COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on Sep 5th, delivered welcoming remarks for Ohio’s 2024 Kids Summit.

Hosted for the first time by the new Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY), in collaboration with the Ohio Supreme Court, the Kids Summit brought together county leaders from across the state representing children services, the judicial system, law enforcement, parent and family advocates, social workers, and more to learn about DCY: the new agency created last year by Governor DeWine to streamline systems that support children and families.

“Protecting our children is something I’ve always been deeply passionate about throughout my career. Creating our new Department of Children and Youth to focus on this mission, day in and day out, has been an important step toward ensuring all Ohio children can reach their full potential,” said Governor DeWine. “The future of our state is in the hands of our children, and we have an obligation to do all we can to help them thrive.”

Over 800 people who serve children and families in various capacities attended the one-day summit.

“We are thankful for the work that is being done every day in communities across Ohio to protect our kids and make Ohio the best in the nation place to raise a family,” added Governor DeWine. “We hope Sep 5th’s planning sessions provide opportunities to learn from one another, to push each other to innovate, and to share new ideas that will keep Ohio on the cutting-edge of the best strategies to help children and families.”

“We thank Governor DeWine and the Ohio Supreme Court for partnering with us to bring together the county leaders who work tirelessly to ensure children and families are safe in their communities,” said DCY Director Kara Wente. “This summit is more than a conference. It’s an opportunity to learn together and dive into meaningful data to help inform planning that will absolutely make a difference for Ohio’s families and children.”

“I appreciate the community leaders that are coming together to learn and collaborate,” said Supreme Court of Ohio Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy. “Our collective responsibilities toward Ohio’s children cannot be overstated. When we think of Ohio’s children, they are all of our children.”

Also speaking during the summit was Darneshia Allen, Training and Technical Assistance Integration Manager for Safe Babies with ZERO TO THREE – a nonpartisan research organization focused on the developmental needs of infants and toddlers. Her presentation aimed to inspire participants with new ideas on how to make meaningful connections with families with young children to ensure they have the supports they need to thrive early in life and beyond.

“Imagine a world where every decision prioritizes attachment and quality family connections, where strength-based approaches uplift the needs of babies and their caregivers,” Allen said. “By closely collaborating with families, we can shorten their journey through child welfare and significantly improve outcomes for children. I am honored to share practices that can spark ideas and change the trajectory for Ohio's infants, toddlers, and their families, meeting them where they are and making a lasting difference in their lives.”

DCY was established by Governor DeWine in 2023 to focus on the efficient and effective delivery of services to Ohio's children and their families. Now that many of the state’s child-centered resources and programs are within a single agency, Ohio families have a centralized resource to ask questions, find services, and receive support. DCY supports the following areas: Maternal and Infant Wellness; Early Care and Education; Early Childhood Development; Children Services; Foster, Kinship, and Adoption; Family Support and Stabilization; and Young Adult Support.

For more information, visit ChildrenAndYouth.Ohio.gov.