Title
To recognize and Endorse the passage of Issue 4 Franklin County Children Services Levy.
Body
WHEREAS, Each year Franklin County Children Services helps more than 28,000 abused and neglected children by investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect, providing voluntary or court-ordered protective services to families whose children can remain safely in their own homes, helping parents resolve their family problems and placing children in temporary foster care or permanent adoptive homes when necessary; and
WHEREAS, during the past 5 years, Children Services has come into the lives of nearly 11,000 children a year; yet, by providing more "front door" services, Children Services has been able to strengthen families thus allowing children to stay with their loved ones; and
WHEREAS, the number of children placed away from home is at a 10-year low, and further abuse or neglect has not increased, because of the successful efforts of Children Services to protect children within their homes; and
WHEREAS, since 2004, 822 children and teens under permanent custody of Children Services have been placed in loving adoptive homes, and more than 350 foster children have graduated from high school in the past four years, with more than 50% going on to college, technical school or into the military; and
WHEREAS, by providing more effective and less intrusive services to children and families, Children Services has been able to make Franklin County a safer place for Children, while still keeping together the families that love them; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council hereby endorses the passage of Issue 4 on the November 3, 2009 general election ballot for the support of Franklin County Children Services and the care and placement of abused, neglected and dependent children, and will communicate this endorsement to the community at large.