. He shares his experiences openly, encouraging others to persevere in the face of adversity. “I didn’t even know I had a chance,” Kalvin says, looking back on his life, but his genuine desire not only to succeed himself but also to help others will lead to amazing things for him in the future.

According to his caseworkers, “Kalvin has accomplished more in nine months than a lot of youth do in the four years I work with them. He has an innate ability to engage and interact with people of all ages and all walks of life. His people skills are something most teenagers” lack.

Kalvin’s story inspires us, reminding us that with determination and perseverance, anything is possible.

THE McNEIL FAMILY, SUMMIT COUNTY

The McNeil Family’s story is one of resilience, unwavering love, and redemption. Neil McNeil faced significant challenges in his past, having been in foster care himself. These experiences deeply influenced his commitment to providing a stable and loving environment for his own family.

When his son Favor entered the custody of Summit County Children Services, incarceration prevented Neil from being physically present for him. Despite this barrier, Neil’s dedication to Favor never wavered. He was an active, positive influence in his son’s life through letters, calls, and video chats. He often ended his letters to Favor by stating, “My son, I love you and I won’t stop fighting for you until you are with me.” Neil never gave up hope of one day reunifying with his son.

Upon his release, Neil rebuilt his life. He obtained stable housing, secured employment, got married, and actively sought the necessary services to support his son’s needs. Neil’s wife, Cassy, supported him in his pursuit of custody from day one. She was openly involved in the process and dedicated to their new family.

With the love and support of Neil and Cassy, Favor thrives in school and enjoys his friends and playing football. By May 2023, their perseverance paid off, and Neil was awarded custody of his son, marking not just the end of a long battle, but the beginning of a new chapter filled with hope and love.

THE CARR FAMILY, FAIRFIELD COUNTY

Since becoming foster and adoptive parents for Fairfield County Protective Services in 2022, Ike and Melinda Carr have become one of the agency’s go-to families, showing remarkable flexibility when things don’t go as planned.

Ike and Melinda truly care about the children who come and live in their home. They support them, encourage them, and work hard to make sure everyone involved is doing all they can for the children’s wellbeing.

Ike and Melinda strive to develop a bond with birth parents, helping to lessen the anxiety that comes with a removal as well as ensuring that the connection between birth parent and child is maintained. For the Carrs, this goes well beyond simply facilitating phone calls or driving a child to a visit at the agency—Ike and Melinda have gone as far as opening their own home, allowing birth parents the opportunity to see their children in a more comfortable, natural setting while also seeing the home where their child is living.

Ike and Melinda advocate for birth families, speaking with agency staff about their own interactions with parents, identifying where there are opportunities for additional support or services, and sometimes just being an advocate for a parent who is struggling to find their footing on how to maneuver through the steps of a case plan. The Carrs believe it is their responsibility to be an active part of the team, not just a placement resource, and this means being a support and asset for parents.

THE FIEBELKORN FAMILY, AUGLAIZE COUNTY

Deron and Paige Fiebelkorn are passionate about making a difference in their community, demonstrated by their extraordinary work as foster and adoptive parents.
What truly sets Deron and Paige apart is their boundless capacity to love and care for each and every child who enters their lives. Over the past eight years, Deron and Paige have opened their hearts and their home to an astounding 33 foster children. They currently have two sons placed in their care and have adopted four children in addition to raising their two biological children.

Deron and Paige have demonstrated willingness to support the agency by keeping children as long as needed, regardless of any challenges. When no other placement is available, they are the ones to step in without hesitation to provide stability, compassion, and extra care, ensuring that their foster children feel like part of their family.

Deron and Paige are exceptional advocates for the children in their care, serving as surrogate parents in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process and ensuring that each child’s unique needs are met and voices heard.

In addition to their exceptional work as foster parents, the Fiebelkorn family has made significant contributions to the overall community. Four years ago, Paige, alongside an amazing group of world changers, started a care closet at a local church, providing clothing for foster, kinship, and adoptive families, as well as anyone in need within the community. Their dream of a dedicated home to support children in care came to fruition with the formation of Generations of Love, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting foster, adoptive, and kinship families, as well as at-risk youth. This remarkable initiative includes a donation center, art and music therapy, a teen center, and a supervised visitation center.

