Delaware County proclaims April 2025 Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month; JFS reports 2,234 reports in 2024

The Delaware County Board of Commissioners on April 21 unanimously proclaimed April 2025 as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month after a presentation from Job and Family Services staff.

Bob Anderson, director of Job and Family Services, presented agency statistics and staff attending the meeting. "This year's theme is Ensure They Shine," Anderson said, linking the proclamation to county work to help children "thrive to reach their full potential." Anderson told commissioners that in 2024 the county received 2,234 reports of child abuse and neglect and identified 22 families that required ongoing services.

Anderson and staff outlined current caseload details: the department reported seven children in temporary custody, three children in permanent custody, and 19 families participating in the county's kinship program; staff said the kinship program sees about 60 families cycle through in a typical year. To date in 2025 the department recorded two completed adoptions with three additional adoptions projected; the department counted seven adoptions in 2024.

Jeff Sall, who identified himself as director of service administration, thanked the court system and the Family and Children First Council (FCFC) for partnering to prevent placements and support families. Commissioners publicly thanked JFS caseworkers and community partners for keeping managed cases low through kinship placements and community services.

The board adopted the proclamation by unanimous vote. The resolution text recorded in the meeting notes cites the 2024 report counts and calls for community participation in prevention activities.