Welcome to 2024!

Message from

Executive Director Cassandra Holtzmann

Greetings to All!

I hope that everyone enjoyed a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season!

We welcome 2024 with hope and excitement for all that is ahead, however we know it will not be without its challenges. 

The pressures of the rising number of children in agency custody due to being unsafe in their own homes, paired with the ongoing struggle of recruiting and retaining foster families, has been difficult. Last year, Summit County Children Services (SCCS) served 1 out of every 12 children in Summit County. The average number of children in our care was 885 children. The good news is that over 40% of the children in custody are placed with relatives or non-blood kin, easing the trauma of a removal for children. 

Over the past decade, the average number of children in the custody of SCCS each month has increased by over 50%. Many families in Summit County are dealing with substance use disorders, trauma and other complex challenges that have in part, caused the custody numbers to rise. Children from families struggling with addiction generally remain in the care of SCCS longer and have more complex treatment needs. Overall, the cost of placements for children have continued to increase.   

This year will be an important one for the agency as we will seek a renewal of our levy in November 2024. Over 60% of the funding for SCCS comes from a property tax levy. The renewal of this six-year “capped” levy will not create an additional tax burden for Summit County homeowners due to property value increases. Summit County voters will have an opportunity on November 5 to impact the lives of children affected by child abuse and neglect. As always, we will keep you up to date on the status of our levy as we continue to make plans throughout the year.  



Meet the New Caregiver Coach

Summit County Children Services (SCCS) is excited to announce a new support role serving foster and adoptive families. The Northeast Ohio Regional Training Center (NEORTC) Caregiver Coach will guide families fostering through SCCS and other child welfare agencies in Northeast Ohio and help them navigate the challenges that come with caring for children in new and unfamiliar homes.

Taking on this role is Patricia Hill. Having worked with SCCS previously, she has a background of more than 30 years of child welfare experience working in both public and private sectors.

Ms. Hill shared her dedication to the role. “As the Caregiver Coach, I’m here to provide that little extra support, training, and skill building that foster families may need.” She will be responsible for working with caregivers fostering for public child welfare agencies within the fourteen (14) counties in the Northeast Ohio Region including Ashland, Ashtabula, Columbiana, Geauga, Holmes, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, and Wayne. 

Patricia Hill, Caregiver Coach

patricia.hill@summitkids.org | (330) 375-1685

Tax time is upon us! Foster parents and kinship/non-blood relatives are eligible to request a child's Social Security number for tax filing purposes. If there is a need for you to receive a child's Social Security number, please make this request with either the child's caseworker or your Foster Home Coordinator. The child must have been placed in your care/home for more than six months in 2023.

NOTE: You are encouraged to seek tax advice from a tax professional.

Foster Parents are the Best Recruiters!

Here are a few ways you can help spread the word

"Take a Leap into Foster Care"

Join us for this virtual open house style event

for interested foster parents.

Who do you know who might be interested in foster care?

Who do you know who has a big heart filled with love for kids?

Who do you know who wants to make a difference in a child's life?

Current SCCS foster parents are encouraged to invite others who want to learn more about foster care to our upcoming virtual Open House event. And, when you do ...

you can receive a $25 Target gift card!

Guests will hear from a panel of foster parents who will share their personal stories and experiences. So they will hear firsthand what it's like being a foster parent. In addition, staff will explain in more detail about the process and share information about the support provided by the agency.

To receive the $25 Target gift card, your guest must be age 18 years of age or older and cannot be a relative or a current household member. You both must attend the Open House event on February 29 and have your video on.

When:

Thursday, February 29, 6 - 7 p.m.

Where:

via Zoom Meeting

(advance registration is required; Zoom instructions will be sent)

How to Register:

Online (link below) or call (330) 379-1990

Be sure to give your name and your guest's name.

Share Our 2024 Recruitment Calendars

Display a Yard Sign

Do You Enjoy Being a Foster Parent?

Then, we invite you to share your experiences with others!

We are looking for foster parents who are interested in helping with the agency's recruitment efforts by telling their personal story

about becoming a foster parent. Why did you decide to do it?

What was it like going through the process? What motivates you

to continue? Each of your stories is unique and special and will

resonate with others who are thinking about foster care.

Those who are interested can contact Sandy DeLuca in the

Community Relations Department at (330) 379-1994 or by email

at sandy.deluca@summitkids.org. We'd love to have you be

a part of the recruitment team!

Bring Guests to FCA Information Meetings

SCCS hosts monthly virtual Information Meetings via Zoom Meeting

for anyone wanting to learn more about foster care and adoption.

So, if you cannot make it on February 29 for our 'Take a Leap

into Foster Care' virtual Open House, you are welcome to bring

a guest to any meeting throughout the year.

Staff give an overview of the agency and review the requirements, process and support provided. Next steps are also shared.

SIGN UP TODAY!

Foster Parent Trainings

March | April | May 2024 Schedule

Below is the March-April-May 2024 foster parent ongoing training schedule. Register through CAPS LMS.

To search by session ID#, log into CAPS LMS and click View Events Calendar. Under filters on the left side of the page, type the Session ID# in the session ID box.

The Ohio Child Welfare Training Program (OCWTP) continues to offer both pre-service and ongoing training hours. Please visit their website for more details.

Use the link below for the full training calendar at the Northeast Ohio Regional Training Center (NEORTC) located on the Summit County Children Services campus.

REMINDER TO FOSTER PARENTS: Please remember to bring your agency badge with you when you come to the agency. To enter the campus, swipe your badge at the reader panel to the left in front of the gate. To enter the Education Building, swipe your badge in front of the reader panel to the right of the doors. Campus visitors are restricted to those who are scheduled for training or business on campus.

Self-directed training hours continue to be available through Foster Parent College. Please check with your coordinator about the number of hours you should take online. Contact Vickie Webb or Kim Gear to register for a Foster Parent College account if you don't already have one. Please visit their website for more details.

Foster Parent Training Conference

Join us April 18-19-20 for three days of ongoing training -

see schedule linked below. Please register through CAPS LMS.

We look forward to having you join us!

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to recognize the importance of families and communities working together to help prevent child abuse and neglect.

Summit County Children Services invites everyone to 'join the movement' and WEAR BLUE on Wednesday, April 10 and show your support to help STOP child abuse.

Meet Some Incredible Kids!

Each sibling group is looking for a permanent family

Ta'vion & Renee

Dates of Birth: August 2009 & October 2016

Simon & Saria

Dates of Birth: May 2020 & June 2021

Below are area churches that have Clothing Closets for foster families.

For more information, please contact the church.