Events
Gun violence remains a critical issue in the United States, substantially impacting public health and safety across the country. The Gun Violence Archives reported that in 2023 there were close to 40,000 deaths due to guns, including homicides and suicides, with close to 300 of these fatalities involving children under the age of 12. According to national research, there has been a 50 percent increase in gun related deaths among children since 2019. Gun violence is one the most pervasive public health issues facing our communities. Join the Akron Police Department and dive into understanding this American phenomenon and gain knowledge on how you can play a powerful role in preventing gun violence from taking it’s toll on our children.
Close-Up on Gun Safety has been approved for Child Welfare Training Credit.
*The series include four individual Lunch-n-Learn trainings with each session being 90 minutes in length.
Churches and faith organizations often find it challenging to understand child abuse and neglect reporting laws. Summit County Children Services offers a three-hour training for clergy and lay members to enhance their awareness and preparedness regarding these issues. The training includes the ‘Reducing the Risk’ DVD, interactive lessons, and definitions of abuse indicators. Each participating church receives a Child Abuse & Neglect Awareness Kit with educational materials for their congregation.
Wednesday, April 9 is Wear Blue Day so grab your blue attire and join the movement!! Join Summit County Children Services in painting the county BLUE to kick off Child Abuse Prevention Month and help raise awareness about the importance of child abuse and neglect prevention.
Wear Blue is about sharing your blue pride! Add #SummitWearsBlue and tag us on Facebook and Twitter and collaborate with us on Instagram. We want to see everyone join the movement!
First, be sure to wear something blue. Don’t have anything blue? We’ve got you covered! Check out our downloadable material below and start posting your ‘wear blue’ pride.
Need some social media inspiration? Try a couple of these:
📅Thursday, April 10, 12-1:30 p.m.
📍Zoom Meeting
Sexual abuse is a disheartening reality for millions of children. While this pervasive phenomenon has been studied for decades, much of the research has focused on adult perpetrators of sexual violence. While sibling sexual abuse represents the most common form of sexual trauma for children, there remains a paucity of literature to address these experiences. This presentation will provide a general overview of sibling sexual abuse, highlight research supported recommendations for treatment and offer prevention based considerations for families.
Close-Up on Sibling Sexual Abuse Prevention, Close-Up on Safe Sleep, and Close-Up on Unintentional Ingestions have each been approved for 1.5 hours for Social Workers and/or Counselors.
*The series include four individual ‘Lunch-n-Learn’ trainings with each session being 90 minutes in length.
This training will provide caseworkers, foster caregivers, and community partners with the essential tools to monitor, educate, and advocate for safe sleep practices, ultimately reducing the risk of infant mortality and addressing racial disparities in Ohio.
Close-Up on Sibling Sexual Abuse Prevention, Close-Up on Safe Sleep, and Close-Up on Unintentional Ingestions have each been approved for 1.5 hours for Social Workers and/or Counselors.
*The series include four individual ‘Lunch-n-Learn’ trainings with each session being 90 minutes in length.
This training will explore the important topic of unintentional pediatric ingestions. Attendees will learn about the most common and most serios ingestion risks in pediatric patients with a special focus on cannabis and illicitly manufactured fentanyl. We will further explore testing capabilities available as well as prevention strategies.
Close-Up of Sibling Sexual Abuse Prevention, Close-Up on Safe Sleep, and Close-Up on Unintentional Ingestions have each been approved for 1.5 hours for Social Workers and/or Counselors.
*The series include four individual ‘Lunch-n-Learn’ trainings with each session being 90 minutes in length.
Blue Sunday is a day where faith communities across Summit County are encouraged to join together and take time during their services to pray for the victims of child abuse and for those who work to serve and protect them.
How to pray for abused children on Blue Sunday:
Pray they will be rescued
Pray they are placed with caring people
Pray their minds and bodies can heal
Pray they find hope
Pray for those who rescue them
12 Things The Church Should Know About SCCS
12 Things Your Church Can Do To Help Abused Children
Happy Families Discussion Page
Join us as we recognize the achievements of advocates, community leaders and other community partners who continually support the children and families we serve.
National Child Abuse Prevention Month was first observed in 1984 by proclamation by President Ronald Reagan to raise the awareness of the important issue of child abuse and neglect. Since 1987, SCCS has observed and celebrated Child Abuse Prevention Month (aka Child & Family Awareness Month) annually to educate people about child abuse and neglect prevention and to help build a solid foundation of strong community support for children and families.
Make the difference, make the call. Calls of suspected child abuse and neglect are to be made to our 24-Hour Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline: (330) 434-KIDS (5437).
Be the Reason Kids are Safe! Consider becoming a foster parent. Call our 24-Hour Foster Care & Adoption Inquiry Line at (330) 379-1990.
Donate or volunteer! There are many ways you can support children and families. Call our Volunteer & Donation Line at (330) 379-1980.
Request a speaker! Help us educate the community about SCCS and the important work we do to protect children and support families.
For additional information, please contact Summit County Children Services at (330) 379-1994 or at [email protected].
