CHILDREN SERVICES
Shelby County Job & Family Services, Children Services Division, accepts, screens and investigates reports of suspected child abuse or neglect and assesses risk to the child. When necessary supportive in-home services are provided to families such as case planning, coordination of services and home management.
Children Services recruits, trains and licenses foster and adoptive families to care for children who are unable to remain safely in their birth home. The Division provides similar support for kinship caregivers and relatives who provide a safe home for children when they must be removed from their home.
Specialized services are identified and coordinated for the family and address problems that contributed to the abuse and neglect. Such services include but are not limited to mental health, and/or drug and alcohol counseling. The Division works cooperatively with the Shelby County Juvenile Court as well as many other community partners to ensure that children have a safe, stable and permanent home.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Shelby County Department of Job & Family Services, Children Services Division, is dedicated to securing safe, permanent care within their own homes, communities, and cultures.
The agency recognizes that the primary responsibility of the child welfare system is to protect children from maltreatment; and that the best way of meeting this responsibility is, whenever possible, to strengthen families to protect their own children. This not only protects children, but also prevents the consequences of separation from out-of-home placement.
This approach encompasses the following values:
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Children have the right to grow up with their family
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Children have the right to be nurtured and protected in a stable environment
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When children are at risk of harm, the community has the responsibility to intervene
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Families are our community’s most important resources and therefore must be respected, valued, and encouraged to build on their existing strengths
The community must support families in raising and caring for children.
REPORTING ABUSE & NEGLECT
Shelby County Job & Family Services, Children Services Division, assesses allegations of possible abuse or neglect based on reports received from the community. Some individuals including physicians, social workers, day care providers, teachers, law enforcement, etc. are required by law to report their concerns to the agency.
If you have reason to believe any child under18 (or any child with a physical or mental handicap under the age of 21) is abused or neglected, make a report.
You only need to suspect or have reason to believe that a child is at risk. We will attempt to determine if abuse or neglect is occurring.
You can call, write, or come to Shelby County Job & Family Services with your report.
A report of suspected child abuse and neglect is confidential. Your identity cannot be released to anyone without your permission, except under direct order from the court.
You are protected from civil or criminal liability. Ohio law protects individuals who report allegations of abuse or neglect in good faith.
If you make a report to Children Services, you will be asked a series of questions to assist the agency in determining risk to the children being reported.
Although anonymous reports are accepted, you are encouraged to give your name to make it possible for the agency to obtain additional or clarifying information if needed.
You may make a report to Children Services by calling:
937-498-4981
Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm
After business hours and on holidays and weekends reports should be made to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at: 937-498-1111
who will contact On-Call Children Services staff.
INTAKE & ASSESSMENT
The responsibility of the Intake and Assessment Unit of Children Services is to investigate reports of child abuse and neglect regarding children in Shelby County. The agency receives reports via telephone calls, letters sent to the agency, and walk-ins. Reports come from mandated reporters such as physicians and teachers, family members and neighbors, and any citizen that has a concern regarding a child.
Caseworkers within this unit investigate allegations and concerns of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment, neglect and dependency of children. When a report has met the criteria to be investigated, the caseworker has 45 days to complete the investigation of the family and decide what services would be most beneficial to the family and children. If at all possible , the goal of the caseworker is to keep the family intact and keep the child safe in his/her own home. When the health and safety of the child is in imminent danger, there may be a need for the child to be removed from the home and placed with relatives or in substitute care.
Caseworkers in this unit also respond to reports opened for services in a proportional manner called Alternative Response (AR). Sexual abuse and other cases resulting in serious injury or serious and immediate risk cannot be directed into the AR track. AR cases require agreement from the family and are more a partnership than the traditional investigative cases.
There are times when a report comes into the Intake Unit and does not meet the criteria for an investigation. When this occurs, it is up to the caseworker to decide if there are other services within the community that may be more beneficial to the family. At that time, information is given to the reporter for the family.