THE SETSER FAMILY, MEDINA COUNTY

Since beginning her recovery journey, Heather Setser has faced challenges head on, never giving up on herself or the hope of a future with her family.

When Heather agreed to participate in Ohio START, she had been struggling with substance use disorder for more than a decade, had lost custody of both her daughters, and was facing homelessness with her son. Initially distrustful of the agency, Heather was nonetheless determined to turn things around for herself and her family. Once she committed to recovery, she entered inpatient treatment and made the difficult decision to turn herself in on outstanding warrants. After spending three weeks in jail, she went straight back to treatment and entered sober living, where she built strong connections with peers and staff alike.

Upon discharge from sober living, Heather obtained stable housing, employment, and a sponsor to support her through recovery. She attends meetings regularly, offering guidance to other women in recovery; she eventually became a sponsor herself. Recently, she has taken steps to become a peer supporter so that she can continue to help those facing similar challenges.

In January 2024, Heather graduated from Ohio START with 14 consecutive months of sobriety. Three months later, she graduated the drug court program and regained driving privileges. Now a stay-at-home mom with her son Sawyer, Heather is working to get custody of her daughter Laureli while making amends with other members of her family.

Heather’s resilience and commitment to helping others is an inspiration to those around her.

SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR: RUTH HOCH, FAIRFIELD COUNTY JFS

Commitment is one word that describes our Supervisor of the Year, Ruth Hoch. For more than two decades, Ruth has been with Fairfield County Job & Family Services, working with both Ongoing and Permanency teams. Throughout her time with the agency, Ruth has strived to do her best work possible for the children and families served by her teams. During a staff shortage in 2023, she stepped forward as a true leader, making monthly visits to youth placed out of state in multiple facilities and staying overnight to help with placement moves, all while onboarding new staff members. She frequently volunteers for tasks beyond her job duties to support the agency’s work in the community, including food drives, 5ks, and other agency events.

Supportive is another word that describes her. Ruth’s peers look to her as someone they can rely on to help, regardless of the situation. When caseworkers need to have a difficult conversation with a family, Ruth offers to go along and provide support. When colleagues are not available, she covers on-call shifts. Whether she is flying to another state to bring a youth home or at the hospital helping a youth give birth, this Supervisor has done it.

In 2023, Fairfield County Job & Family Services named Ruth as Leader of the Year, underscoring the impact she has had on her agency, her team, and the children and families she serves.

CASEWORKER OF THE YEAR: DANA TULINO, ASHTABULA COUNTY CHILDREN SERVICES

Dana Tulino has been described as “driven,” “passionate” and having a “fierce relentlessness” for helping the families she serves. She has worked for more than 13 years as an ongoing caseworker, as a family drug court caseworker and, for the past five years, as an Ohio START caseworker. Her 36 START cases have a successful completion rate of more than 75%. Even in those cases that closed unsuccessfully, the child was able to stay in the care of their family.

Dana is a passionate advocate for the Ohio START model and adamantly believes that everyone, no matter the obstacles, is capable of recovery and redemption. Her excitement, reputation, and work ethic paved the way when getting buy-in from service providers for Ohio START. She dove in headfirst, implementing checklists and guidelines the team still uses today to help families focus on recovery.

Dana’s non-judgmental and compassionate approach reminds her clients that they are worth going the extra mile for. She is persistent, yet patient, always finding light in the darkest of places. One START participant described her as “more persistent than the disease.” Another said, “Thank God she never gave up on me. I was a nightmare and I sometimes wonder how she put up with me. I am 100% convinced that her persistence and compassion is why I am alive today.”

SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR: BRADY STEWART, SUMMIT COUNTY CHILDREN SERVICES

Not all jobs with Children Services are on the front lines. There are numerous support staff working behind the scenes who are equally dedicated to improving outcomes for children and families.

