A child's riding toy sits in front of the Akron home where the meth lab exploded. Photo courtesy of Ohio.com.

In April social workers took three children from a home in Akron, Ohio less than two hours before a methamphetamine lab in the house exploded, according to this article in Ohio.com.

Social workers had been called to investigate child neglect in the home. They found the house filthy and the mother admitted on a second visit she was a drug user. The mother also told them a man lived in a basement.

The social workers, who were also described as caseworkers in the article, along with their supervisor determined the children should be put in foster care. One was placed with a relative and the two with a foster family.

Ninety minutes later the meth lab in the home exploded, burning two individuals in the home. One man was treated and released from the hospital. The mother was arrested this month on related charges.

“‘Sadly this kind of home environment is not atypical of the situations we see,” said Summit County Children Services intake director Sushila Moore.

Cheers to Ohio.com for running an article about the life-saving work social workers do!

To learn more about how social workers keep children out of harm’s way click here to visit the National Association of Social Workers’ “Help Starts Here” Kids & Families Website.