News from Franklin County Children Services

Every day, members of Team FCCS pour incredible energy, empathy, and resilience into their work - no matter their role or job title - to support children, their families, our community, and each other. Because this work can be deeply impactful and emotionally demanding, looking out for one another is an essential part of keeping our team strong. We all experience days when the workload feels exceptionally heavy or an unexpected challenge throws off our rhythm. If you notice a colleague sitting at their desk looking overwhelmed, taking a heavy sigh, or seeming uncharacteristically quiet, reaching out can make a world of difference. Our FCCS Peer Support team has three supportive, low-pressure questions you can ask a coworker to show you have their back: 1. "How can I help lighten your load right now?" When someone is overwhelmed, a vague "Let me know if you need anything" forces them to do the mental work of finding a task for you. By asking how you can actively ligh...

Little kids don’t know what these drugs can do. But parents and adults do. More than 60,000 children visit emergency rooms across our country each year because of medication poisoning. The number of children under five treated after mistakenly eating or touching marijuana products grew exponentially in just four years. And as the use of fentanyl and potent painkillers continue to impact Central Ohio, doctors and poison centers are seeing more deadly and near-fatal accidental exposures among children. To educate parents and adults about how to protect young children against what can be a life-threatening accident, Franklin County Children Services (FCCS) and its child safety partners are launching a new community education effort: “Lock it UP, Clean it UP, and Put it AWAY.” “These are not cases of intentional harm. They are tragic, preventable accidents,” shared FCCS Executive Director Chip Spinning. “Little hands don’t know what they are touching, but parents and adults do. Our immedia...

TED E. BEAR SUMMER SAFETY CHECKLIST FOR FAMILIES Franklin County Children Services wants you to be SAFE & SEEN. Help FCCS keep kids safer this summer with these quick and easy tips for the summer season: NIGHTTIME & VISIBILITY ("SAFE AND SEEN") Gear Up: Attach your "Safe and Seen" reflective keychains to backpacks and place reflective stickers on shoes or clothing. Wear Wristbands: Put reflective wristbands on both arms so drivers can see your child from any angle. Face Traffic: Teach kids to walk on sidewalks. If there is no sidewalk, always walk on the left side of the road facing traffic. Bring Backup Light: Give children a small flashlight or headlamp to carry after sunset. Unplug While Walking: Remind kids to take out earbuds and put away cell phones when crossing roads at night.   WATER & POOL SAFETY Designate a Water Watcher: Ensure a responsible adult is actively watching the ...

Franklin County Children Services is reinforcing its commitment to transparency and responsibility by placing accountability at the forefront of its latest leadership initiative.  As part of the agency's new leadership training program, several administrators recently completed "The Power of Accountability," a specialized day-long course designed to reenforce the ways ownership and responsibility are embedded into the core of child welfare operations. “Trust is the foundation of high performing teams,” said Vicky Rhoads, the agency’s Director of Professional Development. “Accountability builds trust. It also improves decision making.” “Leaders who are accountable are more thoughtful about the choices they make. They evaluate risks, weigh impact, and take responsibility for outcomes - good or bad,” Ms. Rhoads added. The accountability training moves beyond abstract concepts, challenging leaders to demonstrate accountability in their interactions with the families they serv...

Hope is not just a feeling. It is a measurable force for changing the trajectory of a child’s life.  As we recognize National Child Abuse Prevention Month this April, Franklin County Children Services invites the Central Ohio community to join us in raising awareness about the continued dangers of child abuse and neglect here in Central Ohio and in celebrating how proactive community supports can strengthen families before crisis occurs, united under the theme of “ Powered by Hope. Strengthened by Prevention. ” The scale of the challenge we face remains significant. In 2025, the majority of the referrals and calls to the Franklin County Child Abuse Hotline - representing roughly 6 out of every 10 children who came in contact with our agency - raised fears about a child or teen being physically abused. More than half were concerns about some form of neglect or emotional maltreatment. And 1 child out of every 6 was an alleged victim of sexual abuse. In all, these fears and concerns ...

Spending nearly 300 hours in the courtroom - or the average time it would take to read 67 books in a single year - the legal team at Franklin County Children Services works closely with partners in the Franklin County Courts to help keep children and teens safer and create positive, lasting change for families. “All of our work is geared at children’s safety and ultimately helping to increase the functioning of the family unit,” said FCCS Deputy Chief Counsel Julie Murrell, part of the agency’s team of attorneys, legal aides, paralegals, clerks, clerical staff, and court liaisons.  The department works most often with the judges and magistrates in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations and Juvenile Branch as well as the Probate Court. And, according to Deputy Chief Counsel Jennifer Himes-Riley, the FCCS legal team is involved from the beginning of a case to custody end, assisting the family and caseworkers in finding the safest plan of care for a child.  ...