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Children's Services

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The HCJFS Children’s Services Division is legally responsible for taking reports of child abuse and neglect and dependency (241-KIDS); investigating reports; and acting to protect child victims and children at risk of harm.

Click here for About Children's Services (pdf, updated 7/1/08)    

Call 241-KIDS to report suspected child abuse or neglect any time of day or night

The Children's Services division of HCJFS is one piece of a larger child protection system that includes:
  • Hamilton County Juvenile Court

  • law enforcement agencies

  • Mayerson Center for Safe & Healthy Children

  • service providers across Hamilton County

  • residents of Hamilton County

By law, Children's Services must take and investigate allegations of child abuse and neglect. Residents and other professionals who suspect abuse and/or neglect should call 241-KIDS, Hamilton County's 24-hour line.

 


Our partners in the community

Children's Services partners with a number of organizations and county agencies to keep Hamilton County's children safe, including:

  • Hamilton County Sheriff's Department
  • Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office
  • Hamilton County Juvenile Court
  • various county boards and agencies
    • Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Board
    • Community Mental Health Services Board
    • domestic violence programs
    • parenting training courses
    • emergency housing

Why does child abuse and neglect happen?

There are many possible reasons. Parents or caregivers can have a substance abuse problem or untreated mental illness. They might also lack skills or feel overwhelmed.

Regardless of the reason, Children's Services caseworkers' primary interest is the safety of the children. Caseworkers try to help parents and/or caregivers deal with issues that have led to cases of child abuse and neglect. This help may involve setting up temporary homes for children while parents get counseling or other services aimed at improving the safety of their children at home.

Whatever the plan worked out for the parents or caregiver, the goal is to keep the family together whenever possible.


What are some examples of child abuse and neglect?

There are many examples of child abuse and neglect:

  • 3-year-old left home alone
  • explanations for injuries that don't fit the injury (non-accidental injury)
  • hazardous home conditions
  • adult sexual contact with a child

If you notice something like this, or if you have a question about something you think could be abuse or neglect, call 241-KIDS. Trained professionals on the line can help you.


What else does Children's Services do?

In addition to taking and investigating calls about alleged child abuse and neglect, Children's Services also:

  • Seeks protective, temporary or permanent custody of children through Juvenile Court, if necessary

  • Places children in temporary care with relatives, foster parents or institutional settings when they cannot be safe in their own homes

  • Involves families and community partners in making decisions that affect children

  • Provides services to help families that include drug abuse treatment, emergency housing, mental health counseling, and parent education.

  • Recruits and trains foster and adoptive families

  • Prepares children for adoption and arranges for post-adoption services to families

  • Provides training in independent living skills for older teens

General Fact Sheets


About Children's Services

Adoption

Foster Care

241-KIDS: Questions & Answers

241-KIDS: Who's Required to Call?

Drug Abuse

A Caseworker's Day

Legal Mandates for Children's Services

Customer Fact Sheets

 

Working with Hamilton County Children's Services

(Español: chasque aqui)

The Family Decision-Making Conference

Family Preservation

Independent Living

Kinship Care

Role of Juvenile Court

Records and the Central Registry

Adoption Assistance Guide

Multi-Ethnic Placement Act

Solving Problems with Children's Services

Brochures


Sweet Dreams:

Safety for Your Sleeping Baby (Español: chasque aqui)

Punishment or Abuse? Tips to Know the Difference

241-KIDS:

Questions & Answers

(Español: chasque aqui)
 

Información en español


Acerca de los Servicios para Menores

 

241-KIDS: Preguntas y Respuestas

 

241-KIDS: ¿Quién Debe Llamar?

 

Colaborando con Servicios para Menores

La Ley de Colocación Multi-Étnica (MEPA, por sus siglas en inglés) & la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 (Título VI)

Hoja de Datos de Adopción y Cuidado de Crianza Temporal
 

Latest HCJFS Update


 

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