LISBON — Colorful pinwheels will dot the landscape on the square once again this April — 411 of them altogether — representing reports of child abuse and neglect in Columbiana County last year.

County commissioners gave permission Wednesday for the display and proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The proclamation read by county Department of Job and Family Services Director Rachel Ketterman said “we believe that all residents of our county, professional and private citizens alike, have a moral and legal obligation to protect the children of our county. We encourage all citizens to become involved in the prevention of abuse and neglect of the children of Columbiana County.”

As they’ve done in the past, personnel from Children Services, which is a division of DJFS, will gather on the square to place the pinwheels, with the number matching the number of reports of abuse and neglect made and investigated by the agency in 2024.

During the meeting, Ketterman also shared some of the Children Services statistics for 2024, reporting the child population in the county as 20,064 per the 2024 estimated census.

Child abuse and neglect calls totaled 2,124, with 411 turning into investigations. Children involved with Children Services via intake/ongoing and adoption, totaled 1,148. There were 120 children in placement, 136 children living with relatives and seven children who emancipated. Adoptions totaled 12 in 2024.

The number of licensed foster homes in the county totaled 15, but some children are also placed in residential treatment facilities or group homes to meet their needs which are out of the area.

The biggest number on the stats sheet was the annual net cost of foster care, which totaled more than $3.5 million.

If child abuse or neglect is suspected, call the agency at 330-420-6600, which is a 24-hour line or call the police department serving the community where the abuse is taking place if it’s an emergency.

To learn more about DJFS or how to report child abuse or neglect, visit the website at columbianacountydfs.org.