Differential Response

The Supreme Court of Ohio and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, with support from the AIM team (American Humane Association, Institute of Applied Research and Minnesota leaders), implemented a pilot alternative response project in 10 counties. In fall 2007, the pilot counties were selected and began the design phase of an alternative response system to accepted reports of alleged child maltreatment. American Humane leads the AIM team in assisting pilot counties in the creation and establishment of their alternative response systems.

With the completion of the design phase, the AIM team helped prepare the counties for implementation through trainings with community stakeholders and agency workers and supervisors. As of July 1, 2008, Clark, Fairfield, Franklin, Greene, Guernsey, Licking, Lucas, Ross, Trumbull and Tuscarawas counties entered the second phase of the project, to implement alternative response. As part of the pilot project, data will be collected for 18 months (July 2008-December 2009) on a variety of issues, including child safety, services, family involvement and participation, and workers’ reaction to the approach.

At the conclusion of the pilot project, the AIM team will provide the state with evaluation findings and recommendations. The state will use this information to determine whether or not to proceed with statewide implementation of alternative response systems in all 88 Ohio counties.

This is a very exciting endeavor for the 10 pilot counties, the state of Ohio and anyone interested in the lives of families served by the child welfare system.