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This year has marked
several significant events in the history of Mahoning County Children Services.
In partnership with the Family First
Council, we hosted Ohio’s First Lady, Mrs. Frances Strickland, in her inaugural
“roundtable” visit to Mahoning County in April 2008. Mrs. Strickland met with local community
leaders to learn about the challenges that impact children and families in
Mahoning County. Another notable event occurred in September 2008 when Dorothy
Staaf, caseworker in our Family Services Department, was honored as the Child
Protection Worker of the Year for the State of Ohio by the Public Children
Services Association. This award was
presented to Dorothy at the annual PCSAO conference in Columbus. And finally,
in recognition of the month of November as National Adoption Month, we were
proud to host an Adoption Celebration Dinner featuring Father George Clements,
nationally renown speaker and founder of the “One Church, One Child”
program. Over 140 people attended and were inspired by Father
Clements’ example as an adoptive parent himself and the powerful role of the
faith based community in recruiting and supporting foster and adoptive
families.
Like most
organizations, we are faced with fiscal challenges, budget cuts, and increasing
costs for our agency’s operation. With
our focus on the agency’s mission of protecting children and preserving
families, casework services remain effective and strong. Although the number
and complexity of children in residential placements continues to be a
challenge for our agency, we have attempted to maximize the use of local
resources to keep our children in our community. Through careful assessment and critical case
planning, we work to develop a long term plan to provide safety and permanency
for each child.
During 2008 our
agency received 1,311 referrals of child abuse and neglect, involving thousands
of children. However, statistics tell us
that an untold number of other children have also suffered maltreatment, but unfortunately
were not reported. The role of the community is crucial in detecting and
reporting cases of child abuse and neglect. We are fortunate to have a strong,
supportive community that values the protection of its most vulnerable citizens
– the children of our county.
In the upcoming year,
we know that action will be needed at all levels – from legislators, other
social service agencies and the community to protect children and support
families at risk. Our community, like so
many others, is facing unprecedented economic challenges which not only impact
the need for social services, but the ability to deliver them. In the words of
Marian Wright Edelman, President of the Children’s Defense Fund, “child welfare experts agree that. . .
economic stress puts already fragile families at even greater risk.” With this in mind, we will closely monitor
trends in child welfare – especially those that are a reflection of the
economic pressures that so many of our families face. In keeping with our goal to keep children
safe and enhance family stability, we know that prevention is the key. It is only through continued collaboration
with our community partners that we can align precious resources to support and
enhance our response to these critical issues.
Denise Stewart - Executive Director
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