Erie County children services applauded again

SANDUSKY — The state, once again, recognized Erie County's children services workers for their never-ending pledge of safeguarding children in their custody. From a $5 million pot, the state recently sent $50,000 to this department, overseen by Erie County Job and Family Services. It adds to the $110,000 children services previously secured from this pot in mid-2022. The money comes from a fund established by House Bill 110. Authorized by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, the bill aims to recognize best practices for children protective service agencies and improve outcomes for children and families. Erie County earned a nearly flawless report based on two categories that determined which counties obtained funds. Only a handful of Ohio's counties received money in either round. State officials examined both the timeliness of investigations and face-to-face visitations. Basically, the state wants children services departments to wrap up individual children cases within 60 days and for individual caseworkers to come into constant contact with kids. This ensures case workers remain dedicated to finding a safe home — be it with a parent, relative, in foster care or elsewhere — for children and don't let cases linger, which can put young ones in peril. It noted Erie County excelled in both areas. "Child welfare is such a difficult position both emotionally and from the standpoint of the expectations we need to meet by the state," said AJ Lill, the deputy director of social programs who oversees Erie County's children services department. "It's a very difficult job, but for our staff to do it in the fashion they do it in on a daily basis is amazing, and their hard work is being rewarded." Karen Balconi Ghezzi, the executive director of Erie County Job and Family Services, which oversees children services, stressed this point. "You are talking about the welfare of the children and the impact an investigation has on a family," she said. "You are dealing with people and their feelings and their deepest emotions. When you are in an investigation, everything is so suspenseful and stressful that it's in the best interest of all parties to get it done right but also as quickly as possible." Regarding the funds, Lill and Balconi Ghezzi let children services workers dictate how these funds get spent. In both instances, qualifying staff members elected to receive bonuses. Erie County's children services department — these social workers directly handle cases of kids in the local government's custody, arrange for visitations, investigate abuse claims, place foster kids in safe homes, oversee adoption processes, work its hotline, among other job functions — employs about 25 people today. Today there are about 60 kids in the local government's custody.