In-Depth with Mahoning County Children Services Director

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – The Executive Director of Mahoning County Children Services Board, Richard Tvorach, says that many people in the community do not realize how many children are placed in the agency’s care. WKBN Community Affairs Director Dee Crawford spoke with him about the need for foster care in the Valley.

Tvorach said there are currently 251 children placed in the agency’s custody in foster care, so 251 kids need placement.

“And often what happens, those homes who are so gracious with their time, they fill up and we need more homes. So we’re in constant need of more loving families to care for our community’s children,” he said.

The first placement tends to be with a relative, so the child still has the opportunity for a stable home environment. Tvaroch then explained what happens next if the child can’t stay with a relative and who makes the determination to remove the child from parental custody.

“So first of all, my agency responds to around 1,400 allegations of abuse and neglect. An intake department will go out there, see what’s going on, see if the child, if the family or the children are experiencing crisis.”

He said the goal is to try to maintain the child in the home when it can be done safely.

“Unfortunately, what happens is sometimes due to substance abuse, mental health crises, a variety of issues, the child can’t be maintained at home and a determination has to be made about where the child can be safely placed.”

First, the agency tries to identify relatives because that is in the best interest of the child. If that can’t be done, then they look at foster care placement.

“Now, if that happens, we can only assume custody through either law enforcement or court or there’s a court order,” Tvaroch said.

The conversation about what’s happening in Mahoning County, regarding our children and the breakdown of our families continues Wednesday.

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