Attorney Thomas Infante is the legal representative for the Mahoning County Children Services Board and continues to represent the agency in Board and union matters. Attorney Lori Shells represents the agency on all filings in Juvenile Court. Both Attorney Infante and Attorney Shells have had many meetings with agency staff regarding handling of cases, new statutes, case law, and court decisions. In addition, they have attended conferences and seminars to stay abreast of new laws and legislation.

In 2009, Mahoning County Children Services continued to file numerous cases in the Mahoning County Juvenile Court involving custody to relatives or interested third parties, both temporary and permanent custody to the agency, and court-ordered protective supervision by the agency. The majority of our cases in Juvenile Court continue to involve children being placed with relatives or third parties, or in the custody of the agency because of the parents’ inability to provide adequate care for them.