Scioto County Children Services This is the information from the 1999 Annual Report. The Scioto County Board of Commissioners representing the county throughout 2000 John Knauff Opal Spears - Chairperson Vernal (Skip) Riffe The Board of Directors of the Scioto County Children Services for 2000 Richard Howard - Chairperson Kay Kern - Secretary Ruthann Brush Irene Lupton Grace Martin Regina Miller Chief Greg Ratcliff - Vice Chairperson Hagar Spurlock Reverend Bob Jones MISSION STATEMENT: The Mission of Scioto County Children Services is to lead in the protection of children who are at-risk of, or have experienced abuse, neglect or dependency. We partner with the community to strengthen and empower families through prevention, education, advocacy and supportive services to promote family stability and permanency for children. Scioto County Children Services Staff CLERICAL/SUPPORT: Karen Swingle, Sheila Cook and Charlotte Cooper MAINTENANCE/VEHICLE OPERATORS: James Staten and Martha Mann FISCAL: Marlene Queen and Amanda Bennett DIRECT SERVICE CASE WORKER IIs: Alice Bauer, Linda Brown, Patty Crabtree, Karen Dailey, Bill Denton, Renee' Dingess, Elizabeth Ebinger, Jennifer Hagen, James Hadinger, Deborah Handshoe, Pam Hensley, Angie Kemper, Angela Reed, Kathy Sharp, Lynda Taylor, Gail Trone and Judy Westley DIRECT SERVICE CONTRACT WORKERS: Dr. Brad Hedges, Robin Murphy, Lori Jenkins, Naomi Kincel, Darrell Keller, Sandi Lindner and Tammy Nelson ADMINISTRATIVE: Maura Adams - Business Administrator 1 for Fiscal Department Sharon Bays - Administrative Assistant 2 Christine Cave - Administrative Secretary 1/Supervisor for Clerical Dept. David Huddleston - Attorney Dana Lanthorn - Supervisor 2 for Foster/Adoptive Family Services Dept. Richard Nickison - Supervisor 2 for the Intake/Assessment Department Roger Sessor - Supervisor 2 for Protective Services/Substitute Care Dept. Michael Trivisonno - Executive Director Faye Weddington - Assistant Director SCIOTO COUNTY CHILDREN SERVICES STRATEGIC PLAN HISTORY: At the end of 1998, The Executive Director made the decision with the support of the Board to develop a Strategic Plan to guide the Agency in partnering with the community in the protection of the county's children who are at-risk of abuse and neglect and to assist their families. The agency surveyed its staff and the community to gather the data needed to develop a plan based on their guidance. As a result of the collected data and a three day planning process with selected staff members, the Agency developed a new mission statement, adopted the Vision statement, with revisions, that was developed by the Scioto County Department of Human Services and identified four key initiatives that form the basis of the Strategic Plan with accompanying measurable objectives, activities and time frames. VISION STATEMENT FOR CHILDREN ALL CHILDREN WILL HAVE: loving, nurturing families that are able to implement non-violent alternatives to conflict resolution healthy, safe, clean environments positive, involved families to provide and teach positive attitudes and values positive self-esteem and avoid substance abuse opportunities to live, work and prosper in Scioto County. THE FOUR INITIATIVES THAT ARE THE FOUNDATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN: Improve Internal and External Communication and Education Build and Maintain Community Partnerships Maintain and Develop Financial Resources Enhance and Expand Programs DEPARTMENTS Scioto County Children Services maintains qualified and competent staff in all of the agency's departments: Supportive/ Clerical Department Intake/Assessment Department Protective Services/Substitute Care Department Foster/Adoptive Family Services Department Fiscal Department Administration and Legal Department 1999 ACHIEVEMENTS AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS Scioto County Children Services achieved several goals and implemented two innovative programs, revised the Independent Living Program and maintained funding for the Family Service Education Program. ACHIEVEMENTS: Error-free State audit Finalized the adoption of a medically fragile child Creation of Adoption Specialist position Provided training sessions for prospective foster/adoptive parents Foster/Adoptive guidelines met State's approval Secured TANF funds for programs Co-sponsored training seminars with the ADAMHS Board Provided training for community agencies Developing an Operational Manual via a consultant Received State approval on the Child Protection and