April marks Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Wayne County Children's Services has several events planned to raise awareness about the issue.

The 30th annual Wayne County Child Abuse Prevention Month Community Event is set for April 18 from noon to 2 p.m. at Greystone Event Center, 50 Riffel Road, Wooster.

“The event is co-sponsored by The Voices for Children Committee and our agency,” said Deanna Stika, WCCS executive director. “Laura Sirot, a former foster parent, is the keynote speaker. Awards will be presented to the Child Advocate and Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.”

The Wayne County commissioners will issue a proclamation recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Additionally, April 10 is Ohio’s Wear Blue Day to build awareness about child abuse prevention.

“Ohioans are encouraged to wear blue that day — to work, to school, to a community event — to show support for preventing child abuse and neglect,” Stika said.

People who participate in this event can take a photo of themselves and their family, co-workers, friends, neighbors, fellow students and others wearing blue and can then share the photo on the Wayne County Children's Services Facebook page or on the Ohio Wears Blue Facebook page using the hashtag #OhioWearsBlue2024.

WCCS also has a critical need for foster parents. There are currently 122 children in some level of care.

“Some are placed with their relatives, residential treatment centers or foster homes,” said Ann Fink, community and public relations coordinator with WCCS. “We have one foster home in the county that is available to take a child/children if necessary. The rest are full or not taking children currently. There is an ongoing placement crisis statewide and nationwide.

“There are many complicated factors driving this, but ultimately, we need to raise awareness to give qualified people the opportunity to step forward to serve children.”

To start the process of becoming a foster parent or for questions about being a foster parent, call WCCS at 330-345-5340 or email Anna.Fink@jfs.ohio.gov. If being a foster parent isn’t for you, you can volunteer with the agency in a variety of capacities including tutoring, serving as a mentor and working with various projects for foster children. Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting Wayne County Children's Services by serving as tutors, mentors and special friends and participating in special projects such as the Tot Stop at the Wayne County Fair. There are many ways to observe this important awareness month.

Wayne County Children's Services was formed in 1876 when the Ohio Legislature passed legislation for the establishment, support and regulation of children’s homes in the counties of Ohio. By the end of that century, most Ohio counties had established a children’s home to care for orphaned, abandoned, abused, neglected or dependent children.

Originally, a children’s home was housed in the Kinney Building in Wooster. WCCS’s current mission is to protect abused, neglected and dependent children while strengthening families.