Foster Care

In the wake of federal legislation meant to improve the foster care system, county children’s services agencies are struggling with soaring placement costs.

There are not enough foster families in Ohio to care for all of the kids that need help, especially for kids with complex behavioral and mental health needs. A pilot program spreading across the state could help.

More than half of workers are at risk of mental health problems, and a quarter of kids coming into the system have issues so complex it's hard to place them.

Democratic lawmakers sponsoring the legislation say it's needed to protect Ohio's foster kids.

In Ohio, so-called kinship care providers are compensated at a much lower level and for shorter periods than professional foster parents. Recent legislation to boost kinship pay isn’t enough, advocates say. We look at the jump in kinship care cases and the push to increase compensation.

In Ohio, so-called kinship care providers are compensated at a much lower level and for shorter periods than professional foster parents. Recent legislation to boost kinship pay isn’t enough, advocates say. We look at the jump in kinship care cases and the push to increase compensation.

In Ohio, so-called kinship care providers are compensated at a much lower level and for shorter periods than professional foster parents. Recent legislation to boost kinship pay isn’t enough, advocates say. We look at the jump in kinship care cases and the push to increase compensation.

In Ohio, so-called kinship care providers are compensated at a much lower level and for shorter periods than professional foster parents. Recent legislation to boost kinship pay isn’t enough, advocates say. We look at the jump in kinship care cases and the push to increase compensation.

When the Family First Act takes effect October 1, group foster homes nationwide will no longer be reimbursed.

Advocates for children's services are criticizing Gov. Mike DeWine's proposed two-year state budget, which includes a funding increase in the first year…