Franklin County Children Services Bolsters Community Trust through Leadership Accountability

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 serve or the colleagues they work with each day. 

According to presenter Valarie Nash, the goal is to build upon the agency’s culture that advances consistent results and moves away from a "blame" mentality.

"Accountability isn’t something we talk about once," Ms. Nash said. "It’s something we demonstrate every day."

During interactive workshops, FCCS leaders identified three pillars - ownership, responsibility, and transparency - as the primary vehicles for building community trust. This internal focus is intended to ripple outward and help every employee, whether in a front-facing casework role or administrative support, operate with a clear focus on the agency’s responsibility to the public.

“Accountability is every one of us taking ownership, every one of us being responsible and every one of us being transparent,” Ms. Nash shared.

Agency veteran Shelia Kochis, an Internal Audit Administrator and training participant, emphasized that this internal discipline is the foundation of external trust.

"The consistent practice of accountability provides evidence that others around you need to build trust," Kochis said. “Accountability can break down when expectations and follow-through are inconsistent.”

By investing in these leadership skills, FCCS aims to equip its workforce with the tools necessary for authentic family engagement. 

Agency trainers stated that the ongoing work to improve accountability is part of a broader strategy to strengthen more Franklin County families with responsible, transparent, and healing support.

“Being accountable means owning targets, deadlines, and deliverables. Leaders who embrace this drive better team results,” emphasized Ms. Rhoads, noting that staff decisions and actions directly impact the lives of children.

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