New Director of Children & Family Services talks about her plan to turn the agency around

CLEVELAND - In 2010, the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services came under fire for how it handled child abuse cases.

An investigation ensued and changes were mad to the system, including a new director. She has more than 22 years of experience in the child welfare field, as a lawyer and administrator. She has the the leadership ability to move the agency forward. But what stands out most about Pat Rideout is how much she cares about children.

Upon entering the Jane Edna Hunter Building, you will see various pictures of families and children. Each child's face has a story. And that story is important to Rideout. She is no stranger to the challenges of managing an agency of this size because she held the position of deputy director more than 10 years ago. Rideout has come full circle and she says she is "ready to get back on the front lines."

"I felt very supported coming in by knowing so many folks. And then I had spent the last 11 years working in systems like this one around the country. And so I don't think that I can complain that I came in with anything but open eyes. It was time for me to get back in there and get my hands dirty and see if I could help," Rideout said.

And help was definitely needed. Rideout accepted the position with full knowledge of the agency's problems and a plan to turn things around.

"We had some tragedies that were very well publicized, it was very painful for our staff. I was well aware that we needed to restore the confidence of our staff in who we are, in our standing in the community and restore the confidence and trust of the community as well. And certainly wanting to be a part of our county government's effort to reinforce our professionalism and our competence," Rideout said.

With 8,000 children in the county's service system, and more than 600 of them in permanent custody, it's an enormous challenge to ensure a permanent family for all. But Rideout admits the community is an important part of achieving that goal.

"I want us to do a better job of engaging the community in that challenge, because I don't want to see any child, any young person, age out of our system without a permanent family," said Rideout. She goes on to explain that these children need families that will be there for them throughout their life. The community needs to understand that and in turn work towards making it more than just a thought, but a reality.

No doubt about it, Rideout knows she has a tough job in a tough field. But at the end of the day, she says "no matter how bad the day was, it's never a waste of your time. Each day, what we do id God's work. What we do is trying to heal familis. So I like having that kind of job."

Rideout hopes to change public perception that he agency is all about removing kids and terminating parent's rights. When in fact, three-quarters of the families they serve have their children at home and have never been involved with the court.