Scioto County is in the grip of a CPS drug crisis, but the county shouldn’t count on the state bailing us out. “Based on what I’m seeing from the state, I don’t think they’re sending any more money our way.” County Commissioner Bryan Davis told the Scioto County Children Services Board not to expect an infusion of cash from the State of Ohio.
The board held its first meeting since it was revealed that a third child in three years had died while under the supervision of the agency. “We’re not being promised that. You gotta get smarter. I think we got the people to do it. We’ve got to make our dollars stretch further and become more efficient. We gotta get more creative.” Davis said the county had a crisis on its hands with nearly 400 kids in CPS care.”
CPS Needs To Take More Kids Into Care
Juvenile Court Judge Alan Lemons said that the Juvenile Court had even considered holding night court and Saturday court in an effort to take action on more cases involving the safety of children. “We try to work faster and harder and more efficiently. It’s not that bad right now, but it’s getting close.” However, the judge said not taking more children into the system was not an option. He had this message for CPS. “If I was going to tell you what you need to do, I’d say you need to consider taking more kids than you’re taking now. Cause they need you. It’s terrible what’s going on out there.”
Judge Lemon said he knew of a single kindergarten class where 8 kids had lost a parent to drug overdoses. “We can’t let that keep going. We have to do something.”
The State of Ohio Won’t Help
Board members asked what they could do to get more funding from the state. “We don’t have adequate funding. What can we do?”
County Commissioner Scottie Powell said, “You didn’t pay your bill, $580,000. So, clearly, there’s not enough funding coming in. I’ve had plenty of conversations with people at the state level. They’re happy to provide technical support. They do not bail out counties. That’s not something they’ve done.”
CPS Director Jason Mantell said, “It was made very clear that bailout money for counties does not exist.”
Levy is a Possibility
The board said it would attempt to apply for more grants and put a levy to support the agency on the ballot in 2023.
However, Powell said there really isn’t that much grant money out there now. He wanted a definite date as to when the agency would be out of money. “Because once that happens, it is the responsibility of the county commissioners to pay that bill. There have been other counties hit with million-dollar bills. We have to figure out something soon. You’ll probably run out of money this year, just looking at how quickly you burned through your reserves in 2021.”
Powell said they may want to consider putting a levy on the ballot sooner. “It’s a decision this board is going to have to make. Figure out how to be more efficient within the agency or how to generate funds. That’s really the only options.”
Powell said that officials from other counties said Scioto County should consider having 400 kids in care a badge of honor since agencies in other counties aren’t protecting children as well as we are. “Even in spite of not being able to really pay for it.”
State Throws Money at Addicts
He also pledged that the commissioners would do their best to help find a financial solution. He asked for citizens to be patient and realize that our caseworkers are carrying a triple caseload amount compared to other counties. “They’re following the regulations but we’re dealing with an epidemic. Until something changes at the state level, our hands are tied. We need to be lobbying our legislators.”
Powell addressed complaints that there are 54 rehab centers in Portsmouth, yet no money available for a residential children’s home. “That’s a state funding issue.” He pointed out that Medicaid reimburses for rehab costs and isn’t at all connected to funding for CPS. “That’s an issue in Columbus where they’re throwing money at the opioid epidemic to the people who are addicted but not to the people who are affected.”
Commissioner Powell held out some hope that Scioto County might see a windfall from its lawsuit against opioid manufacturers.
