Ohio

Facilities in Ohio

Residential facilities providing religious, behavioral, and mental health treatment to children exist in all 50 states. Some of these facilities are known to be part of the Troubled Teen Industry, while others have not yet been verified. Any facility where children live and receive care requires additional oversight. This directory helps communities monitor local programs and advocate for accountability.

Reporting abuse in Ohio

Ohio has something rare and worth knowing about: a Youth and Family Ombudsmen Office that takes complaints directly from young people, with a separate form for youth and for families. Most state oversight assumes an adult is doing the reporting. Ohio's child abuse line is also a directory rather than a call centre - it connects you to the county office that will actually handle it.

Time limits in Ohio: a general guide

This was correct as far as we could tell when we checked it on 28 September 2026. Laws on time limits change often, sometimes every legislative session, so some of what follows may have been updated since. It is a starting point, not legal advice: please check with a lawyer before relying on any date here. A time limit on a lawsuit or a criminal charge is also not a time limit on telling someone, and most of the places listed below will still take a report.

Time limits for abuse of a child often run from the survivor's 18th birthday, or from when they came to understand what happened, rather than from the day the program closed. Many states have lengthened them, removed them for child sexual abuse, or reopened claims that had already expired. A criminal charge, a lawsuit and a licence complaint each have their own time limit, so one having passed does not necessarily mean the others have.

Lawsuits

Physical abuse or injury: One year for assault, battery or false imprisonment. Two years for other bodily injury claims, such as negligence (for example, a program that failed to protect you). Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2305.111(B), 2305.11(A), 2305.10(A)
If it happened before you turned 18: If you were under 18 when you were hurt, the clock does not start until you turn 18. So assault or battery claims are due by your 19th birthday, and negligence claims by your 20th. Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.16
If the program was run by or for the government: Less certain Claims against the State of Ohio go to the Court of Claims within two years (or a shorter period if one applies, such as one year for assault); claims against a county, city or other local government must be filed within two years, paused while the victim is a minor. Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2743.16(A), 2744.04(A)
Child sexual abuse: CSA: The civil CSA SOL is age 30 against all defendants with a fraudulent concealment tolling rule. A 5-year window opened on October 12, 2023 for expired claims against the bankruptcy estate of the Boy Scouts of America. Trafficking: The civil SOL for trafficking is age 19. CSAM: The civil SOL for CSAM is age 19. CHILD USA's summary

Criminal charges

Physical child abuse: Six years for a felony. For crimes that injured a child in a way that suggests abuse or neglect, the six years do not start until the victim turns 18 or until a children services agency or police officer is told about the abuse, whichever comes first. Ohio Rev. Code § 2901.13(A)(1), (J)
Assault: Six years for felony assault. Misdemeanor assault must be charged within two years. Ohio Rev. Code § 2901.13(A)(1)
Child sexual abuse: CSA: The criminal SOL is age 43 for rape and sexual battery, age 38 for other felonies, and age 20 for misdemeanors, with a D NA rule. Trafficking: The SOL is age 38 for trafficking offenses. CSAM: The SOL is age 38 for CSAM offenses. CHILD USA's summary

The injury, assault and physical abuse lines are our reading of the statutes linked, as they stood on 28 September 2026. The child sexual abuse lines are CHILD USA's summary as it stood on 28 September 2026; their page may be more current than ours. In them SOL means statute of limitations, CSA child sexual abuse, and CSAM child sexual abuse material. "Less certain" marks a line where the law is unclear or where our reading has not been confirmed, so please treat it with extra care. Exceptions, court rulings and the details of what happened can all change which time limit applies, and some of these may be longer or shorter for you than they look here. CHILD USA's statute of limitations tracker, updated as each state changes its law. A lawyer can tell you which time limit applies to you, and many offer a free first consultation.

The therapist's licensing board

Holds the individual clinician's licence and can suspend or revoke it.

Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board

Multiple professions

Licenses and disciplines counselors, social workers and marriage and family therapists in Ohio, and investigates complaints including incompetent practice, breaking confidentiality, failure to tell clients the nature and extent of services, sexual harassment, discrimination, physical or verbal abuse and conflict of interest.

Use this whenA licensed counselor, social worker or marriage and family therapist in Ohio. Psychologists have their own board.

HowFile through the Board's eLicense complaint portal, or download the form and fax it.

Ohio State Board of Psychology

Psychologist

Licenses and disciplines psychologists and school psychologists in Ohio, and publishes how its investigation process works alongside its complaint form.

Use this whenA licensed psychologist in Ohio.

HowUse the Board's complaint page, which sets out the investigation process as well as the form.

The agency that licenses the program

Inspects the facility itself and can cite, fine, suspend or close it.

Ohio Department of Behavioral Health

Licenses and certifies behavioral health providers in Ohio, including residential treatment, and takes complaints about the services they give.

Use this whenA certified or licensed behavioral health provider or residential program.

HowContact the Department.

Formerly the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS); the old mha.ohio.gov address now redirects here.

Law enforcement and legal channels

Child protection, the Attorney General, and the criminal side.

Ohio child abuse and neglect reporting line

An automated directory that connects you straight to the child welfare or law enforcement office in the relevant county, which is where the report is actually handled.

Use this whenA child at an Ohio program. Report to the county the program is in.

HowCall. Reports can be anonymous.

1-855-642-4453 1-855-O-H-CHILD.
More about this body

Oversight and advocacy

Bodies with a right to investigate, and advocates who can act for you.

Ohio Youth and Family Ombudsmen Office

An independent office for anyone concerned about the Ohio children services system. It takes complaints directly from young people, with a separate route for youth and for families.

Use this whenA young person in the Ohio system who wants to complain themselves, or a family who has hit a wall with an agency.

HowUse the Youth complaint form or the Family complaint form on the office's site.

Disability Rights Ohio

Ohio's Protection and Advocacy agency, with federal authority to investigate abuse and neglect of people with disabilities in facilities, a right of access to them, and free legal advocacy.

Use this whenAn Ohio program where the young person has a disability or a mental health diagnosis.

HowContact the intake line.

1-800-282-9181 Main line 614-466-7264.
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National reporting channels, and the same list for other states