Athens County Children Services

Santa Tree
2023-10-01 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
While proudly organized by Athens County Children Services, this project is funded by the generosity of individuals, families and businesses here in Athens County. 2022 marks 35 years we have been working together to provide holiday gifts to Athens County children through the Santa Tree Project.

We are collecting wish lists from each individual child we are serving, and sharing those lists with the community. For every child, we will craft a holiday ornament that lists their name, age, and a few holiday wishes. We will make those available so the community can shop directly for the children. We know this is a beloved tradition for so many, and we are excited to be able to continue it this year.

Ways to help:
1. Monetary donations are also encouraged and are used to meet many of the last minute and special requests that we receive.
Checks can be mailed to PO Box 1046, Athens, OH 45701. Checks should be made out to FRIENDS OF CHILDREN SERVICES, with “Santa Tree Project” included in the memo line.
2. Visit athenscountysantaproject.blogspot.com to make an online donation through PayPal.
3. Select an item from our Amazon Wish List! Our Amazon Wish List has some of our most requested items. If you purchase from that list, the items will be shipped directly to us!
Click here to see our Amazon Wish List!
4. We would love to work with your organization to provide gifts for 5, 25, or more children! We will mail, deliver, or email the “ornaments” for however many children you would like to shop for. Every “ornament” will have the name, age, and holiday wishes for a child we are working with. We will also be happy to pick those gifts up when they are ready – let us know if you are interested in our curbside pick-up option!
If you have any questions, please give us a call at 740.592.3061, or email athenscountysantaproject@gmail.com.

Santa Tree Frequently Asked Questions

How can I shop for a child?

Go to The Market on State and select an “ornament” from the Santa Tree. Every “ornament” will have the name, age, and holiday wishes for a child we are working with.
Call us at 740-592-3061 ext. 448 and leave a message with your contact info and how many children you would like to shop for.
Sent us an email to athenscountysantaproject@gmail.com

I want to help, but don’t have time to go shopping, are there other ways to donate?

You can donate ONLINE at AthensCountySantaProject.Blogspot.com

Checks can be mailed to Friends of Children Services – PO Box 1046, Athens, OH 45701
You can also visit http://athenscountysantaproject.blogspot.com and from there click on the link to view our Amazon Wish List. Items on our Amazon Wish List are some of our most requested items and when purchased from our Wish List, get shipped directly to our agency.

When are the gifts due back?

Friday, December 9th
Gifts can be dropped off at The Market on State. There is a gift return bin in the middle of the mall. The bin is checked several times a day, every day, and has been used safely for over 20 years. The Market on State’s facilities staff assist the agency with checking the bin and keeping an eye on the gifts until they can be picked up.
Gifts can also be dropped off at ACCS building 10, M-F 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

Do the gifts need to be wrapped?

Please do not wrap gifts. While supplies and funding permits, we will provide families with wrapping paper.

If my caseworker signed me up, when and where can I pick up my gifts?

Check with your caseworker.

Where can people drop off their gifts?

Gifts can be dropped off at The Market on State. There is a gift return bin in the middle of the mall. The bin is checked several times a day, every day, and has been used safely for over 20 years. The Market on State’s facilities staff assist the agency with checking the bin and keeping an eye on the gifts until they can be picked up.
Gifts can also be dropped off at ACCS building 10, M-F 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

How many children does this project help?

This year, we expect to provide holiday gifts to 400 Athens County Families, or approximately 1000 children.

Are all the children in ACCS Foster care?

About 1/3 of the children served in through the Santa Tree Project are in traditional foster care. Others are in kinship placements or are otherwise working with our caseworkers. 100 % of the children are signed up by our casework staff, who know the families and will be delivering or contact the families to pick up their gifts.

Will there be an opportunity for families NOT working with ACCS to sign up?

At this time, we do not have plans to offer a public sign-up period. We currently lack essential physical resources to be able to extend the Santa Tree Public to the public.

Athens County Children Services Board Meeting
2024-01-23 16:00 - 18:00 | Athens County Children Services, 14 Stonybrook Drive, Athens, OH, 45701, United States
Athens County Children Services Board will be holding its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. at 14 Stonybrook Drive, Athens, OH.