Brady Stewart has the skill and knowledge to write code and extract data from SACWIS when the standard reports don’t give the full picture. Working under many hats as Summit County Children Services’ Coordinator, Quality Improvement/Developer, Brady has been an invaluable member of the child protection team, consistently delivering high-quality work under tight deadlines and rising to challenges with positivity.

In addition to his outstanding technical abilities, Brady exemplifies teamwork. New team members are always well prepared under Brady’s guidance. He played a pivotal role in onboarding the agency’s Quality Improvement Coordinator by providing training, identifying outside learning resources, and considering how his own projects could provide learning opportunities. For several months, Brady also assumed the responsibilities of the agency’s SACWIS Subject Matter Expert, which allowed other agency staff members to assist with the investigation and assessment of screened-in reports.

Staff across the agency are able to do what they do because of the hard work and dedication Brady brings every day.

SUPPORT ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR: QUAY DIANE COMPTON, STARK COUNTY JFS

Quay Diane Compton has worked for more than 23 years making sure families are seen, heard, and respected. Diane has served as Legal Counsel for Children Services, Staff Attorney Supervisor and currently as Chief Legal Counsel at Stark County Job & Family Services.

It is not only her legal knowledge that makes her an asset. Her compassion and empathy allow her to recognize the impact that poverty, addiction, and mental illness have on the community and families. She is known for her understanding of the law and has a reputation as an advocate for children.

A Stark County caseworker recalled, “I will never forget Quay hugging a biological mother after a court hearing and encouraging her, providing empathy and a kind word—the sincerity of Quay’s actions that day was palpable.”

Quay is a trusted member of the leadership team at Stark County JFS, navigating sensitive situations with tact and continually finding ways to improve the work environment. She recognizes that a simple “thank you” or show of gratitude with a cookie can make a person’s day. Ask anyone—her cookie treats are legendary!

Quay also acts as a mentor and guide, officially and unofficially, for many staff. She supports caseworkers by providing training events and making sure each caseworker is prepared before every hearing or trial by explaining timelines, expectations, and going through all the “what ifs.” She supports the community by teaching Goodwill Parenting classes, and serving on the Project KARE board, which helps foster parents and kinship caregivers in the community.

NORTHWEST TREATMENT FOSTER CARE COLLABORATIVE

PCSAO’s Board of Trustees agreed this year to change the name of our annual Child Advocate of the Year award to Child and Family Advocate of the Year. We recognize that standing up and advocating for children, their safety and needs also has to encompass standing up and advocating for family supports, for family resilience, and for family healing. On Monday we celebrated some amazing youth and young adults who are growing into our Leaders of Tomorrow, and yesterday we recognized birth, kin, foster, and adoptive families who show up for, support, and care for their children every day. Historically, our Advocate of the Year award has recognized an individual or organization that has worked with PCSAO on state budget advocacy. This year, we’re doing something different by awarding a partnership of county agencies that banded together to develop a program that would benefit children with complex needs, their families as the children would be placed closer to home, and foster families who were willing to take on the challenge and provide a loving, nurturing home. This program has now become the model for a new statewide pilot program being funded by the Department of Children and Youth.

The Northwest Treatment Foster Care Collaborative includes the Job and Family Services agencies in Sandusky, Seneca, Wyandot, and Ottawa counties, along with the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board for those four counties.

In Sandusky County, Director Melanie Allen and her team had been working to reduce the number of children in care and bring placement costs down for several years. Efforts focused on prevention, kinship, and family foster home recruitment only went so far – placement in congregate care remained stagnant. Treatment-level foster homes were lacking within the county or even nearby, and so Sandusky County was sending kids across the state to homes and residential facilities, and then sending their caseworkers long distances for visits every month. Melanie realized that having treatment homes in the county would not only control costs but would facilitate visitation and enhance reunification. So the focus turned to recruiting families who would accept placement of youth with complex needs and work through treatment, step-down, and reunification.

