MANSFIELD — The Richland County Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation Tuesday designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the county.
The proclamation, read during a meeting by Commissioner Darrell Banks, was also signed by Commissioner Marilyn John and Commissioner Tony Vero.
The proclamation pointed out that RCCS is responsible under state law to assess reports of child abuse, neglect and dependency.
It read, in part:
“Whereas, in 2016, the public child welfare agency assessed 2,054 allegations and requests for services, an average of five new cases per day; and
“Whereas, agency caseworkers at the end of 2016 were involved with 366 open and ongoing cases involving 786 local children; and
“Whereas, RCCS is now working with 104 Kinship families to assist 185 local children; and
“Whereas, effective local child abuse prevention programs succeed because of meaningful partnerships and connections among government, agencies, law enforcement, schools and the business community.”
In their proclamation, the commissioners urged all local citizens to join RCCS and its partners as they support each family’s efforts to keep themselves and their children safe, healthy and in a nurturing environment.
During the meeting, RCCS Executive Director Patty Harrelson told commissioners the agency has seen a 154 percent increase in child placement costs in the last five years, rising to $1.44 million in 2016 from $567,925 in 2011.
The number of children in foster care doubled during that same period with 80 children in agency custody at the end of 2016, compared to 41 in 2011.
This increase in costs and children in custody is in large part to an increased used of heroin and other drugs by parents in Richland County, mirroring a national trend.