For further information, call Otis Crockron at (740) 592-3061.

Mandated Reporter Training
2024-01-29 02:00 - 16:30, 2024-01-31 10:00 - 12:00
Athens County Children Services can host Mandated Report Trainings for any organization that wishes to receive training for their staff on what it means to be mandated reporters. If your organization would like to reach out and schedule a training, please contact:

Mindy VanBibber
Protective Services Screening Supervisor
740-593-3061
mindy.vanbibber@jfs.ohio.gov

Athens County Children Services Board Meeting
2024-02-27 16:00 - 18:00 | Athens County Children Services, 14 Stonybrook Drive, Athens, OH, 45701, United States
Athens County Children Services Board will be holding its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. at 14 Stonybrook Drive, Athens, OH.
For further information, call Otis Crockron at (740) 592-3061.

Foster Caregiver PreService Training
2024-03-09 09:00 - 15:45, 2024-03-10 09:00 - 16:30, 2024-03-16 09:00 - 17:00 | SEORTC, 2099 East State St., Suite A, Athens, OH, 45701, United States
**VIRTUAL OPTION AVAILABLE**
As a reminder, Prospective Caregivers must create an account in CAPS. It’s important to inform Prospective Caregivers that the PreService Curriculum can take up to 48 hours to load to their CAPS account. Therefore, people must create a CAPS account at least two weeks before the training to give ample time for the curriculum to be added to their accounts, for registration to occur, and to prepare/mail workshop materials (accounts need to be created by 2/23). The registration deadline for PS is 3/1.
There are three self-directed courses for PreService- Orientation, Caregivers Roles and Responsibilities, and Medication Management. There is a LIVE VIRTUAL CPR course that is also required; there are many options for this course in CAPS.
Additionally, please feel free to refer Prospective Caregivers to the OCWTP/Prospective Caregiver webpage https://ohiocaps.org/ocwtp/prospective-caregivers/ for more information on the preservice courses, course tracker, and other useful information.

Athens County Children Services Board Meeting
2024-03-25 16:00 - 18:00 | Athens County Children Services, 14 Stonybrook Drive, Athens, OH, 45701, United States
Athens County Children Services Board will be holding its regular monthly meeting on Monday, March 25, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. at 14 Stonybrook Drive, Athens, OH.
For further information, call Otis Crockron at (740) 592-3061.

Annual "Pinwheel Planting" for Child Abuse Prevention Month
2024-04-01 - 2024-04-30 | Athens County Children Services, 14 Stonybrook Drive, Athens, OH, 45701, United States
“Pinwheels for Prevention”
April 1st-30th, 2024, the colorful pinwheels will dot the East State Street lawn in front of the Athens County Children Services sign to bring awareness to Child Abuse Prevention Month.
The pinwheels are planted by Athens County Children Services staff and volunteers as part of the “Pinwheels for Prevention” campaign, designed to bring attention to child abuse and neglect in Athens County.
To report suspected child abuse or neglect, call 740-592-3061, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For emergencies or after hours, call 1-700-400-7059.

For more information on Athens County Children Services or child abuse prevention, visit www.athenschildrenservices.com

Kidfest 2024!
2024-04-06 10:00 - 14:00 | Walter Fieldhouse, 50 South Green Drive, Athens, OH, 45701, United States
Mark your calendars and save the date! We are returning to Walter Fieldhouse on April 6th for another great day of fun and frivolity for our children and families!

Letters to vendors and sponsors will go out this week so be on the lookout if you are an organization interested in participating this year. If you are an organization who has never participated before or are interested in being a sponsor for the event, please reach out to matthew.starkey@jfs.ohio.gov to receive more information.

WEAR BLUE DAY!
2024-04-10
13th Annual Athens County WEAR BLUE DAY!
Please join us in support of Child Abuse Prevention Month by WEARING BLUE on April 10th, 2024.
Take a picture of your office staff, business, family and pets all WEARING BLUE on or before April 10th and we will share them on our ACCS Facebook page!! Get creative and show your support for children in Athens County! Pictures can be emailed to: Matthew.Starkey@jfs.ohio.gov
Take an active part in protecting children from abuse or neglect. If you see something, say something.
Make a report of child abuse or neglect by calling 740-592-3061 (M-F, 8a-4:30p) or 1-700-400-7059 (outside normal business hours).

