LCCS Celebrates Social Work Month

Child welfare social workers protect at-risk children by investigating abuse or neglect, ensuring safety, and providing family support services. They facilitate foster care, arrange adoptions, and work 
to reunite families. 

There are more than 810,000 social workers in the United States; 
it is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.). >> LEARN MORE

Community Conversations Continue  

LCCS hosted its first quarterly Community Conversation of the year on February 23 at the Heatherdowns Branch Library. It was a well-attended meeting with lively discussion and meaningful dialogue. These sessions bring together staff and community partners for meaningful dialogue and shared learning. The event was moderated by Sherry Dunn and featured a dynamic panel including Cassandra Adams of LCCS; Marriah Kornowa of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI); Dr. Marvin Whitfield of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northwest Ohio; and Brianna Stephan and Jennifer Behnfeldt of Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE). Many staff members were in attendance, contributing to an engaging and thoughtful discussion that reflected our shared commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and service.

The next Community Conversation is scheduled for April 27

at 5 pm at the Sanger Branch Library (Meeting Room A). The library is located at 3030 West Central Avenue, Toledo 43606. Hope to see you there!

LCCS Health Services

Protects Kids, Too

A big part of the LCCS mission 
to "lead the community in the protection of children" is keeping kids healthy.

That responsibility falls to the LCCS Health Services team, which actively works with caregivers, caseworkers, medical providers, and partners to ensure that the children involved with the agency are healthy and happy.

>> LEARN MORE

Wear Blue Day is April 8

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Please join us as we raise awareness of the importance of ending child abuse across Ohio. Please mark your calendar for Wear Blue Day on April 8, and wear blue to work, school or play. Take lots of pictures and send them to the Lucas County Children Services Facebook page. Wear blue and prevent child abuse! 

28^th Annual Child Memorial

Each April, as part of Child Abuse Prevention Month, we take time to remember our community's children who we have lost to abuse, neglect, and street violence. This year's Child Memorial will be held on Thursday, April 16, at 11 a.m. at the LCCS offices, 301 Adams Street, in the first floor ManorCare Conference Room. Toledo City Council Member John Hobbs III, Chair of the Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Committee, will be the keynote speaker. Music will be provided by a Toledo Symphony string quartet and Family Services supervisor Delisha Osley will contribute an original poetry reading. We will pay tribute to ten children who left us too soon. Please join us for this solemn event.

Warmline Pilot Launching

in Lucas County

Families in Lucas County may soon have a new way to find help before challenges turn into crises. Lucas County Children Services (LCCS) is partnering with local service providers to launch 
a 211 Warmline Pilot, an initiative designed to connect families, community members and mandated reporters with supportive resources without requiring a formal child protection report. 
By shifting the focus from reporting to supporting, the Warmline aims to ensure families can access the services they need to stay strong, stable and together. >> LEARN MORE

Navigating the child welfare system 
can be overwhelming, 
but you don’t have 
to face it alone.

Do you need help finding the right person or department to answer your child welfare questions? LCCS now offers a Family Help Center. Our helpful Child Welfare Navigators can point you to employees trained to answer your specific questions. We also have a Grievance Officer, who can help you share your concerns in the most productive way possible.