ONGOING
PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Children Services provides ongoing protective services to families and children when risk has been identified through an investigative process and it is determined that supportive services are necessary to alleviate or reduce the level of risk to the children. These services are designed to both preserve families as well as reunify children with their families when risk is determined to be imminent and removal from the custodian becomes necessary.
Case management services are provided by the assigned caseworker beginning when the case is opened for ongoing services. The worker coordinates services for the family based on a case plan that is developed from concerns identified in the investigative process. Through this coordination, many services are referred out to other community providers such as medical, educational, and counseling agencies.
General counseling is provided throughout the life of the case by the caseworker. This should not be confused with therapeutic counseling that a licensed therapist provides but is beneficial when helping families and children to cope with stressful situations they encounter throughout the life of the case. An example of this is general advice and recommendations given by the worker as they meet with the family to discuss concerns, goals, etc.
Agency staff provides transportation for families for many different circumstances. Examples include but are not limited to family visitation, medical and counseling appointments, and parenting classes.
Staff coordinates family visits which facilitate reunification of a child who has been removed from the custody and care of a parent. In some situations, these visits are supervised when the level of risk places the child at risk.
Substitute care is provided by the agency for those children who have been removed from the parent(s) due to them being at risk of imminent harm or danger. Examples of this include foster homes, group homes, residential facilities, and approved relative homes. These settings are all approved or licensed through a formal process.
FOSTER CARE
When no appropriate friends or relatives are available, the agency must rely on the assistance of agency foster parents. Our foster parents are licensed through the Department of Job & Family Services and receive pre-service and on-going training in working with children placed in their homes. We attempt to match the needs of the child with the strengths of the foster family.
The agency pays a per diem to assist with the cost of caring for children placed in foster homes. All therapy and medical care needed by the child is covered by the medical card or the agency.
The foster care/adoption worker and the child’s assigned caseworker work closely with the foster family to create a team approach on safely reunifying the child with the parent or, if reunification is not an option, a permanent placement plan for the child is developed.
Agency foster families may also be approved as adoptive applicants. If a child becomes available for adoption and appropriate relatives are not available, foster parents will be considered as an adoptive placement. For more information on becoming a foster parent call 937-498-4981.
FOSTER CARE FAQ's
Foster Parents are people who provide a caring, temporary home environment for children unable to live with their birth families. Foster Parents can be married or single; renters or homeowners; with or without children of their own; and can also work outside the home.
A foster child is one whose own parents are physically or emotionally unable to provide for their needs. The child may have been abused, neglected or abandoned. He or she often has experienced physical, emotional, or social deprivation in the early years. Children needing foster care come from all races and range in age from birth to 18 years of age.
Placement of foster children can vary from a few months to a number of years. During a child’s stay in foster care the caseworker works with the child’s family to teach them skills necessary to care for their child. Our hope is to return the child to their family as soon as we safely can.
The Ohio Department of Job & Family Services requires that all foster parents be licensed. You need to be over 18, you can be married, single, or a co-parent. The licensing process includes being interviewed by a social worker (home study), a medical report, references, and a check of the physical condition of your home, along with a fire inspection.
Foster Parent training is required of all applicants to expand your knowledge of the foster parenting role and to strengthen your ability to care for foster children. The current requirement is 24 hours.
A home study consists of interviews with adult and children household members. The social worker will want to become better acquainted with your family and to give you the opportunity to learn more about the agency. The social worker will be asking you to share background information which will help the worker know you as a family. Social workers are looking for families who can cope with the stress and meet one another’s needs relatively well. We do not expect perfect families. The social worker will, of course, want to see your home and to meet your children. It does not matter whether you live in a house or an apartment. It is only necessary that you have a suitable dwelling with space to accommodate additional children, and that there are no hazards to the health or safety of a foster child.
Families are not paid for caring for foster children; however, a monthly per diem check is provided by the agency for food, clothing and incidentals. The amount varies with the age and special needs of the child, as well as the level of care provided to the child, and is considered reimbursement for necessary expenses. In addition to the board rate, the agency assumes the cost for medical and dental care not covered by the medical card. There also may be some child care reimbursement available for day care for working foster parents.