Kinship Care Symposium
2024-04-11 09:00 - 13:00
The Kinship Care Symposium will be a half-day event at the Athens City Community Center, 701 E. State Street, Athens, Ohio, focused on building awareness of kinship caregiver challenges, sharing available resources in the region, discussing best practices, and addressing policy solutions.
Featured speakers include Melissa Lilly, Director of West Virginia State University Extension’s Healthy Grandfamilies; Lynn Stevens of the Ohio Grandparent/Kinship Coalition; and Deborah Knaup and Lisa Remy of the Ohio Kinship & Adoption Navigator (OhioKAN).
If your organization is interested in having a resource table, please contact Patrick Caniglia at pcaniglia@appchildren.org.

Adoptive Family Support Group
2024-04-16 17:30 - 19:30 | Athens County Children Services, 14 Stonybrook Drive, Athens, OH, 45701, United States
The Athens County Adoptive Families Support Group is for parents who have gone through the adoption process or who are about to.
This group’s main goal is to connect families created by all kinds of adoption who live in Athens County.

Contact Laura Schaeffer, Adoptive Family Caseworker to find out more information.
Laura.Schaeffer@jfs.ohio.gov
740-592-3061 Ext. 145

Athens County Children Services Board Meeting
2024-04-22 16:00 - 18:00 | Athens County Children Services, 14 Stonybrook Drive, Athens, OH, 45701, United States
Athens County Children Services Board will be holding its regular monthly meeting on Monday, April 22, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. at
14 Stonybrook Drive, Athens, OH.

For further information, call Otis Crockron at (740) 592-3061.

Athens County Children Services 11th Annual Champions for Children Dinner
2024-04-23
In honor and recognition of our local Champions for Children who work tirelessly every day to support, serve, protect and advocate for the children in our community.

National Mural Day
2024-05-07

Red Cross Blood Drive
2024-05-10 11:00 - 17:00 | Athens County Children Services, 14 Stonybrook Drive, Athens, OH, 45701, United States

2nd Annual Athens County Social Services Resource Fair
2024-05-10 14:00 - 19:00 | The Market on State, 1002 East State Street, Athens, OH, 45701, United States

Athens County Children Services 43rd Annual Foster Caregiver Banquet
2024-05-17
In recognition and celebration of the hard work and dedication demonstrated by Athens County’s Foster Caregivers.

Athens County Children Services Board Meeting
2024-05-20 16:00 - 18:00 | Athens County Children Services, 14 Stonybrook Drive, Athens, OH, 45701, United States
Athens County Children Services Board will be holding its regular monthly meeting on Monday, May 20, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. at 14 Stonybrook Drive, Athens, OH.
For further information, call Otis Crockron at (740) 592-3061.

Adoptive Family Support Group
2024-05-21 17:30 - 19:30 | Richland Avenue Park, 8493 Dairy Ln., Athens, OH, 45701, United States

Memorial Day - Agency Closed
2024-05-27
Agency closed in observance of the holiday

17th Annual Peanut Butter & Jelly Project Distribution Day
2024-06-06 10:00, 2024-06-13 10:00, 2024-06-20 10:00, 2024-06-27 10:00

Juneteenth Day - Agency Closed
2024-06-19

Athens County Children Services Board Meeting
2024-06-24 16:00 - 18:00 | Athens County Children Services, 14 Stonybrook Drive, Athens, OH, 45701, United States
Athens County Children Services Board will be holding its regular monthly meeting on Monday, June 24, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. at 14 Stonybrook Drive, Athens, OH.

For further information, call Otis Crockron at (740) 592-3061.

Independence Day, July 4th - Agency Closed
2024-07-04
No Peanut Butter & Jelly Distribution on Thursday, 7/4/2024. Agency closed in observance of the holiday.