Oversight Evaluation Completed the first year of the agency's Strategic Plan Completed 1,088 investigations on child abuse/neglect/ referrals Reduced the number of children placed outside of Scioto county by 17% Served an average of 302 children per month by providing investigations, protective services, and substitute care NEW PROGRAMS COURT LIAISON PROGRAM: With the support and cooperation of Scioto County Juvenile Court Judge and his Administrative staff, Children Services implemented a Court Liaison Program. In March 1999, Children Services made a commitment to have a caseworker at Juvenile Court everyday, all day with the goal of reducing the number of children coming into the Court system and/or Children Services. The plan was to divert these children into appropriate services rather than to the Court or Child Welfare systems. The Judge, Court Administration and Children Services agreed that the program has been successful. ON-SITE PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES: Children Services applied and received Protective Services Incentive Funds from Ohio Department of Human Services. A portion of the allocation ($25,000) was used to develop and implement on-site psychological services for children and families involved with Children Services. With the help of the ADAMHS Board and Shawnee Mental Health Center, the $25,000 was increased to approximately $70,000 through matching funds. Children Services now has a Psychologist on-site one day a week that provides assessments, psychological evaluations, consultations to staff and serves as an expert witness for court cases. REVISED PROGRAM: The State requires that Children Services agencies provide an "Independent Living" program for children 16 and older and in the custody of the agency. Scioto County Children Services was meeting the mandate but it was a struggle on the staff's time. With the cooperation of the local substance abuse treatment provider, The Counseling Center, the agency's Independent Living Program has been improved and is implemented between both agencies. OTHER PROGRAMS: The Family Service Education program was initially started by grant money in 1998. With the support of Scioto County Department of Human Services, this program has been extended for another year with hopes of it becoming a permanent department within the agency. This program provides concrete services to high risk families by assisting them with: parenting instructions, budgeting skills, discipline techniques, homemaking skills and self-esteem awareness. This program has been able to keep over 60 families together. FUTURE PROGRAMS Scioto County Children Services will continue to explore services and programs that will promote the well-being of children and families. In the year 2000, Children Services began the integration of a Family Centered, Neighborhood Based service delivery system where staff will be involved with the community in securing community support and responsibility for the care of children and families. 1999 STATISTICS AND FUNDING SOURCES Nationwide, over 3 million children were reported as victims of child abuse and neglect; nearly one million were confirmed victims of maltreatment. CATEGORY 1998 1999 PHYSICAL ABUSE 24 18 NEGLECT 45 47 SEXUAL ABUSE 45 47 EMOTIONAL ABUSE 1 0 DEPENDENCY 7 4 UNRULY 79 74 NUMBER OF INVESTIGATIONS 1115 1088 CHILDREN IN SUBSTITUTE CARE AVE. OF 90 PER MONTH AVE. 0F 92 PER MONTH OUT OF COUNTY PLACEMENTS AVE. OF 18 PER MONTH AVE. 15 PER MONTH ADOPTIONS FINALIZED 5 1 TOTAL # OF CHILDREN SERVED AVE. 308 PER MONTH AVE. 302 PER MONTH FUNDING SOURCES LOCAL: The levy that was passed in 1995, provides approximately 60% of the total budget. STATE: Provides approximately 8% of the total budget. FEDERAL: Provides approximately 32% of the total budget 1999 TOTAL EXPENDITURES: $2.785,510.48 1999 TOTAL REVENUES: $2.878,217.72 FOSTER PARENT ORGANIZATION Scioto County Children Services have 19-23 foster homes in which families open their homes to care for children that are in the agency's custody. THERE IS ALWAYS THE NEED FOR MORE FOSTER FAMILIES. The Foster Parent Organization of Scioto County Children Services organized several activities with the children that included: Skating party Field trips Halloween party Hay ride Picnics Christmas party and dinner Economic Development | Info & Statistics | Events & Attractions Our County & Communities | News | Contacts | Home Free JavaScripts provided by The JavaScript Source © 1998-02 Scioto County Government. All rights reserved.