Samantha Tatman Receives Children’s Champion Award

Scioto County Children Services caseworker, Samantha Tatman, was surprised on

Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at an awards banquet hosted by The Garden Family

Advocacy Center in Chillicothe, Ohio, when she was presented with the Children’s

Champion Award, recognizing her for her unwavering dedication and significant impact

in the lives of children.

When asked about what this award meant to her, Sammy said, “I am deeply honored to

be recognized as a Child Champion. This title is not just an award – it is a commitment

to standing up for the rights, well-being, and future of every child. Together, we must

continue working to ensure that every child feels safe and valued.”

With April being Child Abuse Awareness Month, there has been a lot of emphasis

placed on the challenges that all Public Children Services Agencies face, and Scioto

County is no exception. With over 230 children currently in the agency’s custody,

Supervisor, Geoff Patmore, spoke highly of Sammy’s dedication. “Sammy is very

dedicated and can always be counted on to help the team. She has handled some

really tough cases during her time in the unit. She is always there to lend a helping

hand and support others. She is truly a champion when it comes to caring for the kids.”

Also accompanying Ms. Tatman at the awards banquet was Scioto County Children

Services Director, Tammy Moore Morton. Director Morton expressed her appreciation

of Tatman and the work she does. “Sammy does an excellent job as an Investigations

Caseworker. She has had to step up and learn the job very quickly, because of low

staffing in the unit. Sammy’s heart to serve the children of our county is very evident.

We are grateful to have her!”

The day following the Garden Family Advocacy Center’s awards banquet, Scioto

County Children Services held their own Child Abuse Awareness Event on April 3,

2025, where Ms. Tatman was once again recognized for receiving the Children’s

Champion Award, with community partners in attendance, along with the Assistant

Director of the Ohio Dept. of Children and Youth, Jeff VanDeusen, and the Scioto

County Commissioners.