For more than 140 years, Summit County Children Services (SCCS), serving Summit County, Ohio, has provided a safety net for abused and neglected children. Our goal is to ensure that children in Summit County have the ability to grow up in a safe environment.
One of the most critical service we provide is our 24-Hour Child Abuse Hotline (330) 434-KIDS (5437), which enables interested parties to anonymously report concerns regarding suspected child abuse or neglect. These reports are carefully investigated to assess safety and risk of children.
Our philosophy is always to maintain children in their own home and provide services that can reduce barriers that may put their safety at risk. Often, this involves development a plan for services with input from the family. When children cannot remain safely in their own homes, our goal is always to utilize relatives and kin (someone who as a relationship with the child) to care for the children. We also utilize foster homes for children in relatives and kin are not available and work toward permanent solutions that are in the best interest of the child with the first goal being reunification with family.
Child abuse and neglect occurs in every community in Summit County. In recent years, the opioid epidemic and other substance use disorders have increased the need for our services with one in every eleven children in Summit County being served by SCCS.
Our mandated services are primarily funded through levy revenue supported by our taxpayers. The community has also been very generous with donated funds to support special needs, activities and gifts throughout the year for the children we serve.
Learn more about the vital work that SCCS does to improve the lives of children who have been abused or neglected. View our child services and learn how you can help.
Summit County Children Services (SCCS) has a rich history of dedicated service dating back to 1881 when Republican Congressman William Upson galvanized over 200 citizens to establish a home for wayward children. Initially operating out of temporary quarters, the agency moved in 1887 to a permanent site at the Cordelia Jewett Farm, laying the foundation for what would become a trusted institution in child welfare.
Over the decades, SCCS evolved alongside the community’s needs. In the early 1900s, a new brick facility was constructed to address growing demands, and by the 1920s the institution had earned a reputation as one of the area’s most responsible public institutions. The agency underwent several name changes—from the Summit County Orphanage to the Summit County Children’s Home, then the Summit County Child Welfare Board, and ultimately, in the 1970s, to Summit County Children Services.
Responding to changing federal and state laws and a growing child population, the agency expanded its programs and services throughout the mid-20th century. Innovations such as the establishment of a formal Social Services Department, the development of preventive programs like the Mentoring Mothers Program, and initiatives in independent living have helped shape SCCS into a modern, community-focused organization.
Today, Summit County Children Services remains committed to serving abused and neglected children, upholding a legacy of care, advocacy, and innovation. Our mission is to ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of all children served, in partnership with families and the community.
