Childhood neglect and abuse
When a parent or caregiver fails to provide the basic needs for a child to grow up happy and healthy, it can cause serious long-term effects. For healthy development, children need food, clothing, safety, shelter and emotional support, especially during the early years of their lives. Find local resources dedicated to protecting children in Stark County from child neglect.
If you suspect childhood abuse or neglect, don’t wait to reach out. When it comes to children in crisis, every minute can be crucial in preventing an episode of abuse. Whether you have a concern about mental, emotional or physical cruelty, call the hotline today. It’s up to our entire community to help keep our kids out of harm’s way.
Child Protective Services
If you suspect child neglect, it is important to call the hotline and report the abuse right away. Referral specialists are available to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Local: (330) 455-KIDS (5437)
Local: (330) 455-KIDS (5437)
National: 1 (800) 233-KIDS (5437)
National: 1 (800) 233-KIDS (5437)
Crisis Lifeline
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or substance use issues, call the hotline number for immediate, confidential support 24 hours a day.
Crisis Lifeline: Call 988 or call (330) 452-6000
Crisis Lifeline: Call 988 or call (330) 452-6000
Textline: Text 988
Textline: Text 988
Hours: 24/7
Safety & support
Canton, OH 44718
Alliance, OH 44601
Door 6
Canton, OH 44721
Canton, OH 44704
Canton, OH 44708
If you know a child that has experienced or is currently experiencing abuse or neglect, it is essential that they find a path to safety right away. When they are no longer in immediate danger, the next step is to seek out mental and emotional support.
Each child whose life is affected by abuse or neglect will react differently to the trauma. Some may have long-term effects that follow them throughout their development while others may be able to cope and move past the abuse. There is no right or wrong response to childhood abuse and neglect, but there are many local resources available to help children heal and move forward.
School settings can be one place where the need for mental health consultation and/or treatment services is observed. Use the Stark County Schools Mental Health Directory for more information.
If you suspect someone you know may be experiencing abuse in Stark County, report your concerns to a trusted adult. Guidance counselors and school administrators are a great line of defense along with pediatricians and mental health professionals.
Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health: Belden Village
Mental and behavioral health services for children and families, as well as trauma and grief-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and SITCAP services to reduce risk and increase childhood resiliency, including:
4641 Fulton Dr. NW- Case management
- Diagnostic mental health assessments
- Medication management
Canton, OH 44718
Phone: (330) 433-6075
Phone: (330) 433-6075
Email: [email protected]
Hide HoursShow Hours
Mon.
8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Tue.
8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Wed.
8:00 am - 8:00 pm
Thu.
8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Fri.
8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health: Alliance
C&A provides mental and behavioral health services for Alliance children and families. These services provided include:
405 S. Linden Ave- Prevention and consultation services
- Case management
- Psychiatric evaluations
- Medication management
Alliance, OH 44601
Phone: 330-433-6075
Phone: 330-433-6075
Email: [email protected]
Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health: Plain Community
Mental and behavioral health services for children and families.
1811 Schneider St. NEDoor 6
Canton, OH 44721
Phone: (330) 470-4061
Phone: (330) 470-4061
Email: [email protected]
Hide HoursShow Hours
Mon.
12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Tue.
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Wed.
12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Thu.
9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Fri.
12:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health: Shipley Office
Trauma-Informed Day Treatment School
919 2nd St. NECanton, OH 44704
Phone: (330) 454-7917
Phone: (330) 454-7917
Email: [email protected]
Hours: 8am-2pm (during the school year)
Domestic Violence Project, Inc. (DVPI)
DVPI is a private, non-profit agency dedicated to serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, and dating violence and their children through trauma-informed, confidential, comprehensive services, delivered with respect and cultural sensitivity. Programming includes 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, housing assistance, peer support, advocacy for survivors of human trafficking, as well as legal and medical support.
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 330-453-7233
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 330-453-7233
Email: [email protected]
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Safe Place for Newborns: Mercy Medical Center ER
Confidential emergency shelter and medical care within three days of birth. New parents can leave unwanted newborns at our Emergency Department within three days of birth. For the parents who abide by the program's guidelines, total secrecy and immunity from prosecution are ensured. Infants left at our hospital will be given an identification number and placed in the protective custody of the Stark County Department of Job and Family Services, Children Services Division. The parents will also get the infant's ID number, in case they change their minds or want to offer information. The newborn will be released from the hospital to an appropriate home or adoptive family as soon as medical clearance is obtained. As long as the baby is unharmed, the mother will not be prosecuted for abandonment if she acts within three days of the birth.
