Counties struggle to find funds for child welfare services during heroin epidemic

June 30, 2016

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A statewide heroin epidemic is wreaking havoc on the state's child welfare system.

According to the Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO), 13,579 children are currently in the custody of the state. It’s a 9 percent increase in children services cases since 2012. More disturbing than the number is why that number is so high.

A recent statewide survey shows 50 percent of those 13,579 cases involve parents that are using drugs. Of those 6,790 cases, 60 percent of parents are addicted to opiates including heroin.

Click here to read more about this growing problem for Ohio children and families.

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