Governor and DCY Header
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*
May 17, 2024
*MEDIA CONTACTS:
*Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957
Nathan Takitch: 614-644-0957
*Governor DeWine Announces $2 Million to Launch Pilot Program Placing More Foster Children in Homes*
"Funding will support transformative program in 34 counties across Ohio"
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) Director Kara B. Wente today announced more than $2 million in funding to expand a model that is helping more Ohio foster children find a loving home.
The Treatment Foster Home Pilot Program will connect foster children facing significant behavioral health challenges with foster families who are equipped to support children with complex needs in their homes. Announced by Governor DeWine in his 2024 State of the State Address [ [link removed] ], the pilot will replicate and expand upon the Northwest Treatment Foster Care Partnership – a collaboration between Sandusky, Seneca, Ottawa, and Wyandot counties’ Public Children Services Agencies (PCSAs).
“By offering one-on-one foster family support and tailored treatment, the Northwest Partnership has been able to secure homes for foster children who might have otherwise been placed in group homes or residential facilities,” said Governor DeWine. “We are excited to expand this innovative concept across Ohio to help place more foster children in homes with caring adults to help create a brighter pathway for these children to reach their God-given potential.”
The pilot program will provide support for families, including 24/7 on-call casework and crisis counseling, along with specialized training so that children with complex behavioral needs can stay in a home environment.
Like the Northwest Treatment Foster Care Partnership, the new pilot program will utilize a regional approach, combining resources from PCSAs in a number of counties to maximize program effectiveness.
“Not only will this program create more opportunities to connect foster children with a nurturing and steady home environment, but with several counties working together and combining resources, we will be able to move faster and improve cost-efficiency while accomplishing this important goal,” Director Wente said.
PCSAs receiving funding through the program are as follows:
* Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, Wood, and Wyandot counties
* Allen, Auglaize, and Hardin counties
* Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, and Williams counties
* Crawford, Erie, and Huron counties
* Ashtabula, Mahoning, and Trumbull counties
* Columbiana, Medina, and Portage counties
* Guernsey, Holmes, and Wayne counties
* Belmont, Jefferson, and Morgan counties
* Athens, Jackson, and Perry counties
* Butler, Clermont, and Montgomery counties
Treatment Foster Home Pilot Program locations across Ohio [ [link removed] ]
The pilot will result in nine new regional partnerships throughout Ohio, bringing this transformative model to 30 new PCSAs. The program will also further support the Northwest Treatment Foster Care Partnership, bringing the total number of counties involved in the program to 34.
“The initial plan was to accept 15 PCSAs into the pilot program. However, interest in the program was so strong across the state, we are happy to announce that we will be doubling our footprint of new counties,” Director Wente added. “By providing this enhanced support for our foster families in these counties, we will be able to better help our most vulnerable children.”
Ohio currently has more than 1,800 foster children who live in group settings because there are not foster families willing or comfortable to take on the significant behavioral challenges and complex needs these foster children present. The Treatment Foster Home Pilot Program aims to significantly reduce that number.
Under the leadership of Governor DeWine, and with the support of the General Assembly, Ohio has made historic investments to improve the state’s foster care system and to ensure state agencies have the resources they need to focus on the best interests of children.
Immediately after being sworn into office, Governor DeWine signed an executive order to elevate foster care needs in Ohio [ [link removed] ].
In November 2019, the Governor created the Children Services Transformation Advisory Council to conduct a comprehensive review of the children services system in Ohio and develop a set of recommendations to improve it. The Advisory Council’s recommendations [ [link removed] ] inspired the creation of a Youth and Family Ombudsmen Office [ [link removed] ] to investigate and help resolve concerns involving children and families impacted by foster care. Their work also led to updates to the Foster Youth and Resource Family Bill of Rights [ [link removed] ], which establishes a clear set of rights youth in foster care and families may expect of the children services system.
Last year, Governor DeWine established [ [link removed] ] the new Ohio Department of Children and Youth [ [link removed] ] as a cabinet-level state agency to further elevate the focus on the efficient and effective delivery of services to Ohio’s 2.5 million children and their families.
The Ohio Department of Children and Youth is focused on helping all children live up to their full potential – and believes that stable, loving temporary care can have a lasting impact. If you are interested in being a foster parent, please visit Foster Care and Adoption in Ohio | Ohio.gov [ [link removed] ].
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*Additional Media Contact:*
Ohio Department of Children and Youth
Jodi Norton, Chief Communications Officer
614-582-0827
[email protected]
*-30-*
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