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Improved, Expanded FCCS Resource Guide Aims to Strengthen All Families

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The popular FCCS Community Resource Guide, a helpful reference book of community partners ready to help strengthen all families in Central Ohio, has been redesigned for 2024 to be more user-friendly… and it’s now available online and in print.  The Resource Guide features 17 different sections of supports, ranging from hospitals and health centers to clothing and childcare assistance. And nearly all of the services are available to any family in Franklin County, no matter their size, income, neighborhood, background, or diversity. FCCS also added two new sections, including the agency’s first-ever LGBTQ+ support section to provide resources for our SOGIE diverse youth and families. SOGIE stands for “Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression.” Another new section highlights useful services from the City of Columbus and Franklin County government agencies.  “We took this incredible book and made it even better this year,” said Bruce Cadwallader, a member of the FCCS Communicatio
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Foster Parents Fill Vital Role in Providing Safety, Stability, and Love

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Gary and Caitlin Kleinpaste have an open table in their home for current, former, and new foster children who need a sense of stability, familiarity, and love. Each child is welcome to share a meal and feel their love and support. May is National Foster Care Month, when Franklin County Children Services joins a nationwide effort to spread awareness and show support for children and youth in foster care who urgently need safe homes and loving caregivers as they wait to be reunited with their families. The Kleinpastes, who received the 2024 FCCS Family Appreciation Award, are among those who fill this vital role.  Foster parents for more than seven years, the couple currently have five children (two sibling groups) placed with them. As “treatment foster parents” with extensive training and experience, the Kleinpastes are often asked to care for children who have specific needs.  An eagerness to become foster parents was something that the Kleinpastes shared even prior to their marriage. 
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Franklin County Glows Blue, Raises Awareness, Spotlights Partnerships for Child Abuse Prevention Month

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From buildings and bridges glowing blue to powerful messages about coming together as a community to support families, Child Abuse Prevention Month in Franklin County featured several impactful efforts that raised awareness and showcased Franklin County Children Services and its community partnerships to keep children safer from abuse and neglect. This year, the agency embraced the theme “Building A Hopeful Future Together” from our partners at Prevent Child Abuse America, spreading the message of creating nurturing and supportive environments for all families. 2024 Child Abuse Prevention Breakfast A highlight of Child Abuse Prevention Month, the annual Child Abuse Prevention Breakfast attracted nearly 300 guests to Mitchell Hall on the Columbus State campus.  With opening remarks by Executive Director Chip Spinning outlining the agency’s new Call to Action, keynote speaker Dr. Amy Acton - former Ohio Dept. of Health Director and recognized community leader - shared a powerful message
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Community Partners Unite to Combat Child Abuse, Foster Collaboration

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As the nation observes National Child Abuse Prevention Month this April, the Central Ohio community is stepping up to address the critical issue of child abuse and neglect.  Since 1983, April has been dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of protecting children and promoting family well-being. In Central Ohio, organizations such as The Center for Healthy Families, in partnership with Franklin County Children Services, are leading efforts to combat child abuse and raise awareness about its devastating impact. Child abuse, whether physical, sexual, or psychological, constitutes a grave violation of children's rights and well-being. It can manifest in various forms, including neglect and endangerment, and can occur in homes, schools, organizations, or communities. By fostering empathy and promoting education, our community aims to prevent these harmful practices and ensure the safety and protection of the whole child. Throughout April, The Center's Black Girls’ and Y
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FCCS Joins Nationwide Call to Action to Raise Awareness, Build Stronger Communities to Keep Children Safe

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April once again marks Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Franklin County Children Services is joining a nationwide call to action to raise awareness and build stronger community partnerships to keep children safe from abuse and neglect. This year, we embrace the theme “Building A Hopeful Future Together” from our partners at Prevent Child Abuse America, focusing on creating a nurturing and supportive environment for all families. “Just as we know that strong families are the first foundation to protecting children, we also know that families do better when they live in communities that are committed to helping them succeed,” said FCCS Executive Director Chip Spinning. Nearly 28,000 reports were made to the Franklin County Child Abuse Hotline in 2023, with more than half of the referrals raising concerns about a child being physically abused, one in six calls alleging sexual abuse, and one in eight reporting children in a home where domestic violence between parents had shattered the se
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Creating Forever Families, FCCS Caseworker Celebrates 500th Adoption

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Finding lifelong, lasting family connections for children is all in a day’s work for adoptions assessor Liska Hall, a 26-year veteran at Franklin County Children Services. And in March, this exceptional child welfare professional reached a remarkable milestone, facilitating her 500th adoption.  “I have loved being able to provide permanence for 500 kids,” she said.  “I love that I will be the last social worker that they will have and that they will go on and have typical lives without caseworkers involved. I love it when the family is so happy and excited about the adoption and that this child is now theirs, forever!”   Going into the child welfare field made perfect sense to Ms. Hall, who was the first person in her family to attend college. She notes that she’s always been the kind of person who has looked out for others.  “I was a ‘social worker’ in high school,” she recalled. “I was the mom of the group, making sure everyone got home safely. None of my friends were surprised by my
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FCCS Cultural Training Aims to Reverse Racism History in Child Welfare

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Compared to White children, Black children are two times more likely to be referred to child welfare on concerns of abuse or neglect and two-and-a-half times more likely to have that report screened in for investigation. This type of disproportionality is one of the reasons Franklin County Children Services is committed to identifying, developing, and training our Team FCCS on best practices in cultural competency. FCCS requires all staff to attend at least six hours of cultural training each year. At the same time, the agency’s Organizational Health Department and Multicultural Development Team (MDT) work together throughout the year to offer to staff dozens of professional development opportunities around culture and community.  “We want to ensure that our services and practices meet the needs of the families we work with by educating our staff on an ongoing basis,” said Asia Davis, associate director of Organizational Health.  “We try to tailor our training around what’s going on in
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