(A) As used in this section, "county prevention specialist" includes the following:
(1) Members of agencies responsible for the administration of children's services in the counties within a child abuse and child neglect prevention region established in section3109.171of the Revised Code;
(2) Providers of alcohol or drug addiction services or members of boards of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services that serve counties within a region;
(3) Providers of mental health services or members of boards of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services that serve counties within a region;
(4) Members of county boards of developmental disabilities that serve counties within a region;
(5) Members of the educational community appointed by the superintendent of the school district with the largest enrollment in the counties within a region;
(6) Juvenile justice officials serving counties within a region;
(7) Pediatricians, health department nurses, and other members of the medical community in the counties within a region;
(8) Counselors and social workers serving counties within a region;
(9) Head start agencies serving counties within a region;
(10) Child care providers serving counties within a region;
(11) Parent advocates with relevant experience and knowledge of services in a region;
(12) Other persons with demonstrated knowledge in programs for children serving counties within a region.
(B) Each child abuse and child neglect prevention region shall have a child abuse and child neglect regional prevention council as appointed under divisions (C), (D), and (E) of this section. Each council shall operate in accordance with rules adopted by the department of children and youth pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
(C)(1) Each board of county commissioners within a region may appoint up to two county prevention specialists to the council representing the county, in accordance with rules adopted by the department of children and youth under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The reappointment of a chairperson by a board of county commissioners in accordance with division (D) of this section shall not be considered to be an appointment under this division.
(2) The children's trust fund board may appoint additional county prevention specialists to each region's council at the board's discretion.
(D) Each council member appointed under this section shall be appointed for a two-year term. A member may be reappointed, but for two consecutive terms only. A council member selected as chairperson of a child abuse and child neglect regional prevention council in accordance with division (G) of this section is eligible to be reappointed by the original appointing authority.
(E) A member may be removed from the council by the member's appointing authority for misconduct, incompetence, or neglect of duty.
(F) Each appointed member of a council shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties.
(G) A chairperson shall be selected by the council's regional prevention coordinator from among the county prevention specialists serving on the council.
(1) The chairperson shall serve as a nonvoting member of the council.
(2) The chairperson shall preside over council meetings or may call upon the vice-chairperson to preside over meetings.
(H) At the first regular meeting of the year, which shall be called by the chairperson, the members shall elect a vice-chairperson by a majority vote.
(1) The vice-chairperson shall preside over council meetings in the absence of the chairperson or upon the request of the chairperson.
(2) The vice-chairperson functions in the same capacity as the chairperson and becomes a nonvoting member when presiding over a council meeting.
(I) Each council shall meet at least quarterly.
(J) Council members shall do all of the following:
(1) Attend meetings of the council on which they serve;
(2) Assist the regional prevention coordinator in conducting a needs assessment to ascertain the child abuse and child neglect prevention programming and services that are needed in their region;
(3) Collaborate on assembling the council's regional prevention plan based on children's trust fund board guidelines pursuant to section3109.174of the Revised Code;
(4) Assist the council's regional prevention coordinator with all of the following:
(a) Implementing the regional prevention plan, including monitoring fulfillment of child abuse and child neglect prevention deliverables and achievement of prevention outcomes;
(b) Coordinating county data collection;
(c) Ensuring timely and accurate reporting to the children's trust fund board.
(5) Any additional duties specified in accordance with rules adopted by the department pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
(K) No council member shall participate in matters of the council pertaining to their own interests, including applications for funding by a council member or any entity, public or private, of which a council member serves as either a board member or employee.
(L) Each council shall file with the children's trust fund board, not later than the due dates specified by the board, a progress report and an annual report regarding the council's child abuse and child neglect prevention programs and activities undertaken in accordance with the council's regional prevention plan. The reports shall contain all information required by the board.
Last updated October 9, 2025 at 2:06 PM