Judge halts Children Services strike for 60 days

A day after a state board determined a strike by Montgomery County’s child welfare workers presented a clear and present danger to children, a judge on Monday ruled to extend for 60 days a restraining order he issued last week that halted the strike and ordered the sides to three negotiating sessions, including two in public.

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State board to rule on future of Children Services strike

Montgomery County’s Children Services division and the union representing its workers have been called to an emergency hearing on Sunday before the State Employment Relations Board.

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Montgomery County Children Services workers on strike

Montgomery County Children Services workers’ strike began at 12:01 a.m. today.

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Hundreds Of Ohio's Child Welfare Caseworkers Threaten To Strike

More than 270 Ohio child welfare caseworkers and their support staff could soon be going on strike.

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Mediation session ‘one last shot’ to avoid Children Services strike

A mediation session has been scheduled for July 18 between Montgomery County officials and their unionized Children Services workers, representatives of both groups confirmed late Wednesday.

That session will occur just hours before the union, made up largely of Montgomery County child welfare caseworkers, is scheduled to go on strike at 12:01 a.m. July 19.

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Investigation of CPS procedures sought following baby's death

Scioto County commissioners sent a letter to request the director of the county's Children's Services be placed on administrative leave following the death of a baby whose body was found in a well.

Commissioners sent the letter Tuesday requesting Dr. Lorra Fuller, the agency's director, be put on administrative leave while an independent investigation of CPS procedures is conducted.

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Ohio sheriff charged with releasing confidential abuse reports

A county sheriff in Ohio has been accused of posting confidential child abuse reports to the department’s website and Facebook page.

A special prosecutor on Thursday filed misdemeanor charges against Williams County Sheriff Steve Towns.

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Foster parent sentenced to 24 months in prison for sexual abuse of child in his care

Family members and friends left the courtroom in tears Wednesday afternoon after a man was sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting a teenage foster child.

Over the course of 16 months, a 64 year-old man was found guilty of charges stemming from the sexual abuse of a girl 50 years younger than him that was living in his home.

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Northeast Ohio couple shares adoption warning after losing out on potential son

She is a cancer survivor who had big dreams of becoming a mom, and decided to adopt when she learned she could not give birth.

But that dream quickly became a nightmare. And now, instead of showing off baby photos, she is sharing a warning.

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Proposal would help parents keep custody of troubled kids

A legislative proposal would allow Ohio parents to avoid an often heart-breaking decision: giving up custody of troubled children so they can receive desperately needed and expensive services.

The amendment to Ohio's two-year budget is aimed at so-called "multisystem youths," those needing help from service agencies that cover disabilities, child welfare and mental health.

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Judge tosses lawsuit against Cuyahoga County DCFS case workers over 5-year-old girl’s death

A federal judge in Cleveland dismissed a lawsuit filed over the death of 5-year-old Ta’Naejah McCloud that accused Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services of improperly handling accusations of abuse against the child.

An attorney representing her estate said he plans to at least re-file the case in state court.

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Local man reunited with biological siblings decades after adoption

Grant Nicholls was adopted in the 1940's and until he started researching, he only knew his birth mom's first and last name.

"I struggled for, I've probably been working on this project for about 5 years and went down a couple wrong roads and had people say noe, nope, wrong branch of the family," Grant explained.

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Adopted teens tell lawmakers foster care system needs more money

Daniel Wooden still remembers the day he was sitting in Franklin County Children Services.

"I just heard the lady behind me say, 'hey, we need to get these kids somewhere, and a lady just came and picked me up," he said.

On Tuesday afternoon, Wooden and a group of other foster care teens spoke with state senators about the system's pitfalls. Wooden ended up with a caring, loving family, but it was only by chance.

"My mother, she didn't have the means or will to take care of me, so she gave me up to foster care," he said.

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Custody Or Care: Parents Surrender Kids To State For Mental Health Treatment

In Ohio, parents of children with severe mental health issues sometimes face an excruciating decision: To get their child costly care, they must sign over custody to the state. Now those parents are fighting for change, and a chunk of Gov. Mike Dewine’s budget.

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She spent a week in jail. Lost her job and her kids. Then, all charges were dropped

After seven days in jail, a Brown County mother is free, but her life is still in chaos. She says she's lost her job and her children, all due to a case of mistaken identity on the part of the Aberdeen Police Department.

It started on April 11 in the parking lot of Target on Beechmont Avenue when Ashley Foster was approached by a Hamilton County deputy.

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Boardman foster parent accused of beating child in her care

Police say a foster parent is charged with child endangering after beating a child in her care with coat hangers and belts.

Police were informed of the abuse in March after suspicious marks were found on the child, according to a police report. Police said they were also informed that the child smelled like urine and feces and showed up to school in clothes that were soiled and were often too small.

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Cuyahoga County social worker, supervisor both fired for 'neglect of duty' in Aniya Day-Garrett case

The Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services has fired both a social worker and her supervisor for their handling of the Aniya Day-Garrett case.

The county confirms both Lorra Greene and her supervisor Laura Cole were terminated on Aug. 3 of last year, roughly a month after they were placed on paid administrative leave. Both were accused of "serious policy violations, including neglect of duty, poor job performance, violation of DCFS operational policies and procedures, nonfeasance and misfeasance."

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Ohio child welfare system in crisis, advocates say

Overwhelmed by the surge of children who have parents consumed by drug addiction, Ohio’s system of protecting abused and neglected kids is facing a crisis of its own.

A spike in the number of children in foster care — many with more complex needs — along with inadequate funding and overburdened caseworkers, underscores the need for increased spending and reforms, according to a report released Friday by the Public Children Services Association of Ohio.

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Case worker, supervisor terminated by DCFS for 'lack of urgency' in Aniya Day-Garrett case

The case worker and her supervisor who were responsible for handling the case involving Aniya Day-Garrett, the 4-year-old girl who was killed by her mother and mother’s boyfriend, were terminated by the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services.

The system of failures that may have led to the death of Aniya included missed deadlines, poor guidance from supervisors and a lack of urgency to protect the little girl from her abusers, according to the termination letter provided by Cuyahoga County DCFS.

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Ohio’s Children’s Service workers experience PTSD symptoms

Is the foster child better off with or without a visit from her father?

Kristy Carlisle cannot count on her many years of professional experience, or even a gut feeling, to yield a comfortable answer. She doesn’t see any good solutions.

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