News from Franklin County Children Services

Having a safe place to sleep is essential to a child’s health and ability to thrive. That’s why Franklin County Children Services is partnering with local businesses and non-profits to provide cribs, beds, baby clothes, and more to families who might need support. FCCS Caseworker Sophia Billerman recalls working with one family whose two children were sleeping on a mattress on the floor.  She recalls the family’s excitement when a new bed, box springs, and frame were provided. “The dad laughed and told me it took a couple of weeks for the kids to get used to sleeping on a bed because it was so high off of the floor.” The Franklin County Children Services Board recently approved investing as much as $77,000 over the next year with local family-owned retailer Mack Mattress to provide cribs, mattresses, bed frames, bunk beds, and dressers to families who come into agency care. A similar arrangement with partners at Furniture Bank of Central Ohio is also available to provide bedroom fu...

Truly keeping children and teenagers in Central Ohio safer requires our entire community coming together, speaking out, and uniting in a mission to make all families stronger. This April, The Center for Healthy Families and Franklin County Children’s Services (FCCS) join together once again to recognize National Child Abuse Prevention Month and to call on our partners and local leaders throughout the region to learn, advocate, and act to prevent child abuse. More than a spotlight on the number of children impacted by abuse and neglect, this yearly observance seeks to increase awareness on the importance of supportive families and communities in safeguarding children's well-being. We know that addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach that prioritizes the safety of the whole child, considers their unique individual needs and trauma, and acknowledges the broader community impact.  In 2024, there were 28,243 calls and referrals made to the Franklin County Child Abuse H...

Find Your Future! Franklin County Children Services linked nearly 100 teenagers connected to our agency with college staff, job recruiters, and trade school/labor representatives at the 2025 FCCS Career Day. “We want to help young people make informed decisions about their future,” said Chuck Cochran, who manages the College-Bound Mentoring Program and has co-coordinated Career Day for the past five years. “Career Day gives them critical information.” The agency’s West Mound Street location was a buzz of activity, with more than two dozen business, colleges, and organizations coming together for the Saturday event, which was one of the most-attended Career Days according to Mr. Cochran. Representatives from colleges and universities included The Ohio State University, Central State University, Otterbein University, Mt. Carmel School of Nursing, and Columbus State Community College.  Staff from trade schools and apprentice programs included the Paul Mitchell School of Columbus, Equi...

CLICK TO HEAR MORE TIPS FROM TOSHIA SAFFORD AT THE CENTER FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES As CEO of the Center for Healthy Families, Toshia Safford has earned a reputation throughout Central Ohio for excellence in successfully supporting and coaching parents and teens.  Yet, even with her extensive professional and personal experience, Ms. Safford notes that young people today face challenges that she couldn’t fathom growing up, or even as she raised her own daughter. "There are moments when our teens say something and I just hear, ‘Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice,’” Ms. Safford says with a laugh. “I just have to say to them, ‘hey, I’m not quite following you. Give me a moment and let me sit with it.’” Learning to accept and stay calm when teens are upset or anxious can serve parents well. Ms. Safford notes that often adolescents don’t necessarily want a caregiver to tell them all the answers. They simply hope an adult will listen and tell them that they are still okay, no matter how t...

From spending time talking with students on the campus of Ohio's only public HBCU to connecting virtually with more than 100 Hispanic serving higher education institutions across the country, Franklin County Children Services is recruiting top talent - especially caseworkers and social workers - who reflect the community we serve. “When you bring in staff from diverse backgrounds and experiences, you bring in a wealth of knowledge from our community,” said FCCS Human Capital Management Analyst Melissa Cetnar. “Franklin County is always changing and it’s important to have staff who can understand and relate to different experiences,” she added, spotlighting the need to have caseworkers and support staff who have the same cultural experiences or speak the same languages as the families we support. At the end of 2024, the Human Resources team reported that 53% of FCCS staff identified as White/Caucasian, 41% as Black/African American, 1.3% as Hispanic, and 1.3% as Asian. Human...

“Nothing about them without them.” With this mantra in mind, Franklin County Children Services takes a team approach when it comes to helping keep children safer while supporting families to make them stronger… and parents have an important voice in the process. As families become more involved in the child welfare system, FCCS organizes Family Team Meetings, where those who care most about a youth’s wellbeing can work together on finding the least intrusive, best-supportive plans for safety and stability. “Our families need to know they are not alone in their circumstances,” said Stacie Pelton, a Social Program Coordinator who facilitates many of the agency’s Family Team Meetings. “A team meeting is an opportunity for them to have all their support people communicating as team at the same time.”  In 2024, FCCS conducted more than 1,200 of these Family Team Meetings, bringing together family members, service teams, caregivers, and sometimes school counselors and guardians ad litem....

CLICK HERE TO HEAR MORE TIPS ON WHY YOU SHOULD FIND A TRUSTED ADULT MENTOR FOR YOUR TEAN FROM BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS' VOLUNTEER ABBY FISHER Mentors can be an essential resource for parents and a way for teens to feel connected and have a sense of belonging, says Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio Volunteer Abby Fisher.  “Mentors are a great thing for everybody, and mentors are all around,” she explains. “It’s teachers, it’s coaches, it’s people in your community that you look up to that can help shape your attitudes, how you feel about certain things and model for you what’s possible. We say you have to see it to be it.” Mentors can be role models and cheerleaders for teens, listening and offering advice based upon their own experience. But to gain the best experience with a mentor, Fisher advises that parents take the lead.  She suggests “Aligning on what the expectations are, aligning on possible outcomes and where we want to see the greatest impact – those are great...