A foster care crisis

SANDUSKY — There's cause for concern over the surging number of children in Erie County's custody, which includes foster care placement: • In November 2024, the local government oversaw 52 children in custody. • Fast-forward one year, and, as of November 2025, coinciding with the latest data available, the number has skyrocketed to 87, a 67% increase. This marks Erie County's biggest year-over-year increase in more than a decade, coinciding with the nationwide opioid epidemic ravaging through Ohio and local communities. Parents with addiction-related issues are among the reasons why they can't care for their children, requiring government intervention to ensure a young person's safety. Furthermore, this 87 count represents the most kids in Erie County custody since 2017 when 98 kids — on average and on any given day — found themselves in this system. Because of this, it has placed a greater strain on locals directly and indirectly impacted by this situation: caseworkers overseeing these cases, foster care parents safeguarding children and all county residents, through their tax dollars, covering these ever-rising expenses. So what can be attributed to this increase? "This growth has been impacted by the increased complexity of cases that are being brought to our attention as well as youth who have complex behavioral and mental health needs that are not able to be maintained within our community," said Ashley Gilbert, Erie County Job and Family Services' deputy director of social programs. She also supervises the children services department. Insights on outside placement There are 18 foster care settings throughout Erie County today. It's a number holding steady these past few years. Because the already-in-place foster care homes can't take in any more kids, local officials must find other housing arrangements, outside of Erie County, to shelter children when caseload counts surpass area housing options. Outside placement not only places a greater strain on a child and family members but also substantially increases Erie County's boarding bill. It's the label for what local taxpayers spend on children in foster care and other residential settings. "This alarming increase has a significant impact on the families and children we serve as well as our local taxpayers," Gilbert said. Because of the rise in custody cases, Erie County's annual boarding bill ballooned from about $2.1 million this past year to $3.1 million currently. "From a fiscal standpoint, the cost has been substantial," said AJ Lill, the executive director for Erie County Job and Family Services. "Due to the increased reliance on high-level placements, boarding costs have risen by approximately $1 million in 2025 even after federal reimbursement," Lill added. "This trajectory is concerning and underscores the urgent need for more appropriate, locally based placement options that better serve our youth." While the financial impact "of this trend is significant, it pales in comparison to the impact on the children and families we serve," Lill said. Removing children from their local communities, which Gilbert labeled as a last-resort option, carries severe emotional ramifications for the affected youth. "They are removed from the familiarity of their friends, family, local school and other extracurriculars that they may be involved with," Gilbert said. Added Lill: "When we don't have enough local foster homes, children are forced to leave their communities, their schools and the people they know, which only adds to their trauma." Lill underscored how his agency remains "incredibly grateful for our current foster families, but we urgently need more community members to step forward. Foster care changes lives, and with the supports we have in place, families are not doing this work alone." Upping the daily allowances In 2024, Erie County commissioners — who oversee funding for children services and cover boarding bill costs — approved a bump to the rate structure certified local foster care families receive when caring for children in government custody. Before this, a pay spike hadn't happened since 2016. Commissioners supported the raise to, ideally, attract more people to fostering, which should keep additional children in local residential settings and lower the overall bill taxpayers foot. Basically, daily per diem rates increased by $5 a day per child: • For each child up to 11, families will obtain $35 a day, up from $30. • For each child 12 and older, families will obtain $43 a day, up from $38. • For each child with special and/or complex needs, no matter the age, families will obtain $50 a day, up from $45. Additionally, foster parents will now receive a $250 clothing voucher for a child who enters agency custody twice a year for a total of $500 annually. And foster parents who are both employed can receive a $200 weekly reimbursement for child care. "The Erie County commissioners' unprecedented investment will not only enable more children to remain in local placements, providing numerous benefits, but it will also enhance our ability to attract and retain additional local foster homes," Lill said. Want to foster? As Lill alluded to, more local foster families would reduce the need for outside placement — which would reduce the boarding bill — thus keeping kids closer to their homes, friends, families, medical offices and other familiar places. Both Lill and Gilbert encourage people to, at the very least, inquire with Erie County Job and Family Services about possible foster care opportunities. "We have such a strong network of current foster parents, but their reach certainly is not large enough to meet the demand that Erie County has: We need your help," Gilbert said. "Our local foster parents meet monthly at a foster care support group, which has had a significant, positive impact on their fostering journey, and they are open to sharing their experiences with anyone who is even considering becoming a foster parent," she added. "Between our foster care specialist and our network of foster parents who have the lived experiences, anyone interested in fostering would feel supported and prepared to make the decision to enter the calling for service." People can contact Erie County's foster care specialist Tracie McVeigh at 419-627-4484 or tracie.mcveigh@jfs.ohio.gov for more information. "While the increase in foster care numbers presents real challenges, it does not change our mission: Our dedicated team at Erie County Job and Family Services works tirelessly each day to ensure the safety, stability and well-being of the children we serve," Lill said. "Our commitment remains unwavering, and we will continue to meet these challenges head-on to ensure every child receives the protection and support they deserve." By the numbers Here's a look at the number of children in Erie County's custody: • 2014: 120* • 2015: 102 • 2016: 99 • 2017: 98 • 2018: 74 • 2019: 77 • 2020: 59 • 2021: 54 • 2022: 56 • 2023: 56 • 2024: 52 • 2025: 87 *Denotes the highest amount in Erie County's history Note: All counts taken in November of that year. These counts represent an average number of children in local government custody on any given day. Source: Erie County Job and Family Services