A war on child abuse has been declared in Wood County – and local residents are being recruited to join
the fight.
Within the last few months, two local children have lost their lives to abuse by people charged with
caring for them.
"It’s too many," said Paulette Stephens, director of the Wood County Department of Job and
Family Services.
And that’s just the worst of the cases regularly seen by the staff at Children’s Services. Last year
alone, the staff investigated 719 cases of abuse and neglect in Wood County, an increase from the 699
cases reported the year before.
"I am making a declaration of war," Stephens said to people gathered Monday in the county
courthouse atrium. "A war against child abuse."
But the staff at Children’s Services needs the public’s help.
Stephens recalled a person telling her recently that she had witnessed a child being abused, but would
not report it.
"She just doesn’t want to get involved," Stephens said. That reluctance to stand up for a child
did not sit well with her. "I was incensed."
"Who’s going to speak up for these children unless we do?" she said.
Suspected child abuse and neglect can be reported anonymously to Children’s Services at (419) 352-7566,
or by calling any local law enforcement agency which will then pass on the information to Children’s
Services.
"Their phone call may be the difference between life and death for these children," Stephens
said. "I would rather have a report come in that’s not substantiated, than have no report and have
a child die."
Neighbors, friends, family and school staff need to report suspected abuse rather than turn a blind eye
to it, she said.
"None of us can effectively do our job if the public will not help," she said of the Children’s
Services staff. "We need to stand up and end child abuse in Wood County."
Stephens referred to two recent deaths of children – a 3-year-old allegedly shaken to death by a
caretaker and a 3-month-old allegedly abused by his mother.
"It’s unacceptable in Wood County," she said. "We cannot and will not lose again."

On Wednesday at 12:30 p.m., local children will plant 719 pinwheels in front First United Methodist
Church, on East Wooster Street in Bowling Green – one to represent each child reportedly abused or
neglected last year.
The pinwheels note the need for the public to get involved, with the slogan, "It’s your turn."

Also at Monday’s program in the atrium, Wood County Commissioner Tim Brown remembered the graphic photos
of abused children shown to the commissioners a few years ago. The images are still haunting, he said.

"That was enough. I don’t need to see them again," Brown said.
Neighbors, friends and family should not sit by silently, he stressed.
"It is far more important to be proactive, rather than have regrets," Brown said.