Ohio child welfare system in crisis, advocates say

Overwhelmed by the surge of children who have parents consumed by drug addiction, Ohio’s system of protecting abused and neglected kids is facing a crisis of its own.

A spike in the number of children in foster care — many with more complex needs — along with inadequate funding and overburdened caseworkers, underscores the need for increased spending and reforms, according to a report released Friday by the Public Children Services Association of Ohio.

“We don’t have enough services to prevent kids from coming into care. Families are struggling to access mental-health services, crisis services, autism services at the local level — especially in their own home so kids don’t have to come into care,” said Angela Sausser, the association’s executive director.

“We have so many kids in care — with so many complex needs — that there’s not enough services and providers to address the needs.”

Read more: https://www.dispatch.com/news/20190329/ohio-child-welfare-system-in-crisis-advocates-say