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Franklin County Family and Children First Council

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Franklin County Family and Children First Council

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Ohio Family and Children First (OFCF) is a partnership of state and local government, communities an

10/14/2026

💙💛 It's Down Syndrome Awareness Month! 💛💙

Let's celebrate the individuals with Down syndrome who bring joy, friendship, determination, creativity, and so much personality to our families, schools, workplaces, and communities. 🥰

Down syndrome is one part of who someone is—not the whole story. Every person has their own interests, talents, dreams, strengths, and goals.
From big accomplishments to everyday moments of connection, individuals with Down syndrome make our communities richer, more joyful, and more inclusive. 💙💛

This month, and every month, let’s celebrate belonging, possibility, and the unique contributions every person brings.

✨ Different abilities. Shared humanity. More joy when everyone belongs. ✨

🔗https://ndss.org/down-syndrome-awareness-month

10/12/2026

Baby Sign Language!

Before children can say the words, they may already have plenty to say! 🤟
Baby sign language gives little ones another way to communicate needs, wants, and feelings while their spoken language is developing.

✨ Signs like more, help, eat, drink, and all done can:
• Give children another way to communicate
• Can help reduce frustration when they can’t find the words
• Encourages back-and-forth communication
• Creates opportunities for connection and bonding
• Can be useful for children with different communication styles or needs
• Can be used alongside spoken language—not instead of it!

Parent tip: Say the word while making the sign and use it during everyday routines. Keep it simple, have fun, and give your child time to respond!

👋 Your hands can help start the conversation—even before the words come.

🔗https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/These-Hands-Were-Made-for-Talking.aspx?form=XCXCUUZZ&utm_source=chatgpt.com

🔗https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1868823/

10/08/2026

Franklin County Family & Children First Council wishes Eve Fitch a Happy Retirement!🎉

Throughout Eve's distinguished career, she has remained deeply dedicated to the profession of social work and to improving outcomes for children, youth, and families. Her valuable contributions to FCFC include supervising the Multi-System Team and providing service coordination support to youth and their families, as well as leading the Service Coordination Program within the Building Better Lives Initiative. She also played a pivotal role in the RREACT program, partnering with Columbus City Division of Fire and law enforcement bringing brain-based, trauma-informed practices into their work. Her leadership, commitment, and passion for serving others has left a lasting impact on the organization, community partners, and the countless families whose lives have been positively influenced by her efforts. We congratulate her on a well-deserved retirement and thank her for her years of dedicated service.💐

10/01/2026

Free Fall Family Events Around Columbus

Fall is a great time to slow down, spend time together and make family memories. Here are some free, family-friendly events happening around Columbus this season.

🍂 Harvest Fair at Columbus Commons — Oct. 3, 12–4 PM. Pumpkin decorating, petting zoo, face painting, balloon twisting, parachute play, lawn games and free carousel rides. Columbus Commons

🍂 Franklinton Urban Scrawl — Oct. 9th–11th. Live mural painting, artist demonstrations, live music, and much more. A celebration of the arts that empowers both artists and the community. Urban Scrawl

🍂 Great Gahanna Goblin Fest — Oct. 23, 5:30- 9:30 PM. From hayrides, to live entertainment, storytelling and smores to Trick-or-Treating, it will be spooktactular fun for the whole family. Great Gahanna Goblin Fest

🍂 CMA Community Days: Día de los Mu***os — Nov. 2, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM. Enjoy celebratory activities and learn about the rich history of Día de los Mu***os including a community ofrenda, performances, art-making and tasty bites. CMA Día de los Mu***os Celebration

09/28/2026

A fall walk isn't just a chance to get outside—it’s an opportunity to help your child practice attention, language, listening, and observation skills.

Next time you're outside, slow down and explore together. Ask your child:
👀 “What do you see?”
👂 “What do you hear?”
🍁 “What color is that leaf?”
🌬️ “Can you hear the wind?”
🐿️ “Can you find where that sound is coming from?”

There’s no need for a special activity or lesson. A simple walk can become a chance to notice, wonder, talk, and learn together.

Sometimes, the best learning happens when we simply slow down and explore the world around us. 💛

09/18/2026

🧠 We just talked about "won't" vs. "can't." Here's the piece that makes it click:
A dysregulated brain isn't ignoring you. It literally can't hear you the way you need it to.

