Government officials and researchers say state and federal policy shifts could worsen family instability in Ohio and bring more children into the state’s child protection system.

They point to federal cuts to safety-net programs, new state matching requirements and Ohio’s new Medicaid “anti-fraud” legislation as sources of concern.

Fawn Gadel, who runs the Ohio START program for the Public Children’s Services Association of Ohio, said her agency is focused on providing support funds to parents struggling with substance use so they can keep their children safe while they recover.

“START has recently implemented a new funding stream for stability supports to support the families that are participating in Ohio START,” Gadel said. “It's expenses that are meant to help prevent the removal of kids from their home, or reduce barriers to reunification.”

Research from the Chapin Hall research institute in Chicago shows families with access to economic and concrete supports — including food, housing, childcare and healthcare — are at reduced risk of involvement with the child welfare system. The research also shows removing that access is associated with negative child welfare outcomes.

Krista Thomas, a senior policy fellow at Chapin Hall, said prioritizing families’ economic and concrete needs can help address the root causes of adverse experiences and trauma, helping children grow into thriving adults.

“There's also evidence that receiving SNAP reduces parental stress and improves caregiver well-being, so it's reasonable to think that implementing cuts to these critical resources will have a material impact on child welfare outcomes,” Thomas said.

According to studies from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, adults who had access to SNAP as children had better self-reported health and a lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and obesity.

Source: Public News Service