November 1, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Governor Mike Dewine: (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—November is National Adoption Month, and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) Director Kara B. Wente are calling on the community to work together to ensure that every young person waiting for adoption can find a permanent, loving family. “Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up in a safe, stable, and loving family,” said Governor DeWine. “During National Adoption Month, we recognize the incredible Ohio families who have opened their hearts and homes to adopt, and we encourage more Ohioans to consider adoption as a way to make a lasting difference in the life of a child.”

November is "National Adoption Month," and Allen County Children Services is getting the word out about the process. So far this year, the agency has had twelve children find a forever home through adoption, triple the amount of last year. It's been one of the busiest years that Allen County Children Services has had, but there are still 10 children between the ages of 3 and 17 waiting for a permanent home, and that list could grow. So the call is going out for loving families to step forward and learn about the rewards of providing a child with a loving place to call home.

Doctors urging parents to get their children the recommended vaccination to prevent the possible spread of preventable diseases.  

Can you recognize the difference between worry, anxiety, and panic in children? The 2024 Allen Lima Leadership class is helping answer that question with a free hands-on workshop for parents, educational professionals, and councilors this Thursday at Rhodes State College. As part of their class project, they talked to school counselors and learned the biggest need they see is helping children with anxiety. So, they are bringing in people from Miami University to put on an engagement lab at Rhodes State College on Thursday morning to help people better recognize and regulate worry and anxiety in children.

If you would like to help change a child's story, you may consider becoming a child advocate. CASA of Allen and Putnam Counties is looking for volunteers to help children who had to be removed from their families because of the situation they are living in. Advocates would help the children in court proceedings get a better life and outcome than they are leaving.

Twelve non-profit organizations are receiving donations that will help them help kids in a variety of programs. The Lima Exchange Club presented checks to programs that provide for the welfare of children. The organizations can provide a positive influence to the child through sports, education, a caring hand, and even a new pair of shoes. The focus of the Exchange Club is child abuse prevention, and believe these programs will be beneficial for the youth.

Making friends is often seen as a natural part of childhood, but it may be easier for some kids than others. Bethany Ulrick tells us about a recent poll of parents and what they think about their kids developing friendships. A new poll from the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital finds that one in five parents say their child between the ages of six and twelve has no friends or not enough friends.

September 5, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine: (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today delivered welcoming remarks for Ohio’s 2024 Kids Summit. Hosted for the first time by the new Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY), in collaboration with the Ohio Supreme Court, the Kids Summit brought together county leaders from across the state representing children services, the judicial system, law enforcement, parent and family advocates, social workers, and more to learn about DCY: the new agency created last year by Governor DeWine to streamline systems that support children and families. Over 800 people who serve children and families in various capacities attended the one-day summit.

September 5, 2024, Press Release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio: CLEVELAND – To help keep children, teens, and com…