An evidenced-based social work model to help parents struggling with substance use stay connected to their children is offering hope to Ohio counties ravaged by the opioid epidemic.
A new survey of parents in predominantly Appalachian Ohio counties finds most had positive experiences with Ohio Sobriety Treatment and Reducing Trauma or "START."
Erin Mills, Ohio START family peer mentor for Summit County Children's Services, said the program uses a trauma-informed approach to help parents forge healthy relationships with their children, while voluntarily agreeing to enter a recovery program.
"It's an amazing tool within the community as we are facing this opioid epidemic," Mills asserted. "We have tons of children who are being displaced due to addiction issues."
According to the survey, many parents gave credit to Ohio START for helping them keep custody of or reunite with their children, and say their experiences led to a more positive perception of child protective services. According to 2022 state data, more than 5,000 residents died from drug overdoses and the majority of the deaths involved opioids.
Jen McClellan, Ohio START regional manager for the Public Children Services Association of Ohio, explained substance abuse in the home increases the odds of child abuse and neglect but pointed to research which shows removing children from their home and placing them in foster care can cause mental distress and in some cases, lead to worse outcomes.
She believes the program's success is driven by its use of peer mentors and wraparound services aimed at keeping parents and kids together safely.
"We use more intense practices, the family peer mentor is paired with a caseworker who serves the families together," McClellan explained. "And they see their families much more frequently than in a traditional Children's Services case."
Jessica Okolish, Ohio START family peer mentor for Summit County Children's Services, said the intensity and speed of recovery services to participating families can help set in motion positive changes, noting without the START network, parents could wait months for a bed in a recovery program.
"Another big thing is recovery coaches having a seat at the table to show the positive impact of peer support and that it works. I think Summit County has proven that." Okolish reported.
Most survey participants said the shared lived experience between family peer mentors and parents helped established trust and made a difference overcoming resistance in working with child protective services.
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November is National Adoption Month and In Pennsylvania, more than 3,000 children in foster care are waiting for new families through adoption.
Abigail Wilson, director of child welfare, juvenile justice and education services at the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services, said nationwide, more than 108,000 children are in foster care awaiting adoption.
Wilson suggested now is a great time to learn more about the joys and the challenges of adoptive families, adding the data provide insights into the racial composition of the children who need permanent families.
"Median age was around seven years old, and the racial breakdown was 43% white children, 23% Hispanic, 21% Black, 9% two or more races," Wilson reported. "High majority of the white, Hispanic and Black children."
Wilson noted Pennsylvania uses the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network, which is part of the Department of Human Services. It focuses on matching children to families and resources.
Rachel Kuhr, chief program officer for Jewish Family Services of Harrisburg, said in the last 20 years, Pennsylvania has significantly increased its services for families seeking permanency for children. She pointed out funding has allowed the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network to provide resources to adoptive families.
"It allows any family who has adopted a child and lives in Pennsylvania, and the child is under 18, to access supportive services," Kuhr outlined. "The state funds three services: case advocacy, which begins with assessment and then respite funding and support group."
She emphasized support groups are the top request from adoptive families and families are informed about the services before finalizing adoptions so they can seek help when needed.
Kim Kupfer, post-permanency coordinator for Jewish Family Services, said they have seen an increase in mental health issues affecting kids and families since the pandemic. She described how post-permanency services have helped a family of three, including two biological brothers with "HADS," a condition linked to developmental delay and autism.
"We offered a support group virtually about mental health topics," Kupfer recounted. "She did do that one, because it was virtual. It's a single Mennonite mom. Her name is Samantha. She's needed so much help with both the boys, navigating three systems. One of them is the school system, because she did not want to send her oldest to public school."
She stressed the mother was able to see the benefits of the local public school for her son with special needs, and he has been thriving there for almost three years.
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According to some experts, a significant undercount in Florida's 2020 census may have lasting consequences for the state, jeopardizing vital funding and representation for communities in need.
The census affects funding allocations for key Medicaid and early education programs.
Dominic Calabro, president and CEO of Florida Tax Watch, said the 750,000 uncounted residents have left the state "shortchanged," costing Florida billions in federal resources and potentially reducing its influence in national elections.
"When it comes to caring for children, this is, conservatively, I mean absolute, the lowest number is 10 billion, but it's more like 20, 21 billion plus over 10 years," Calabro outlined. "That's a lot of dough. That's money that's going to other states and communities where people Americans no longer live."
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, undercounts are a common challenge for states with transient populations. The Bureau has acknowledged historical undercounts, their effects and how they are "diligently working to address this issue" to improve census accuracy. Florida's shortfall also affects political representation.
Calabro believes the undercount may have cost Florida one or two congressional seats, reducing the state's voice in federal policymaking.
Local governments and organizations relying on the funding may face service challenges. Looking ahead to the 2030 census, Florida officials and advocacy organizations, including Florida TaxWatch, are exploring ways to reach more people.
Calabro stressed the plan is to get everyone to work together.
"Then focus on the harder to reach folks like children and those, particularly those under the age of six, and those that are both minorities and those are transient and moving about and migrants," Calabro explained.
In 2022, the Census Bureau formed the Undercount of Young Children Working Group, which is focused on identifying underlying causes of the undercount of young children and improving data on this population. The working group is researching ways to enhance the count of young children in the 2030 census.
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Utah child care providers, parents and children's advocates say the state's child care crisis is getting worse and they hope voters will take the issue to the polls.
Brigette Weier, program director for the advocacy group Utah Care for Kids, said this year's electoral races up and down the ballot will determine how the state cultivates a stronger child care system, or not.
"We want it to be a primary driver, because we really believe that everyone is touched by child care in some part of their daily lives, some aspect," Weier explained. "Whether that is yourself as a parent, as a business owner who relies on parents for part of their workforce."
Weier hopes Utahns will understand child care is not a partisan issue. Last week and over the weekend, parents, child care providers and their advocates gathered in Salt Lake City and Logan to demand better wages for child care providers and more affordable licensed child care options for families. They also want candidates to back an "inclusive expanded Child Tax Credit."
A recent Bankrate study lists Utah among the states with higher concentrations of "child care deserts," meaning not enough affordable care for families who need it. It can cost between nine and 11% of a family's income for child care, according to the study.
So, while the big federal races are important in the election, Weier stressed local, "down ballot" races have the most effects in communities, including addressing child care discrepancies.
"Think about the people that you know and what they need," Weier suggested. "That would be my one nugget is, make it personal. It is about you, and it is about those people that you pass on the street on your morning walk every day. What do you want for them?"
Despite decreases in recent years, Utah still holds one of the top spots in the nation for its high fertility rate. Some attribute state lawmakers' reluctance to subsidize child care to the Legislature being made up mostly of older men who have not had to deal with the current economic hardships young parents are facing.
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