Ross County Children’s Services is Requesting Levy

A request by South Central Ohio Job and Family Services for more funds to cover increasing costs for children’s services in the spring election has created some disagreement in county government.

Jody Walker, Executive Director of South Central Ohio Job & Family Services, spoke to the Ross County Commissioners on June 24th. He spent about half an hour explaining that the cost of Children’s Services has increased in the last 10 years, with a dramatic increase in costs in the last two or three years – which has plateaued – mostly because of COVID.

Walker requested an additional levy to support Children’s Services costs, which will probably come up in the spring election of 2025.

But, Ross County Auditor Jeff Lehner is pushing back on that, saying the county is flush with money and the commissioners could give Children’s Services the needed funds.

Walker said when they need to relocate children, there are two kinds of placements: residential group homes, and therapeutic foster care. Facilities are few and far between outside of the big cities, with one in Nelsonville the closest – but still tiny.

Walker said Ross County children often must be placed in group homes across the state – usually in Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Cincinnati, and elsewhere – depending on what is available and the needs of the kids.

He said it’s the same for therapeutic foster care – there are local therapeutic foster homes, and also a larger regional network, but there are just not enough foster parents locally.

But what is the disagreement over funding? What are the exact numbers? Learn more in the next story.

I had a long chat with Walker, who gave a fairly detailed explanation of his situation. You can watch the interview video in the article on the Scioto Post.

Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.