News from Franklin County Children Services

“Sometimes the person who needs support is a family member. Sometimes it is a coworker. Sometimes, if we are honest, it is us.”  This message, shared with members of Team FCCS, shaped September’s Reflection Room, which recognized National Suicide Prevention Month by offering practical ways to encourage those who are struggling to seek help, including when that person is us.  “People need people,” said Alyx Gold, a local recovery advocate whose personal experiences with grief, addiction and a mental health crisis shaped her work and advocacy. Ms. Gold joined Jenna Riggs, a mental health professional, and Rachel Pickett, a community advocate, for a candid conversation about connection, resilience and the importance of supporting one another.  Sometimes, It Starts with Noticing  Struggling is not always visible. “Poor mental health also wears lipstick. It does not matter how good you look. You can still be struggling,” said Ms. Pickett.  She explained that coworker...

A new tradition during the Team FCCS Employee Reception is celebrating our Calls to Action awardees, recognizing staff whose work over the past year best exemplify our agency's priorities... from Protecting the Whole Child and Strengthening All Families to Valuing our Team Culture and Engaging our Community Authentically. Leading up to the 2026 Team FCCS Employee Reception, there were more nominations made by staff than last year, so there are even more winners, as selected by our agency's Executive Council.  As you'll read below, every awardee and nomination is impressive. WINNER: Stefanie Miller - Program Services/ West Region  Nominated by Meghan Stokes: "Stefanie’s work on this complex triple‑companion case exemplifies FCCS’s Call to Action 1: Protecting the Whole Child. Faced with a minor mother, an adult sibling with young children, and an infant with extensive medical needs, Stefanie navigated concerns spanning substance use, mental health, delinquency, medical ...