1320 Mercy Dr. NWCanton, OH 44708
Phone: (330)-489-1000
Phone: (330)-489-1000
Parenting & family support
Canton, OH 44710
Canton, OH 44707
North Canton, OH 44720
Suite A
North Canton, OH 44718
Canton, OH 44708
Canton, OH 44708
Aultman Hospital
The largest hospital in Stark County.
2600 6th St. SW- Emergency Room provides services for individuals with urgent health care concerns. Also a place for parents to safely and legally give their babies up.
- Aultman Serenity Program provides medical forensic nursing care to individuals impacted by violence, including abuse and neglect, domestic violence, human trafficking, or sexual assault.
- Grief support groups
Canton, OH 44710
Hours: 24/7
CommQuest Canton
CommQuesr is a nonprofit that provides mental health, addiction, and social services. CommQuest offers addiction serves such as:
- Withdrawal management
- Residential care
- Outpatient care
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Mom + Me recovery
- Recovery meetings
- Family support and education
- Counseling
- Psychiatric services
- Community psychiatric support services
- Services for survivors of sexual violence
- School-based mental health
- Supported employment
- Family Living Center
- Canton Friendship Center
- Samaritan's Table
- Next Level – Education | Employment | Advancement
- Payee Center
- Corporate learning and development
- Professional workshops and seminars
- Mental health provider learning and development
- CommQuest Outpatient - Building A 601 Cleveland Ave. NW Canton, Ohio 44702 Building A Services - 330-453-8252 General Line - 330-455-0374 Payee - 330-453-4275 Site hours Mon-Thurs: 7:30am-7pm, Fri: 7:30am-1pm Dosing: Mon-Fri 6am-7am & 8am-10am, Sat: 6am-7am OTP Clinic: Mon-Thurs 7am-3pm, Fri: 7am-1pm Urine Drug Screen: Mon-Thurs 6am-1:30pm, Fri 6am-12:30pm Walk-In Assessment Hours Mon: 8:30am-1:30pm, Tues: 8:30am-3:30pm, Wed: 9:30am-3:30pm, Thurs: 9:30am-3:30pm, Fri: 8:30am-9:30am Payee Center Hours Mondays & Wednesdays 9am-12pm Phone hours Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10am-2pm
- CommQuest Outpatient - Building B 625 Cleveland Ave. NW Canton, Ohio 44702 330-445-2677 Site hours Mon: 8am-6pm, Tues: 8am-6pm, Wed: 8am-7pm, Thurs: 8am-6pm, Fri: 8am-1pm
- Deliverance House 1711 Spring Ave. NE Canton, Ohio 44714 330-454-6800
- Canton Friendship Center 2200 Cleveland Ave. NW Canton, Ohio 44709 330-453-8776 Site hours Mon-Fri 9am-3pm
- Samaritans Table 627 McKinley Ave. NW Canton, Ohio 44703 330-454-8044
The Ken Weber Community Campus At Goodwill
The Ken Weber Community Campus at Goodwill is home to Goodwill offices and 20+ other non-profit organizations that share collaborative outreach to the Stark County community and find efficiencies through shared space and services. Goodwill is a nonprofit, social service agency dedicated to improving the lives of all people by providing skill-building programs and services needed to help remove common barriers to good jobs and independence. Partners at the Goodwill Ken Weber Community Campus include:
408 9th St. SW- Access Health Stark County
- Alzheimer’s Association
- AmeriCorps Seniors
- Axess Family – Family Community SSVF
- Canton Ex-Newsboys Association
- Chasing Hope House
- Ekaza-Bridging the Gap
- Guardian Support Services
- Hannah's House 119
- Junior Achievement
- Latino Business League
- Lifecare Community Health Center
- The Greater Canton Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission
- NAACP
- Project Hope
- The American Red Cross
- Stark County Hunger Task Force
- Stark A11y
- Stark County Social Justice Consortium
- Stark Housing Network
- Triad Deaf Services, Inc.
- Vantage Aging
Canton, OH 44707
Phone: : 1 (800) 942-3577
Phone: : 1 (800) 942-3577
Email: [email protected]
Hide HoursShow Hours
Mon.
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tue.
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wed.
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thu.
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Help Me Grow-Home Visiting
Home Visiting is a voluntary, home-based program offered at no cost to your family. Our home visitors are well-trained professionals who use a compassionate approach that offers information and support during pregnancy, and empowers you as the parent with skills, tools, and confidence to nurture the healthy growth of your child through the earliest years – a critical time of development.
6057 Strip Ave NWWho Should Be Referred?
Pregnant women and families with young children.Supporting first-time parents with home visiting services for children up to 3 years old
What Can You Expect?
