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WARREN -- Trumbull County Children Services Executive Director Marilyn Pape reported that as of March 2024, the agency received 941 calls, an increase from 920 calls by March of the previous year.
Although there was a decrease in child abuse and neglect referrals from 1,256 in 2022 to 1,166 in 2023, the number of overall outreach calls made to the agency this year has risen slightly so far.
The spectrum of abuse includes physical, emotional, sexual and neglect. Pape emphasizes that the decline is welcome, but it's slight, fluctuates year by year and maintains a distressing consistency.
Trumbull County Children Services has ramped up efforts to tackle these pressing issues through various initiatives aimed at prevention and education. From increasing social media engagement to hosting workshops and training sessions for teachers and other community members, the strategy is clear: ncrease awareness and intervention capabilities.
Recently, Pape said she met with some area principals at the Trumbull County Educational Service Center in Niles.
"We did a training on topics like, how do you report abuse? And what happens when they report abuse and we explain our investigative process," she said.
April, which is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and November, which is recognized for fostering awareness about adoption, are pivotal in these efforts.
The approach is comprehensive, ensuring that potential abuse cases are not just reported, but adequately handled, through a thorough investigative process that involves multiple community stakeholders.
Community response remains a critical factor and mandated reporters like teachers and medical personnel make up the bulk of referrals. Pape said these professionals are the frontline defense against child abuse.
"You want the mandated reporters to call, but we also want family members to feel comfortable calling," Pape said.
If family members are unsure of whether abuse is taking place, she urges family members or private citizens to voice their concern to the office, "let us decide if it's truly a case of abuse and neglect," she said.
THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS
Pape gave an in-depth look at the investigative process used by her department.
"When a call comes in, we have three screeners who are trained to ask a series of detailed questions mandated by the state they have to ask," Pape said. "They gather as much information as they can, deciding whether it's first hand information, third-hand, what was seen? When did it happen?"
After this initial intake, the case is reviewed by a supervisor who decides whether additional information is needed or if there's enough to proceed with an investigation.
"Not every call gets screened as a case of child abuse because there are some cases like a child having lice and not being treated is not necessarily a case of child abuse, so that can be screened out if that's the only issue," Pape said.
But the executive director said supervisors are tasked with making the decision based on state guidelines that outline the jurisdiction of what they can and can't get involved in.
For those cases that do require further action, they are categorized either for assessment or a more intensive investigation.
"Our assessment workers partner with families to address concerns in less severe situations, whereas our investigation workers handle more serious cases such as physical injuries or sexual abuse, malnourishment or serious neglect," Pape said, further explaining they then meet with the victim and the alleged perpetrator.
Coordination with law enforcement is a key component of the process, Pape said, especially in serious cases that involve the prosecutor's office and police to decide what happens next.
At times, Pape said, a resolution could come in the form of getting the family resources or developing a plan to get the family back in the "right direction," she said, with the end result of closing the case out.
Other times, Pape explained, a case could remain open to help families with issues of substance abuse, mental health or provide parenting education, which are all decisions determined by a supervisor.
Sometimes her team, in consultation with police, determines the appropriate course of action. The office has two attorneys for when cases have to be reviewed by their legal department when families are "uncooperative. This gives them a means to take them to court, and in extreme circumstances could lead to children being removed from the home.
Pape noted some significant differences in approach and technology adaptation by other children's services.
"In some counties, like Franklin, the reporting of child abuse and neglect has gotten bogged down because people trying to make a report can't get through. These areas are moving toward online reporting systems," Pape said. "However, in our office, we haven't implemented such systems because we haven't experienced those same issues. Our team is readily accessible, which allows us to interact directly with the reporter."
Pape said direct communication is crucial as it enables them to ask follow-up questions and ensures that people feel heard. Pape also touched on a procedural change that has improved coordination with law enforcement.
"One of the recent changes we've adopted is sending reports of neglect and abuse directly to police jurisdictions," she said.
She also said her team has a close partnership with area police.
"They'll call us if they have a concern. We have an emergency team that's 24 / 7 that if a worker and supervisor, they're always paired together after hours, if they have to go out in the field, the police go with them just because of the safety factors and it's nighttime."
In Trumbull County, Pape said while there's a variety of resources, some areas are "resource rich" and others "not as much." She explained there are a lot of counseling agencies and some respite providers where they can refer families
Before closing a case, Pape said they try to find a family support person who meets with families during unity meetings to determine where the strengths and barriers are within troubled homes. This allows families to devise a plan. By getting the family's input, Pape said they feel more comfortable and likely to follow through.
Employing people with similar lived experience, Pape said, is another tactic the agency deploys. "We have a recovery coach here at the agency who has been involved with the child welfare system and addiction and has overcome herself so she talks to families in a way they feel understood and appreciated," she said.
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