More than 880 children abused/neglected in Tuscarawas County in 2021

In 2021, Tuscarawas County Job & Family Services recorded 408 investigation referrals regarding child abuse and/or neglect to the agency of the more than 800 children that were abused or neglected countywide.

The agency is announcing that it again assisted the local Noah’s Hope Child Advocacy Center in putting up pinwheels on the Tuscarawas County Courthouse steps on March 31, 2022.  Each pinwheel represents a child that has been abused/neglected in Tuscarawas County in the last year.  This year, there will be 888 pinwheels placed on the courthouse steps.

Tuscarawas County Job & Family Services investigated 408 referrals regarding child abuse/neglect in 2021.  Almost 30% of the referrals involved alcohol/drug use.  Family violence and sexual abuse made up another 40% of the calls.  Due to these investigations, 74 children were placed into foster care.

The TCJFS protective unit staff assesses incidents of child abuse/neglect/dependency that involve children ages 0-18 (or 21 if developmentally disabled).

Referrals can be made by calling 330-556-6720 or 330-339-7791, option #4.  

The following information is helpful to complete a referral:

• Child(ren)’s name, date of birth, current location, school attending (if applicable), school grade, current address;
• Parent(s) name, current address, criminal history (if applicable), any medical or mental health issues;
• The current concerns of child abuse (physical or sexual) and/or neglect including date of the incident(s), description of the injury or home environment, any police involvement, any medical treatment sought for the injury sustained by the child, any weapons or drugs the child may have access to, any drug or alcohol abuse by the parent or caregiver while supervising the child(ren), description of inappropriate caregivers that the child(ren) was left with, lack of utilities, lack of basic needs being met, lack of stable housing, lack of supervision or monitoring, pattern of domestic violence in the home;
• Additional information that would be helpful are any known relatives (names, addresses, phone numbers), sibling information, any other witnesses or collateral contacts to the incident being reported.

Let’s make Tuscarawas County a safe place for our children.