By Dr. Linda Alvarado-Arce
Lucas County Children Services (LCC) has restarted its “Community Conversations” program for 2026. The program was to have started in late January but was postponed due to inclement weather. Its first program this year was held on Monday, February 23, from 5 to 7 pm, at the Toledo-Lucas County Heatherdowns Branch Public Library (3265 Glanzman Road, Toledo 43614). This year’s free and open-to-the-public program began witha conversation on the topic of “Safe Children, Safe Families.” LCCS staff, along with representatives of other community agencies, discussed many of the concerns that families experience today and the options that families and caregivers have to prevent child abuse and neglect. Presentations included:
- LCCS Assessment Department & the Role and Processes of LCC
- ABLE (Advocates for Basic Legal Equality)
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northwest Ohio
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
“These community conversations are a valuable exchange of information, perspectives, and ideas with our families and stakeholders,” explains Hope Bland, Ph.D., LCCS director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and strategy. The mission of Lucas County Children Services is “to lead the community in the protection of children at risk of abuse and neglect. This is accomplished by working with families, service providers, and community members to assess risk and coordinate community-based services, resulting in safe, stable, and permanent families for children.”