If you believe that a child has been abused or neglected, please contact Noble County Job & Family Services. Reports may be made by calling 740-732-2392 or in person at 46049 Marietta Road, Caldwell, Ohio 43724 Monday through Thursday from 6 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. To make an emergency report after regular business hours, on weekends or holidays, please contact the Noble County Sheriff’s Office at 740-732-5631 and ask for the on-call case worker.

Any report shall contain:

The names and addresses of the child and the child’s parents or the person or persons having custody of the child, if known.
The child’s age and the nature and extent of the child’s known or suspected injuries, abuse, or neglect or of the known or suspected threat of injury, abuse, or neglect.
Any other information that might be helpful in establishing the cause of the known or suspected injury, abuse or neglect or of the known or suspected threat of injury, abuse, or neglect.

Children Services offers a wide range of social services coordinated and delivered on behalf of children who are at risk of abuse or neglect. Noble County JFS receives reports alleging abuse or neglect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Children who are under eighteen years of age or mentally or physically handicapped and under twenty-one years of age may receive protective services from Children Services.

Mandated Reporters

Any person who has reasonable belief that a child may be abused or neglected should report their concerns to Children Services. All reporters’ identities are confidential and are not released.
Some individuals are required by law to report suspicions of abuse or neglect. A mandated reporter is someone that is required to report suspected abuse or neglect. Some examples are an attorney; physician, including a hospital intern or resident; dentist; podiatrist; practitioner of a limited branch of medicine as specified in section 4731.15 of the Revised Code, registered nurse; licensed practical nurse; visiting nurse; other health care professional; licensed psychologist, licensed school psychologist, independent marriage and family therapist; speech pathologist or audiologist; coroner; administrator or employee of a certified child care agency or other public or private children services agency; school teacher; school employee; school authority; person engaged in social work or the practice of professional counseling; agent of county humane society, or a person rendering spiritual treatment through prayer in accordance with the tenets of a well recognized religion; superintendent, board member, or employee of a county board of mental retardation; investigative agent contracted with by a county board of mental retardation; or employee of the department mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

In accordance with ORC 2151.421, any person making a report in good faith is immune from any criminal or civil liability.

What is a Plan of Safe Care?

A Plan of Safe Care (POSC) is a voluntary support plan for individuals with substance use during pregnancy. The goal of a POSC is strengthening a family and keeping child(ren) safely at home. The POSC may prevent involvement with Children Services. A POSC provides resources that can support a pregnant individual during pregnancy and after birth. The POSC will be written with the help of one or more agencies involved in providing health care or other services to the individual or child(ren.)

Who is Responsible for Developing a POSC?

A Plan of Safe Care should include input from all service providers involved in the pregnant individual’s care to promote the best health outcome for mother and infant.

This could include:

• Medical staff
• OBGYN
• Mental Health Providers
• Early Childhood Intervention staff
• Home Visitors
• Public Health Providers

Caring experts from the medical, social services, mental health and treatment communities are available to consult with an individual’s POSC team to explore creative solutions and resources to assist the POSC team in ensuring delivery of comprehensive services to ensure a healthy pregnancy, birth and infant.

Child Protective Services & Mandated Reporting

The law requires “mandated reporters” to contact child protective service agencies if they have concerns related to substance use that can affect the health and safety of an infant.

Mandated reporters can include:

• Doctors/Nurses
• Treatment workers
• Social workers

When the following concerns are present, these reporters will contact the local child protective service agency:

• Mother or infant tests positive for an illegal substance and/or misused prescribed controlled substance.
• Infant is showing signs of withdrawal as a result of prenatal exposure to an illegal substance, non-prescribed substance, and/or misused prescribed controlled substance.
• Infant is diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

A POSC may prevent local child protective service agency involvement. However, the agency will still be able to provide support and services.

What Services are in a POSC?

Basic Needs: Safe housing, food, utilities, transportation, medical care and coverage, mental health and substance use treatment, help with infant.

Infant’s Needs: Identify what is needed and how to obtain items like pediatric care, diapers, cribs, car seat, breastfeeding support, formula, childcare plan, and other needed items.

Delivery Plan: Delivery location, transportation to hospital, information needed at hospital, toiletries, and clothing for stay, transportation with infant from hospital, Medically Assisted Treatment Plans, Education about CPS involvement.

