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.
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The Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities holds screening twice a year to see if kids birth to five years old are developmentally on track.
LIMA, OH (WLIO) - October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
Grand Lake Health System held their 13th annual SIDS Awareness 5K in St. Marys Saturday morning.
October 11, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine: (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Executive Order 2024-07D, directing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program funding to initiatives that will assist struggling families, support children, and encourage workforce development. The executive order distributes funds to the following agencies: Up to One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) will be used to assist The Brightside Project in providing resources and social-emotional development support to eligible children in Columbiana County.
October 10, 2024, Press Release from by Grand Lake Health System: Helping to educate the community about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and the ways to help prevent SIDS is the main focus for the Grand Lake Health Systems annual 5K run-walk that is being held this weekend, Saturday, October 12th, at Mill Park Shelter House. When Landen Philpot passed away at less than three months of age from SIDS, his family would have no idea how his short time on Earth would help to provide education and scholarship opportunities for so many in the community. The SIDS Awareness 5K was started to honor Landen, whose father was an employee of Joint Township District Memorial Hospital at the time of Landen’s passing. Employees wanted a way to honor Landen and provide valuable education about SIDS to the community.
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.
No one ever said parenting is easy, and the West Ohio Community Action Partnership is looking for some "MVPs." WOCAP is currently forming its "Most Valuable Parent" classes. It's a free program for parents and caregivers of minor kids in Allen, Auglaize, and Mercer counties. Participants attend a series of workshops that will address topics such as stress, anger management, and creating family rules and boundaries.