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April Child Abuse Prevention Month Activities, LCCS remembers children lost to abuse, neglect or violence
Lucas County Children Services, the county agency responsible for protecting children from abuse and neglect, has scheduled several activities in April, 2012, in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month:
• Blues Against Child Abuse: March 30, 2012, 7 – 10 p.m., Dégagé Jazz Café, 301 River Road, Maumee. Local blues artists Voodoo Libido perform at this event designed to raise awareness of child abuse in our community. Tickets are $10, and include light hors’d’ourves. Cash bar. Please bring a personal care or school supply item to donate to children involved with LCCS. Special thanks to The Historic Commercial Building, Voodoo Libido, the Toledo Free Press and Cumulus Broadcasting for their support.
• Wear Blue to Work Day: April 11, all day. Let’s unite as a community against child abuse by wearing blue to work on April 11. Take a picture of yourself and your co-workers in blue, and either e-mail it to or post it to . “Wear Blue to Work Day” buttons are available to participating groups or companies by calling 419-213-3254. Special thanks to the Toledo Free Press. Fox Toledo, 101.5 The River and Cumulus Broadcasting for their support.
• We Care About Our Kids: Community Forum on Child Sexual Abuse: April 18, 6:30 – 9 p.m., University of Toledo Scott Park Campus.
Representatives of child safety organizations, including LCCS, will present information to educate parents, professionals and the community on the best ways to keep kids safe, and shed light on the investigative
and prosecution processes. The forum is free. Information is available at 419-729-0245 or 419-244-4053, ext. 303.
• LCCS Child Memorial: April 25, 11:30 a.m. – noon, LCCS offices, 705 Adams St., downtown Toledo. A solemn memorial remembering local children lost to abuse, neglect or street violence. In the period April
2011 to present, no children have been lost to abuse or neglect, but three male teens died as a result of acts of violence: Timothy Blair, 14; Deadrick Rocker, 17; and Montelle Taylor, 17.
Child Abuse Statistics
In 2011, Lucas County Children Services received 4,148 referrals of suspected child abuse involving 6,046 children. We confirmed that 587 children were abused or neglected (two-thirds of LCCS cases are addressed using the “Alternative Response” protocol, which does not involve substantiating a perpetrator or victim).
Nearly half of all alleged child victims are age 5 or younger; 34 percent are school-aged; and 19 percent were teens (2 percent were age unknown). County wide, more than five of every 1,000 children is a victim of maltreatment. On average, intake caseworkers receive 750 calls a month reporting concerns about the safety of a child.
About Lucas County Children Services
The mission of Lucas County Children Services is to lead the community in the protection of children at risk of abuse and neglect. This is accomplished by working with families, service providers and community members to assess risk and coordinate community-based services resulting in safe, stable and permanent families for children.
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