FCCS Invites You to Children’s Day at COSI

In honor of children and their smiling faces, Franklin County Children Services is hosting a special Children’s Day celebration at COSI in downtown Columbus on Friday, September 24 from 5 to 9 p.m. Children can enjoy drawings for prizes (two bikes are being given away), exciting stage performances (Arnett Howard), and local mascots. Children and families under the care of FCCS can receive passes for free admission, thanks to donations from Kroger and Huntington Banks, along with a partnership between the Franklin County Board of Commissioners and COSI. This event is also open to the public for Family Friday Night at COSI with discounted admission rates of just $8. For more information about Children’s Day at COSI, click here for the flyer, and click here for the media release.

View photos from FamJam 2010 here!

Watch the video from FamJam 2010 here!

On Saturday, August 21 FCCS invited the community to FamJam 2010 - A Family Enrichment Festival at Franklin Park, 1777 East Broad Street. The festival provided an opportunity for the community to enjoy free hands-on activities, community vendors, games and food. Keeping with the guiding principles of the agency to protect children by strengthening families, the event featured area talent, provided information on agency programs and services, and offered parenting tips. Click here for the news release.

New Resource Guide Provides Link to Services

The Franklin County Children Services Resource Guide is a valuable directory of services for our families, social workers and community partners. If you need more information regarding an organization, click on the entry in the guide and if they have a website, you will be directed there.

Click here to view and print the Resource Guide.

WOSU Reports on the Need for More Mentors

COLUMBUS, OH (wosu) - Franklin County Children Services has 250 children waiting for mentors. And many of those on the list are boys. WOSU's Mandie Trimble reports children services has a need for more male mentors, specifically African American men.

Click here for the complete story with an
audio version.

Help Ted D. Bear
Prevent Child Abuse

Franklin County Children Services is introducing Child Abuse is Unbearable, a coloring and activity book featuring Ted D. Bear, the agency's mascot. This book is a fun way to teach children how to stay safe. Click here to download and print the book .

Safe Havens for Infants

Safe Havens for Infants allows a birth parent to confidentially leave an unharmed infant (up to 30 days old) with a medical worker at a hospital, emergency medical staff at a fire station, or a police officer. For more information, click here.

Click the picture to watch the PSA about Safe Havens.

614-229-7200 - To speak to someone confidentially, call SAFE HAVENS for INFANTS

Parents Urged to "Choose Your Partner Carefully"

With an alarming rate of child abuse deaths, Franklin County Children Services, in partnership with the Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, recently launched a campaign urging single parents to carefully consider who they allow to care for and be with their children. Click here for more information, printable Choose Your Partner Carefully literature, and photos.

To listen to the Choose Your Partner PSA, click here.

Watch the Choose Your Partner video PSA here.