Melanie knew she couldn’t do it alone, so she engaged her peers: Kathy Oliver, director in Seneca County and Jason Fagan, director in Wyandot County at first, and eventually Stephanie Kowal, director in Ottawa. Together, these small, rural counties embarked on a mission that most metro agencies shy away from: recruiting and licensing parents as public treatment foster caregivers. They set to work writing policies, hiring staff, identifying training and practice models, and overcoming barriers such as different state licensing regions. They enlisted support from Mircea Handru, director of Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky & Wyandot Counties, who offered program funds to cover training, conferences, Parent Cafe support, and more. Together, they formed the Northwest Treatment Foster Care Collaborative.

They hired a dynamic worker who began recruiting resource families willing to serve as treatment foster caregivers. A year later, they had eight licensed families who knew they could count on 24/7 support so that they did not have to resort to an emergency room or law enforcement when things got tough. Placement stability, therapeutic care, and engagement with birth families were the priority. Even with their first five children placed in these homes, the agencies were saving half a million dollars. And more importantly, the children were in families, not institutions.

The success of this cluster of small counties caught the attention of Director Wente at the Department of Children and Youth. Very soon after, a funding opportunity became available for more county clusters to replicate this model. Today, we have 10 clusters consisting of 30 counties adopting this exciting approach as a solution to reducing residential placement, improving birth and foster family relationships, increasing reunifications, and controlling costs. Working with the Department, the Northwest Collaborative is providing technical assistance and support to these new Treatment Foster Care Collaborative clusters. All of this is based on the determination and innovation of four county directors and their ADAMH board director.

KARA B. WENTE, DIRECTOR, OHIO DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Even before Director Wente was named by Governor DeWine to lead the new Department of Children and Youth, she took her leadership role as Assistant Director of Human Services at ODJFS very seriously. While she was intimately familiar with the world of child care and family supports, children services was new territory for her back then. Kara approached that role with humility and warmth, and left all of us amazed by how quickly she learned the ins and outs of a very complex system. She learned so much so quickly, in fact, that we were dismayed to see her step away from the State for a short time – and then thrilled when she returned as Director of the Governor’s Children’s Initiative.

It was in that new role that she provided needed leadership and used her deep knowledge about child- and family-serving systems to pull together multiple departments to address the longstanding lack of treatment and placement options for youth with multi-system needs. The Children Services Placement Workgroup has resulted in tangible short-term strategies for addressing a serious crisis in our field while continuing to identify and define more long-term solutions. We are extremely grateful to Director Wente for being committed to partnering with us and the other stakeholders on addressing the treatment and placement crisis for children.

And that is only one of the achievements during her tenure for which we are grateful. In addition, Director Wente has secured funding and support to expand the Ohio Fellowship Program, provided grants to PCSAs to establish and expand the Treatment Foster Care Collaborative, and championed the good work of county agencies at every opportunity. All while completing the herculean task of standing up a brand-new state agency. She has moved mountains to make progress on significant policy issues, all while tending to relationships, inspiring staff, managing the politics of the job, and remaining grounded in meeting the needs of families and their children.

Director Wente has carved out time to attend PCSAO board and membership meetings, responded to calls, emails and text messages from PCSA directors, and never shied away from difficult conversations. Even with responsibility for so many other areas at the new department, she always manages to make us at PCSAO feel like children services is her only priority. We appreciate that Director Wente is data driven and solutions focused. She always walks away from every meeting with a list of to-dos – and somehow, true to her word, she gets them done.

While our association has appreciated our solid partnerships over the years with the Administration and state agencies, no one has fit the definition of “Partner” quite like Director Wente before. 

Dan Schneider Award for Leadership in Training

As the first full-time director of the Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO) in 1987, Dan Schneider (1951-2003) spent a lifetime advocating for children and families in Ohio. His vision of excellence in the training of child welfare professionals helped shape the formation of the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program. Begun in 2003, the Dan Schneider Award is presented annually at the PCSAO conference by the OCWTP Regional Training Center directors to an individual who reflects Dan’s commitment to improving the lives of Ohio’s children and families by providing unwavering support for the professional development of Ohio’s child welfare staff toward best-practice ideals.

This year’s award was presented to OCWTP trainer Dave Thomas, who retired from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.