Franklin County Children Services seeks kinship for kids of victims

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- On Tuesday, two people were found dead at an apartment in the Northern Woods neighborhood, leaving three kids without their parents. The children are now in the custody of Franklin County Children Services.

Scott Varner of FCCS said they are trying find a safe place for them, hopefully with a relative. Then, they can move this process forward.

“What a tragic incident," Varner said. "So, when we work very closely with our partners at the police and when they identify that these three young children needed someplace to go. That's when they brought them to children's services.”

After an apparent murder-suicide, three children of the ages 4, 6 and 8 were left without their parents. When something like this occurs, the FCCS wants the children in family-like settings and, when possible, in kinship-related homes.

“A family member or someone who's a close family friend, like a coach or teacher, a member of their church, a neighbor, somebody that is close to the family,” Varner said.

The closest relative to take the kids in lives in another country, but keeping their environment familiar is essential to the FCCS. Overall, in cases where kids are without guardians, the process is to continue to search for next of kin because of the effect it can have on the child's development.

Lindsay Williams, vice president of Buckeye Ranch, knows that even if children are taken into foster care, there is still an effort to find family members to take them in.

“We continue those family search and engagement efforts because we know that children are better off with family in communities and environments and that they use to it that they're used to,” Williams said. “It helps to minimize the trauma that they're already experiencing due to their family situation.”

Anyone who can provide a family-like dynamic and maintain their culture and heritage during this time would also be beneficial as it is to all children in these types of tragic situations.

“So, when they have a trusted adult supporter in their life that's able to help children maintain a sense of stability and wanted ness and belonging during those challenging times,” Williams said. “It can have a huge impact on that child's life and their development going forward.”