LIMA — While the opioid epidemic in Ohio has called attention to the plight of those addicted to opiates, a new program aims to help another group affected by this addiction, with Allen County set to be one of eight pilot counties participating.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office announced the formation of a new family finding and foster family recruitment program funded through a $1 million grant first announced in August to help children impacted by opioid addiction. With more parents succumbing to addiction, leading to unsafe housing conditions for children, at best, or death, at worst, foster care is becoming more prevalent as endeavors continue to find a stable home environment for these children.
“Ohio still has a great need for families to help children in foster care,” Attorney General Mike DeWine said in a statement. “These can be biological family members or those who feel called to serve children in need. I am pleased the grants we announced earlier this year will be used to address this need in counties that have been greatly impacted by this opioid epidemic.”
According to the Attorney General’s Office, it is estimated that half of all children in foster care are in the system due to parental substance abuse. Additionally, there are 3,000 more children in the foster care system now than when the opioid crisis first began seven years ago. The state currently has 7,200 foster families available, but there are over 15,000 children in need of foster care, according to the Attorney General.
The grant will fund a full-time position in each of the eight pilot counties, with that position dedicated to family search and engagement to help place children in the foster system with family members, as well as foster family recruitment.
Along with Allen County, Clark, Cuyahoga, Fairfield, Highland, Montgomery, Summit and Stark counties will be participating in the program.
Allen County Children Services Director Cynthia Scanland was honored that Allen County was chosen for the program, saying that the program’s emphasis on keeping children with family members mirrors her agency’s commitment to that goal.
“Children deserve to be with their families,” she said. “Professionals aren’t the experts. Families are the experts. These are basic philosophies we embrace.”
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