COLUMBUS, OH -- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) Director Kara B. Wente on May 17th, 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, 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