Social & Protective Services
We help families and children through Adult and Child Protective Services
Protecting Children & Strengthening Families
The Jackson County Department of Job and Family Services is committed to the safety and well-being of children and our older adult population. We are dedicated to strengthening families and respecting the integrity of individuals while aligning services that resolve challenges and build positive futures.
Child Protective Services
We strive to strengthen families and keep them together, linking them to services that will ensure that children are safe and protected. However, it is not always possible to maintain a child in their home, so caseworkers work diligently to establish an alternative living arrangement that may include kinship placement, foster care, or a residential treatment facility. Our ultimate goal is to provide children with a safe, loving, stable, and supportive home.
Ohio’s laws regarding child abuse and neglect are designed to provide for the safety and well-being of a child involved in a potential abuse or neglect situation. Children will be removed from the home only when sufficient protection cannot be provided to ensure their continued safety in their home. In order to remove a child, an order must be issued by a judge indicating that the agency has emergency or temporary custody of the child.
When are children placed in Foster Care?
When a child cannot reside safely in his/her own home, the child may be removed and placed with relatives. If a suitable relative home cannot be identified, children are likely to be placed into a foster home. Foster parents attend numerous hours of training to become licensed to temporarily care for children in their homes. To Make a Report, Call: 740.286.4181
What is Elder Abuse?
Elder abuse can take many different forms and includes abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation. Abuse may include deliberate conduct that causes psychological abuse or mental anguish. Oftentimes, psychology abuse takes the form of threats of physical harm, threats of out of home care placement, and possibly name-calling and demeaning comments.
Neglect and Self-Neglect
Often, reports of Elder Abuse involve varying levels of self-neglect. Self-neglect occurs when older adults are not willing, or simply are unable, to care for themselves due to a physical disability/inability or cognitive/mental confusion. Neglect, from a caretaker or another adult, may be unintentional or intentional. When a caregiver unintentionally neglects an older adult, it may include them forgetting to care for or physically being unable to meet the needs of the elderly individual.
Exploitation
Exploitation may include theft or the misuse of money, valuables, or assets. Assets, such as Social Security 401K or other retirement funds, real estate, family heirlooms, jewelry, furniture, or other items of value are often targets of abusers. Perpetrators of exploitation can be caregivers, housekeepers, telephone scammers, handymen, family members, or salespeople.
Older adults often do not ask for help because they are too ashamed or embarrassed, fear retaliation, fear an out-of-home placement, uncertain of how the situation could break family bonds, or feel powerless to the situation. If you suspect elder abuse or neglect, please call 740.286.4181