Child Protective Services: Off to a good 'START'

In our conversation with leaders from Seneca County Job and Family Services this week, we discussed a new initiative the county has taken on which the office deals with each week. Seneca County is now part of the Ohio START initiative. START stands for Sobriety, Treatment and Reducing Trauma. The initiative focuses on families that face struggles like abuse and neglect rooted in drug dependency and addiction. "START helps the parents deal with their addiction, but also helps the children deal with their trauma and helps to reduce trauma," CPS administrator Jennifer Schumacher said. With START, services are done with children in the home and include more home visits. The family will also have a family peer mentor who has lived the same lifestyle in the past, who has perhaps had an addiction and has gone through recovery. A family peer mentor is required to be at least two years in recovery. They are not required to have a history with children services, but it does help, Schumacher said. Schumacher said the agency does receive false reports, but CPS wants to help families first and foremost. "If a person gets a CPS visit that is unfounded, we want families to know they can still ask for help with any struggles they may have," she said. "Some families might be under resourced," said Kathy Oliver, director of Seneca County Job and Family Services. "We can help direct them to services if they don't know where to get them. "If you need help and don't know where to turn, please call us." Steven Kaifas, assistant director of Seneca County Job and Family Services, added the office wants to work with families instead of against them. "We want to talk with people, not about them," he said. "With open communication, we can take care of some things before it comes to us as a concern." For more information, visit the Job and Family Services website at https://djfs.co.seneca.oh.us/.