We're open 24 hours to take your call

By

November 30, 2009

Saving children and helping families is our only business at Richland County Children Services. It’s what we do and it’s who we are.

And our business is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year with trained and experienced employees ready to help any time of the day or night.

Unfortunately, statistics show there are times people witness suspected child abuse or neglect at night or on the weekend and wait until the next morning or weekday to call us.

There simply is no need to wait. Our child abuse and neglect hotline is answered 24/7 at 419-774-4100. An analysis of reported suspicions from the first seven months of 2009 shows many area residents may not be aware of that fact.

Consider these facts:

-- From January through July, our agency received 3,912 calls with suspected abuse or neglect of children. Of those calls, 88 percent came in during the week and only 12 percent came on a Saturday or Sunday. Granted, not all calls result in investigations. Sometimes people just call looking for child care information. In fact, just 38 percent of the calls we have received in 2009 led to investigations.

-- In that same seven-month period, we received 74 percent of our weekday calls during “normal” business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Only 26 percent of the calls came in “after hours” during the week.
Don’t misunderstand. We want people to call us with their child safety fears when they feel the time is right. But we also want Mansfield and Richland County residents to clearly understand they can call 419-774-4100 any time of the day or night to make a report.

We also want people to understand why we need them to contact us and make a report when they suspect child abuse or neglect.

First and foremost, those calls are made to protect a child. Our agency’s intention is never to hurt or punish families in need. We want to help a child by helping the family with resources and information to make that home a stable and safe place.

In fact, we welcome calls from residents who have questions about child rearing. People call us and ask at what age they can safely leave their child home alone. They ask questions about a adolescent’s change in attitude and behavior, i.e. is this normal? They inquire about autism, developmental milestones and general inquiries about raising children. If our staff doesn’t know the answers, we will help direct you to those who do.

The fact is we all have a stake in the protection of Richland County children. Studies clearly show that many children abused today become the abusers of tomorrow. We need your help to break this painful cycle.

You can remain anonymous when you call in a report of suspected abuse or neglect. We would prefer you tell us your name and number so we can contact you again if we have more questions. But you do not have to give any identifying information.

If you do identify yourself, please know that child abuse and neglect cases are confidential under Ohio law. The law also does not allow Children Services to make public the name of the person who made the report of child abuse or neglect.

Here are some of the questions our call screeners may ask: name, age and address of the child and the name(s) of his parent, guardian or custodian; the type, extent, frequency and duration of the abuse or neglect; the child’s current location and condition; and the alleged perpetrator’s access to the child (if applicable).

Most importantly, don’t wait to make the call when you suspect child abuse or neglect. Write this number down and keep it by the phone or plug it into your cell phone – 419-774-4100.

We are ready at all times to take your call and will move quickly to protect children in peril – no matter when you call.

(Carl Hunnell is the communications supervisor for Richland County Children Services. You can contact him at 419-744-4104 or by e-mail at hunnec@odjfs.state.oh.us.)

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