Protecting children and strengthening families is the mission of the Allen County Department of Children Services. Case workers, administrators, law enforcement, county officials, and others gathering to bring attention to the children of Allen County that have been abused and neglected.
April is Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month and more than eighty balloons each representing ten children were released into the sky. Allen County had 841 accepted abuse neglect reports in calendar year in 2016. Officials with Allen County Department of Children Services say it is important to partner with other agencies to protect these children.
"Children's Service Agency is the agency mandated to provide protection and assessment services but it does, it takes the entire community from juvenile court to counseling centers to next door neighbors to just be aware and stand up and do what is right for children," commented Executive Director of Allen County Department of Children Services, Cyndi Scanland.
There will be a variety of activities during the month to bring attention and awareness to child abuse. April 10, 2017 will be the pinwheel ceremony at Lima Memorial Health System at 11 a.m. and April 12, 2017 will be Ohio Wear Blue to Work Day.