For more information, call Shelby County Job & Family Services at 937-498-4981 and ask to speak with The Foster Care/Adoption worker. This person will be very happy to answer any questions you have and will send you an inquiry packet containing much more information.
ADOPTION
When children are unable to be safely reunited with their families and are placed in the permanent custody of the agency by Juvenile Court, they become available for adoption.
All the children available for adoption are currently in some form of foster care setting. This means the parental rights of the child’s parents have been terminated, making the child legally free for adoption.
Foster parenting may, under some special circumstances, be an avenue for adoption. Foster parenting can sometimes make it possible for a child to enter your home sooner than if you wait until a particular child becomes available for adoption. In fact, adoptions by former foster parents make up a large percentage of our adoptions.
For more information call Shelby County Department of Job & Family Services at 937-498-4981 and ask to speak to the Foster Care/Adoption Worker. We will be glad to answer any questions you may have and send you more information.
ADOPTION FAQ's
Adoption is the method by which adults become legal parents of children not born to them.
Adoptive parents can be:
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Single or married
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Homeowners or renters
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With or without children
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Parents who work outside the home
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You need to be over 18 years of age.
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The time spent in learning about and preparing for adoption varies. On the average it can take three to six months. How soon a child is placed with you can also depend on the age, sex or health needs of the child you want.
Yes, almost all of the “Special Needs” children will be eligible for a subsidy. Financial assistance is based on the child’s background and needs. Most children are also eligible for medical coverage through Ohio Medicaid.
The following steps generally occur once you have decided to consider adoption:
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A social worker will be assigned to work with you during the adoption process.
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The social worker will meet individually with the prospective adoptive parents to talk with you about adoption and provide information covering such things as child discipline, guidance, etc. Time will be spent talking about you and your family, and you will also have an opportunity to talk about the type of child you think would best fit into your family.
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While being prepared for adoption, you will be involved in a home study process.
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After the home study is complete, you and the worker will be ready to determine which child would best fit your family.
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After you are matched with a child, pre-placement visits will begin.
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When the planned visits are completed and both you and the child are ready to proceed, arrangements are made for the actual move of the child into your home.
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Generally the adoption can be finalized about six months to one year after a child is placed with you. The Social Worker will be talking with you and visiting regularly during this period. Then you will go to court, where a judge will declare the child to be a permanent member of your family.
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For more information, call Shelby County Job & Family Services at 937-498-4981 and ask to speak with The Foster Care/Adoption worker. This person will be very happy to answer any questions you have and will send you an inquiry packet containing much more information.
CHILDREN AVAILABLE
FOR ADOPTION
To see children available for adoption, go to: www.adoptuskids.org and click on “Meet the Children”.
Please feel free to contact us at:
937-498-4981 for further inquiries.
ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES
The state requires Adult Protective Services (APS) be provided to investigate and evaluate reports of adults age 60 and over, who are allegedly abused, neglected or exploited. These adults may be handicapped due to aging or they may have physical or mental impairments which prevent them from providing for their own care and protection. Adults who experience abuse, neglect and/or exploitation are offered support for protection and self-sufficiency. Competent adults do have the right to make their own decisions even if family members or the community do not feel these decisions are in the best interest of the adult.
To report a case of suspected abuse or neglect, please call
937-498-4981
Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Adult Protective Services now has a 24-Hour online portal available for reporting non-emergency cases of suspected adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation at this link: https://aps.jfs.ohio.gov/
After hours call the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department at:
937-498-1111
and they will contact an on-call worker.
When making a report, please provide as many details as possible to help us determine whether there is cause for an investigation.
When an investigation is launched, the alleged victim is notified of the reason for it. For cases determined to be an emergency, an APS staff member will make a home visit within 24 hours. We begin other investigations within three working days.
When APS determines that intervention is necessary, we develop a plan of action with the older adult and make sure the client receives needed services to ensure safety and security.