To assure the children of Hancock County greater protection from abuse and neglect, preserving families whenever possible. This will be accomplished utilizing available resources and working with the community to eliminate service gaps.
Services are provided to all Hancock County families in need regardless of income, race, religion, social status, sex or handicap.
Children's Protective Services receives and investigates reports of alleged child abuse and neglect in the county. Social Workers investigate the report by conducting interviews and gathering information about the report in order to determine the degree of intervention necessary. The Social Worker will recommend services for the child and family which will help reduce the risk of further abuse or neglect.
The goal of protective services is to preserve the family unit by strengthening parents' ability to provide adequate care to their children. In-home services are designed to reduce abuse, neglect, or dependency before the situation advances.
Services include case management, case planning, counseling, parent education, protective day care, therapeutic services, and respite care.
When children are placed by the Juvenile court into the agency's temporary custody, Children's Protective Services assists families in achieving stability and sufficiently improving the home environment to a level which will allow the safe return of the child to the family.
Services include case planning, case management, counseling, parent education, information and referral, and developmental services for children.
Children are placed into the least restrictive setting which can meet the child's needs. These placements may include relative homes, certified foster homes, group homes and residential treatment facilities for children requiring intensive care due to emotional and behavioral difficulties.
Kinship services are offered at times when children cannot remain in the home with the parents. A suitable relative is identified, a home study is completed, and if appropriate, the child is placed in the cusotdy of the relative. Financial assistance may be available to assist the relative. The assistance is based upon the relative's income.
Adoption services are for those children in the permanent custody of Hancock County Job and Family Services and families in the county wishing to adopt a child through the public agency.
Services include matching children and families, approving adoptive families for placement, pre and post adoption placement services, and subsidies.
Persons meeting the requirements of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Service are able to obtain a certificate to foster children. The agency then matches children in need of placement with a certified foster parent. The agency also provides ongoing training and supervision of certified foster parents.