Here's why:
⬇️ Bottom-up: The body and survival brain react first — before words, before logic.

⬆️ Top-down: The thinking brain (reasoning, language, problem-solving) comes online after the body feels safe.
For example, when a child is mid-meltdown and we say "use your words" or "calm down" —
We're asking the top to lead, when the bottom hasn't caught up yet. 🌪️
It's not defiance. It's biology.

💙 Regulation has to start with the body: a steady voice, slow breathing, a calm presence nearby.

🌱 Only after the body settles can the thinking brain re-engage — and that's when talking actually helps.

Body first. Words second. Every time.

👇 What's one thing that helps you regulate before you try to talk something through?

09/16/2026

💛 September is Su***de Prevention Month

Sometimes, knowing where to turn can make all the difference.
If you or someone you care about is struggling, help is available right here in Franklin County. You don’t have to wait until a crisis becomes an emergency to reach out.
📱 Call or text 988 — the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline
📞 Youth ages 17 and under: Nationwide Children’s Crisis Line — 614-722-1800
📞 Adults 18+: Netcare Access — 614-276-2273
📞 Su***de Prevention Hotline: 614-221-5445
💬 Teen Hotline: 614-294-3300
🚨 In an immediate emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
🧲 Keep crisis resources close.

Franklin County Family & Children First Council has created a Crisis Resources Magnet with important local and national crisis numbers all in one place. It’s designed to be kept somewhere easy to find—like on your refrigerator—so you don’t have to search for a number when you or someone you love needs help.

👉 Download or learn more about the Franklin County Crisis Resources Magnet:
Franklin Co. Crisis Resources

Save the number. Share the resource. Start the conversation. 💛
You are not alone, and reaching out for help is a sign of strength.

***dePreventionMonth

09/14/2026

Babies are curious, constantly learning, and on the move—which means safety starts with creating spaces where they can safely explore and grow.

This month is a great time to take a fresh look at your baby’s environment and think about everyday safety, including:
🛏️ Safe sleep practices
🔗https://myfcph.org/infant-safe-sleep-mortality/
🔗https://celebrateone.org/
🚗 Car seat safety
🔗https://www.columbus.gov/Services/Public-Health/Healthy-Moms-and-Babies
🏠 Childproofing your home
🧸 Safe toys and products
🛁 Water and bath safety
🔥 Preventing burns and falls
💊 Keeping medications and harmful substances out of reach
🔗https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/specialties/central-ohio-poison-center?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Remember: A few minutes of prevention can make a big difference. And as your baby grows and becomes more mobile, their safety needs change, too!

💡 Baby Safety Month reminder: Get down on your baby’s level and look around. What do they see, reach, grab, or crawl toward? You might spot a safety concern you hadn’t noticed before!

09/10/2026

🦠 Back-to-school season means new routines, new friends and lots of opportunities for germs to spread. The good news? Families can help kids build simple habits that protect themselves and others, both at home and at school.

Here are a few things parents and kids can do together:
🧼 Make handwashing part of the routine. Instead of relying on reminders all day, connect handwashing to things kids already do like washing up when they get home, before meals and after using the bathroom.
🤧 Practice the “elbow cough.” Make covering coughs and sneezes with an elbow a habit at home, so kids know what to do when they’re away from you.
🎒 Clean out lunchboxes, water bottles and other frequently used items regularly to help keep them fresh and ready for the next day.
🛌 Listen to their bodies. If your child wakes up feeling sick, take a moment to assess how they're feeling before sending them off to school. Sometimes the best way to stop germs from spreading is to stay home and rest.
💧 Help kids take care of their whole body. Regular sleep, healthy meals, plenty of fluids and staying active can all help kids feel their best as they tackle a busy school year.

A few simple habits at home can go a long way toward keeping kids, classmates and families healthier this school year!

09/08/2026

988 Day is an opportunity to raise awareness and support for the Lifeline through creative community activities. Learn how to get involved and make a difference ➡️ https://bit.ly/4g9Jx8j ***dePreventionMonth

Address

2740 Airport Drive
Columbus, OH
43219

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

614-407-9040

Website

http://franklinfamilyfirst.org/

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