NEWS

MarionMade!: Durains provide loving home for foster kids

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Each week, this series shares MarionMade! Stories of our many wonderful people, places, products and programs in the greater Marion community. To read more stories of Marion’s great people, places, products, and programs, or to share some of your own stories, visit us at marionmade.org or on social media.

Crystal and Devin Durain are changing lives one foster child at a time. The family opened their hearts and their home to children in need seven years ago as foster parents through Marion County Children Services. 

“We had difficulty conceiving at first, and we were planning to adopt,” said Crystal. “We took a class on working with families and our vision changed. We both felt pulled to help families as a whole.”

So after hours of training, tons of paperwork, and a home study, the Durains became licensed foster parents in 2014. Their first foster children were siblings: a baby girl and her toddler brother. So far, the Durains have cared for 16 children through the program, ranging in age from infants to teenagers.

“When that first call came, we scrambled to gather what we needed within an hour or two. While my husband was filling out paperwork at Children Services, I was scurrying to get a pack-n-play and baby clothes quickly!” Crystal Durain recalls.

Over time, they developed a network of church groups, other families and social media friends who are ready to go into action when “the call” comes in.

“It’s overwhelming … the amount of support and people who really want to give. We’re a prayerful family and God always provides,” stated Crystal.

The Durain home is busy. In addition to their foster children, the couple has three biological sons: Deacon, 9; Elliot, 6; and Foster, 4.

Their caseworker, Karena Pryor with Marion County Children Services, said, “Crystal and Devin Durain have incorporated fostering as a way of life for their family and ensure the children placed in their care feel like part of their family. It is difficult to distinguish who is biological and who is not when visiting in the home; all children are treated equally. Crystal and Devin are great advocates for fostering.”

“When Deacon was little, he would make it a point to include (in bedtime prayers) a prayer for the mommy or daddy of our foster kids to get better so they can be together again,” Crystal Durain said.

Children Services and foster parents focus on reuniting foster children with their birth family if it is possible.

Once foster children are able to return home, it can be hard to say goodbye. “One boy we fostered for about 6 months; he and Deacon were just like brothers. Later, we went to Florida for vacation and the family was living there. We spent a day together at Chuck E. Cheese … the boys were so excited to see each other!” After kids return to their birth families, the Durains stay in touch.

The local need for foster and adoptive parents is great. In 2020, 296 local children were placed in foster care. Marion County Children Services only has 37 licensed foster homes, and only seven who accept kids ages 16 or older. Seven local children are waiting for their forever families and six of them are teenagers.

The Durains have advice for anyone considering becoming a foster parent. “I tell it straight. Children often come to you with many unmet needs — eyeglasses, dental work, mental health issues, speech therapy and on. It can be hard when the needs are great and you’re balancing that with school, work and life in general,” Crystal stated. “You pour love, effort and energy into each one. Our family isn’t perfect, but it’s good to be able to show kids a loving, caring family life.”Get the News Alerts newsletter in your inbox.

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With the Durains, the decision to foster new children is a family discussion. “This (fostering) is all our boys have ever known. Now that they’re older, we get their input first,” said Crystal. “One time, a 9-year-old girl needed us. The boys were thrilled to learn that she loved sports and pro wrestling!”

This family effort pays dividends for Marion.

“Devin and Crystal believe in the safety and well-being of children, which is evidenced by the children in their own home,” said Elizabeth Moore, Foster Care and Community Engagement coordinator with Children Services. “Fostering is truly a family endeavor for the Durains, with all three of their children seeking out ways to love and serve their community.”

For more information about becoming a foster parent, contact Moore at 740-386-0465 or go to marionkids.com.

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NEWS

Marion County Children Services plants pinwheels for Child Abuse Awareness Month

Micah WalkerMarion StarView Comments

On a cold and windy last day of March, about 20 staff members from Marion County Children Services placed blue pinwheels in the ground outside of the agency.

Some were positioned around trees, others circled around the two entrance signs.

In total, 794 pinwheels were planted. The figure represents the total number of child maltreatment investigations MCCS conducted in 2020. 

The pinwheel garden is planted for Child Abuse Awareness Month, which is observed annually in April. The event stems from the nationwide Pinwheels for Prevention campaign through Prevent Child Abuse America.

Created in 2008, the organization found that people respond positively to pinwheels, which represents childhood and the organization’s mission for happy and healthy kids. 

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Elizabeth Moore, a foster care and community engagement coordinator, said most calls are for neglect, specifically substance abuse in front of children. 

The numbers for 2020 are lower than what MCCS has experienced in recent years, likely because the Centers for Disease Control and other agencies that monitor child abuse say reporting was down last year due to COVID-19 restrictions that kept children at home instead of in school.

In 2018, MCSS handled 931 safety assessments, which was a record for the agency. For 2017, there were 844 cases. Numbers for 2019 are unavailable since the pinwheel planting was canceled early last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

However, COVID-19 is the reason why the case count was lower for last year, Moore said. Last March, MCCS saw a decrease in calls by 51%.  Since children were attending school remotely or in a hybrid model, there were less opportunities for teachers or other people outside the home to report a potential abuse case. 

