Child Welfare Law in Ohio: Ohio Laws

Juvenile Court

Defines neglected child, includes a child who "lacks adequate parental care because of the faults or habits of the child's parents, guardian, or custodian".

Defines abused child as a child who "exhibits evidence of any physical or mental injury or death, inflicted other than by accidental means". Does not include corporal punishment if the punishment does not include prohibited acts as defined in Oh. Rev. Code Sec. 2919.22

Dependent child is one "whose condition or environment is such as to warrant the state, in the interests of the child, in assuming the child's guardianship".

Journalists may request the residential address of public children service agency employee, private child placing agency employee, juvenile court employee, law enforcement agency employees.

Defines acts which "endanger children".

Any person having knowledge of a child who appears to have violated section 2151.87 of the Revised Code or to be a juvenile traffic offender or to be an unruly, abused, neglected, or dependent child may file a sworn complaint with respect to that child in the juvenile court of the county in which the child has a residence or legal settlement or in which the violation, unruliness, abuse, neglect, or dependency allegedly occurred.

The court shall direct the issuance of a summons directed to the child except as provided by this section, the parents, guardian, custodian, or other person with whom the child may be, and any other persons that appear to the court to be proper or necessary parties to the proceedings, requiring them to appear before the court at the time fixed to answer the allegations of the complaint. The summons shall contain the name and telephone number of the court employee designated by the court pursuant to section 2151.314 of the Revised Code to arrange for the prompt appointment of counsel for indigent persons. A child alleged to be an abused, neglected, or dependent child shall not be summoned unless the court so directs. A summons issued for a child who is under fourteen years of age and who is alleged to be a delinquent child, unruly child, or a juvenile traffic offender shall be served on the parent, guardian, or custodian of the child in the child's behalf.
If the person who has physical custody of the child, or with whom the child resides, is other than the parent or guardian, then the parents and guardian also shall be summoned. A copy of the complaint shall accompany the summons.

Shelter care hearing

A parent may voluntarily deliver his or her child who is not older than thirty days, without intent to return for the child, to a person specified in section 2151.3517 of the Revised Code or a newborn safety incubator provided by an entity described in that section that meets the requirements of section 2151.3532 of the Revised Code.

Right to counsel.

Any person may report child abuse or neglect, but certain professionals must report.

Reporting child abuse or neglect. Effective 1/1/25

Employment of minors

Standards of poverty for appointment of free legal counsel

Employment of Minors in Occupations Hazardous or Detrimental to Health and Well-Being

This act eliminates the statute of limitations for a minor victim of a human trafficking offense or federal sex offense to file a civil action to recover damages.