Welcome to Lucas County Children Services
Read our first edition and sign up for
Lucas County Children Services’ new monthly e-newsletter!
Dear Lucas County Community,
At our recent series of community conversations, Lucas County Children Services heard you loud and clear: You want to know more about our agency and the way we collaborate with other organizations to support kids and families.
As a result, I’m pleased to introduce the first edition of Caring for Kids, the new e-newsletter from Lucas County Children Services. Each month, we’ll share news, updates, and resources that highlight the important work we do to protect children, support families, and engage with our community. This newsletter is part of our ongoing commitment to transparency, collaboration, and open communication with the residents of Lucas County.
We have lots of valuable information to share… how our parent educators help moms and dads create a neighborhood of support…how kinship caregivers can get help to overcome family trauma…to the ways that LCCS works in partnership with educators, law enforcement, courts, and service providers to support families before problems put everyone at risk. We’ll even have a monthly poll to find out what topics you want to learn more about.
We invite you to stay connected by signing up for Caring for Kids—your monthly source for the latest information on how we’re working together to keep children safe and families strong.
You can choose how you’d like to receive the newsletter—by email, text message, or both.
>> Sign Up for our monthly “Caring For Kids” newsletter
Need Help Navigating Our System?
We know the child welfare system can feel overwhelming. If you’re having trouble getting services, have a concern, or feel like you’re not being heard—you’re not alone. Call the Family Help Center: 419-213-3833
The Family Help Center is your direct connection to an independent Client Rights Office. This dedicated hotline was created to support parents, caregivers, and families who need help navigating Lucas County Children Services (LCCS). Whether you have a question, a concern, or just need someone to listen—we’re here.
Why This Matters: This new support pathway was created in response to real feedback from parents and caregivers during Community Conversations across Lucas County. One message came through loud and clear:
“We don’t feel like we have anywhere to turn when we need help.” The Family Help Center changes that.
LCCS Achieves Ohio START Certification
“Certification is important because it means LCCS is meeting or exceeding the national program’s highest standards and an unwavering commitment to transforming the lives of those in need,” explained LCCS Social Services Director Chanda Beal. “LCCS is extremely proud of the dedicated staff and community partners that are instrumental in this monumental milestone. This puts LCCS among national leaders in the success of this program at the local level.”
To date, LCCS has served 46 families and 88 children through Ohio START. Ohio START began in 2017 as a pilot program to provide recovery services for parents who have substance use disorder and specialized treatment for children who have been impacted by parental drug use. The program has continued to grow since then, expanding to 56 Ohio counties. Administered by the Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO), Ohio START has supported 2,650 children.
According to the PCSAO, research has shown that mothers who participate in START achieve sobriety at nearly twice the rate of mothers treated without START and that children in families served by START were half as likely to be placed in the custody of children services.
Lucas County Children Services
– A Letter to the Community
For 158 years, Lucas County residents have demonstrated their commitment to this county’s children by approving ballot measures that have funded services for birth parents, foster parents, kin caregivers and others who protect children and promote families.
I am pleased to report that on Tuesday, voters once again showed their concern for children – and confidence in this agency – by approving a new, 1.5 mill levy that will generate $12.2 million annually for the next five years. These funds will help to offset the cost of caring for our most troubled youth, and fund prevention services that stabilize families before child protection needs to intervene.
In these challenging times, asking voters to approve “new money” can be a difficult proposition, as many other worthwhile institutions compete for voters’ shrinking pocketbooks. We are truly humbled by the confidence that Lucas County residents have placed in us, and we are committed to remaining good stewards of their tax dollars.
The mission of Lucas County Children Services is to lead the community in the protection of children. Your support provides us with the resources to make that happen, and for that, we thank you.
Randall Muth, J.D.
Executive Director
Lucas County Children Services (LCCS) needs YOU—to become a foster parent!
There are hundreds of Lucas County children, who, through no fault of their own, need a safe and loving environment. The numbers of kids requiring foster care continues to grow, while the number of available homes has not.
Tweens and teens may require the mentoring needed to build and maintain a strong foundation for the transition into adulthood. These youth often are looking for a stable and safe environment that provides them the opportunities to achieve the future they envision for themselves.
Sibling groups can better weather the storms of separation from family when a foster home is able to keep them together. Siblings rely on each other heavily, so a larger, loving home can give them the stability and safety they need to thrive in such challenging conditions.
Treatment foster homes are needed to help children living with disabilities or special needs to achieve their full potential. Treatment foster caregivers may have or can learn specialized skills to ensure each child’s physical and emotional well-being needs are met.
LCCS provides the training and support to help you be the best foster parent possible. Please click here to take the first step. If you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers!
Kinship Support Program (KSP)
On December 29, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine signed an Executive Order, establishing a Kinship Support Program to assist kinship caregivers of children in Ohio’s child welfare system.
The Governor’s order directs the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to pay all eligible kinship caregivers (related and unrelated) a daily stipend for each child in the custody of Lucas County Children Services (LCCS) that is placed in their home as kin. These KSP payments will continue for not more than nine months while caregivers work with LCCS to become licensed as a foster parent. ODJFS may waive certain non-safety-related foster care licensing requirements to help you become licensed. Once licensed, caregivers will receive foster care payments to care for the child as long as he/she remains in the home.
There is no application process to receive KSP payments. To be eligible, the child must be in the temporary, permanent, or legal custody of a public children services agency (PCSA) like LCCS, and be placed in your home by the PCSA as a kinship placement. Currently licensed foster caregivers are not eligible for this program. Find more information, click here.
Join Our Team!
Lucas County Children Services (LCCS) needs YOU—to become a foster parent!
2025 Pre-Service Training Schedule
Please visit:
https://lucaskids.net/pre-service-training/
2025 Foster & Adoptive Parents
Preservice Schedule
~ DOWNLOAD PDF ~
We Respond 24 Hours A Day
Report Child Abuse or Neglect: (419) 213-CARE (2273)
Child safety is Lucas County Children Services’ top priority. Experienced screeners will answer calls about suspected child abuse or neglect 24/7.
>> For More Information
Are you experiencing domestic violence?
There are a number of resources in our community to help you protect yourself and your children, and to help you make a plan to get out.
>> LCCS Community Resource Guide (PDF download)