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), family members account for just 12% of child-mistreatment reports. At the same time, a December CDC report notes that pandemics and other public health emergencies increase risk for child abuse and neglect because of increased stress and loss of financial and social supports.

Child abuse reports dropped nationally as well. According to a report from The Associated Press, more than 400,000 fewer child welfare concerns were reported during the pandemic and 200,000 fewer child abuse and neglect investigations and assessments were reported compared with the same time period in 2019. The figures represent a national total decrease of 18% in both total reports and investigations.

In Marion County, the top three reporters of child-mistreatment claims are law enforcement, medical professionals, and educational professionals. Despite the pandemic, though, some people remained vigilant in looking out for child abuse. 

“We still had educators who were involved,” Moore said. “The educators have been phenomenal. They go out to the homes, taking schoolwork. Additionally, it would be family, neighbors, which is great that we have neighbors that are keeping an eye out. For family…you weren’t able to see your family face-to-face for a long time, so a lot of them were making phone calls or video calls and they were able to report concerns based off that.Get the News Alerts newsletter in your inbox.

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“The fact that we had almost 800 considering how long kids weren’t around mandated reporters it’s pretty insane,” she said.

While calls are increasing again since many students are returning to school full-time, Moore and other staff members are seeing educational neglect, where kids are not coming to school. 

“When they call in these concerns, though, it’s not just typically an educational issue,” she said. “It’s also, they’re not coming to school and maybe they have noticed that there are other issues when they do come to school or when they do log in. They’re not getting their basic needs met. We have a lot of families that still don’t have any working parents or caregivers in the home.”

Moore said the pinwheels reflect the impact MCCS has in serving children in the area, as well as showing the community their impact. In addition, she said the project shows the collaboration between the staff members on not only the pinwheels, but in helping children find a stable home. 

“It’s pretty extraordinary that we can rely on our community to make those calls, to be the voice, to stand up for kids and really make sure that they’re safe.” 

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Child Abuse Awareness Month events 

In addition to the pinwheel planting, other events MCCS has planned throughout the month include: 

• Child abuse and neglect identification training will be held on April 9 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The free session is intended to increase community knowledge about child abuse and neglect and the reporting and assessment process. The training will be held at the agency at 1680 Marion-Waldo Road. Masks and social distancing will be in place.  
• April 14 is Wear Blue Day. The community can join staff members in wearing blue to show support for victims of child abuse.
• Children’s Champion awards will be given out throughout the month. A new initiative this year, the awards will go to kids from biological, foster and kinship families, as well as community organizations. MCCS will highlight the winners and nominees on their social media pages. 

mwalker@nncogannett.com

@micah_walker701

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) declared emergency, the MCCS Board meeting will be held via teleconference. The meeting will be held at the regular date and time –April 16 at 12:00 pm

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83497681981?pwd=ck1PUmZPZ04zTUVuMTJub0RzK0tvUT09

Meeting ID: 834 9768 1981

Passcode: 382096

OR

Dial by your location

+1 929 436 2866

Meeting ID: 834 9768 1981

Passcode: 382096

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) declared emergency, the MCCS Board meeting will be held via teleconference. The meeting will be held at the regular date and time –March 19 at 12:00 pm

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83497681981?pwd=ck1PUmZPZ04zTUVuMTJub0RzK0tvUT09

Meeting ID: 834 9768 1981

Passcode: 382096

OR

Dial by your location

+1 929 436 2866

Meeting ID: 834 9768 1981

Passcode: 382096

The YWCA of Northwest Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral, in partnership with other members and Child Care providers; Marion County Job & Family Services, Marion Community Foundation, United Way of North Central Ohio, Marion Family YMCA, Boys and Girls Club of Marion County and Marion Matters, is requesting your assistance with a very important brief survey. Below are details regarding this important information-gathering survey that will help local organizations assist those who may be struggling with child-care availability. Please share this survey so our community can get as accurate a picture of Marion County’s needs as possible.

For years in Marion, we’ve heard anecdotal stories of the need for childcare. Marion employers and associates alike often cite the lack of childcare as a barrier to working. Now, several organizations have come together to conduct a short, but comprehensive, survey so that we have data to define any childcare gaps and to help us overcome those gaps.  

The survey is asking respondents for their experience with childcare outside of current pandemic conditions so that we can develop long-term solutions. 

You can complete the survey through three methods.  

1. This link: Marion Child Care Survey Link will take you directly to the survey. 

2. The attached flyer includes a QR code that when scanned goes directly to the survey. The survey is mobile device friendly.

3. The attached PDF of the survey questions can be printed for individuals to complete on paper. Please mail completed surveys to:
   Susan Martin
   780 Park Ave West Suite 100     
   Mansfield, OH 44905 

Surveys need completed by March 31 and any paper copies also returned by March 31.

Thank you for helping Marion families.