Once your family has been referred, you will be assigned a home visitor, who will provide caring support and reliable information on the topics that matter most to you about your pregnancy and child’s development. Whether it’s what you can do to strive for a healthy pregnancy; how to soothe your crying baby; how to manage sleep (yours included!); or how to deal with the stresses of parenting; your home visitor is there to help, listen to your concerns, and connect you to community resources based off of your needs. We invest in you to make your own decisions about what is best for you and your child.
Benefits of Home Visiting
- Healthy birth outcomes - Pregnant women who participated in Home Visiting had 48 percent fewer low birth weight babies. Source.
- Increasing children’s school readiness - Children who participated in Home Visiting scored 25 percent higher on first through third grade reading and math achievement tests. Source.
North Canton, OH 44720
Phone: 330-492-8136, ext. 1480
Phone: 330-492-8136, ext. 1480
OhioGuidestone
Providing counseling, support, advocacy, and education with a focus on prevention and treatment in the home, community, office, or telehealth. Additional Program:
The Prevent Relapse Occurrence Team with Enhanced Case management and Treatment (Protect) works with juveniles who have shown sexual behavior problems who are not incarcerated or are returning to the community following separation. PROTECT services are designed to work specifically with individuals who have been identified as participating in “sexting” behavior or other minor-related sexual behavioral issues.
4579 Everhard Rd NWSuite A
North Canton, OH 44718
Phone: (440) 260-6466
Phone: (440) 260-6466
Hide HoursShow Hours
Mon.
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Tue.
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Wed.
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Thu.
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Fri.
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Parents Anonymous
Self-help group encouraging parents to make lasting, effective, positive changes in their lives.
142 Arlington Ave. NWCanton, OH 44708
Phone: (330) 445-1061
Phone: (330) 445-1061
National Parent & Youth Helpline: (855) 437-2736
National Parent & Youth Helpline: (855) 437-2736
Safe Place for Newborns: Mercy Medical Center ER
Confidential emergency shelter and medical care within three days of birth. New parents can leave unwanted newborns at our Emergency Department within three days of birth. For the parents who abide by the program's guidelines, total secrecy and immunity from prosecution are ensured. Infants left at our hospital will be given an identification number and placed in the protective custody of the Stark County Department of Job and Family Services, Children Services Division. The parents will also get the infant's ID number, in case they change their minds or want to offer information. The newborn will be released from the hospital to an appropriate home or adoptive family as soon as medical clearance is obtained. As long as the baby is unharmed, the mother will not be prosecuted for abandonment if she acts within three days of the birth.
1320 Mercy Dr. NWCanton, OH 44708
Phone: (330)-489-1000
Phone: (330)-489-1000
Stark Community Support Network
Community safety net linking families to resources and social services.
- Community Support Services (Mental Health & Substance/Alcohol Abuse) - Identify, Link, and Support individuals and families through the mental health and alcohol and substance abuse system.
- Community Response Team (Trauma Care and Community Violence) - Refer, Assist, and Advocate for individuals and/or families experiencing trauma.
- Infant Mortality (THRIVE) - Identify and Support women through their pregnancies to reduce infant mortality.
- Pathways Hub (Pregnant Mothers) - Educate and Support pregnant mothers to ensure a safe and healthy delivery.
- Parenting Classes - Classes are available for parents by court order or personal request.
- Individual or Group Counseling - Clinical Counseling / Therapeutic Support Groups are offered to individuals or families.
Identifying neglect
Neglect can be anything from a lack of food and medical care to total abandonment. Children who have experienced neglect may show the following signs:
- Behavioral issues
- Depression and anxiety
- Trouble maintaining healthy relationships
- Low self-esteem
- Problems at school
- Dirty hair, skin and clothes
- Hungry with no lunch money
- No coat, hat or gloves
- Poor language and communication skills
- Unsuitable living environment
- Untreated medical issues
References
Identifying abuse
Child abuse is an act by a parent or caregiver that results in or risk serious harm to a child. Abuse can be emotional, physical and/or sexual. If a child often has unexplained injuries and you start to notice a pattern, it is a good idea to report the situation. You may notice changes in the a child’s actions or behaviors, these are common signs of abuse might include:
- Aggressive, destructive behaviors
- Compulsions, obsessions and phobias
- Developmental delays
- Drug or alcohol use
- Hard on themselves
- Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
- Overly affectionate towards strangers
- Lacks close relationships with parents or caregivers or avoids being alone with certain people
- Complaints of chronic pain or repeated trips to emergency room
- Physical signs such as cuts, burns, bruises, black eyes and other physical marks
- Depressed, anxious and withdrawn
- Drug and alcohol use
- Misses school or poor performance in school
- Sudden changes in behavior
- Wets the bed and soils clothes
- Big changes in appetite or weight
- Becomes sexually active at a young age
- Multiple sexually transmitted infections or early pregnancy
