Foster Care & Families
8574 children received services in 2025 from Summit County
Children Services.
why it matters
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Children thrive when they have safe, stable relationships and families have the support they need before a crisis becomes a separation.
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Across Summit County, thousands of children and families interact with the child welfare system each year. When children cannot safely remain at home, foster and kinship families help provide stability, connection, and care during seasons of uncertainty.
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The goal is not simply placement. It is safety, permanency, and restoration whenever possible—helping families heal, reunify, and remain connected to their communities.
by the numbers
Key realities shaping life in Greater Akron.
1 in 13
children were served by Summit County Children Services in 2025.
8,942
calls received to the SCCS 24 hour abuse and neglect hotline in 2025.
750+
118
in 2025, 750 children in Summit County Children Services Custody with only 118 foster homes available.
52.9%
More than half of the children in custody are placed outside of Summit County.
44306
This East Akron ZIP code has the highest foster-care need in Summit County. 101 children, 2 foster families.
4 in 5
children were reunited with family.
All data presented was obtained from partners and publicly available sources across Greater Akron. Data reflects the most recent information available at the time of collection and may vary by reporting period, geography, or methodology.
prayer
Pray for children and families. Ask God to protect and heal families throughout Greater Akron. Pray for parents who are struggling and for children experiencing instability, separation, or loss.
Pray for children in foster and kinship care. Ask God to surround them with safe, consistent people and remind them that they are seen, loved, and not forgotten.
Praise God for restoration. Pray for parents and relatives working toward healing and reunification. Ask God to strengthen families and surround them with relationships and resources that help them stay together.