Support After Delivery: Referral to home visiting program, education on impact of substance exposure on infant, resources to help.

CPS Frequently Asked Questions

Q: WHO SHOULD REPORT?

Anyone who has suspicions that a child is being physically, sexually or emotionally abused or neglected. Mandated reporters must report. Mandated reporters are persons whose occupations put them in contact with children such as teachers, health care workers, mental health professionals, etc. For a complete list of mandated reporters, please refer to ORC 2151.421.

Q: HOW DO I MAKE A REPORT?

You can call the Noble County Department of Job and Family Services Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 740-732-2392 or the Noble County Sheriff’s Department at 740-732-5631 for reports after 4 p.m., on weekends or holidays. There is an on-call worker available 24/7 who will receive these reports.

Q: WHAT SHOULD BE REPORTED?

Anything! If you are unsure, MAKE THE REPORT. You are protected from being held liable for false reporting, as long as the reported information is not made with malice and is in good faith for the protection of children. Know the child’s name, date of birth, address, parent/custodian name, phone numbers, and names of any other individuals with information about the child. If you don’t have the information, report what you have. Pay attention to what you see, hear, and observe. Even small facts that seem insignificant can sometimes be helpful.

Q: CAN I STAY ANONYMOUS?

Yes. However, you are much more effective in protecting children if you provide your name and contact information so that a worker might follow up with you later to gather more information. Yes, you may have to participate in the court process if you give your name…is the protection of a child worth your discomfort? As a mandated reporter, you would hope so. AND giving your name protects you. Because you, in a professional capacity, are mandated by law to report child abuse and neglect, if there is a record of your report, you are free from liability concerns that would exist if you didn’t report.

Your name as the reporter is never provided to the family. However, families are often good at figuring out who made the report. If you are comfortable, you can always inform the family that you will be making the report – there is no harm in being up front with families and children.

Q: CAN I FOLLOW UP ON THE REPORT?

Mandated reporters are entitled to certain information about reports of child abuse and neglect. You will receive a letter after each report you make which contains the following information:

“As a mandated reporter, upon your request, Noble County Children Services can provide you with the following information if the report was accepted for an assessment/investigation according to ORC 2151:421 (K)(1):

• 1. Whether the Agency has initiated the assessment
• 2. Whether the Agency is continuing to investigate the report
• 3. Whether the Agency is otherwise involved with the child who is the subject of the report
• 4. The general status of the health and safety of the child who is the subject of the report
• 5. Whether the report has resulted in the filing of a complaint in Juvenile Court or criminal charges in another court.”

Q: What happens when a report is made?

Anytime a report is made, the situation is carefully assessed before any action is taken. A screener will gather as much information as possible from the reporter: demographics, safety concerns, injuries, observations about the home and family behavior – anything that will help the agency determine the seriousness and risk of the situation. The screener will also check previous history about the family to see if there are any criminal records or previously reported problems. Reports of abuse or neglect that are determined to need a more thorough investigation will result in a personal visit from a caseworker. Often, if the allegations concern criminal behavior, a law enforcement officer will team the investigation with the caseworker.

Q: How does Children Services help families?

It is our goal to help families stay together, be safe, learn healthy habits, and become a strong family unit. Even in those situations where a child must be temporarily removed, we work hard to help the family overcome their problems to reunite children with their families. We create a plan with each family to help them address these concerns. Most families that we see want to improve their situation and are willing to cooperate with their plans.

Q: When does a child need to be removed from their home?

Children Services is committed to helping families overcome problems and become a stronger, healthier family. Sometimes, however, it is not safe for the child to stay in their home. If the assessment of the caseworker determines that the situation is dangerous to the child, then a team meeting is held, often with the family, to form a plan to keep the child safe. If that cannot happen then the court system must become involved. Only a magistrate or a judge can issue an order for the child to be removed. Within one working day, a court hearing is scheduled with all parties to determine what is best for the child. If the judge decides it is best for the child to live elsewhere, then the judge can give the agency an emergency form of custody until the next court hearing. Very often, the child will live with other relatives (Kinship Care), to provide a familiar home setting. During the separation time, Children Services works with the parents to create a stable, safe home, so the child may be able to return. While the goal of the agency is to keep families together, it is sometimes not safe to let a child return to their home. Some families simply cannot overcome their problems, despite all the help provided. In those situations, the agency will make a permanent plan for the child.