Across Ohio, parents and advocates are raising concerns about the practices of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). With countless stories of families torn apart, it often feels like DCFS has overstepped its boundaries, harming more families than it helps. While the intent of child protective services is to ensure child safety, for many families, it feels more like an intrusion into their lives. To create real solutions, it’s crucial to understand the scope of this issue and explore more effective ways to support families, especially single parents, and prevent the unnecessary removal of children.

 

The Scope of the Issue: Child Removals in Ohio and Nationwide

 

Ohio’s child welfare system has one of the highest rates of child removals in the nation. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), around 11,000 children are removed from their homes in Ohio each year. Nationally, more than 400,000 children are in foster care, with over 250,000 entering the system annually. Approximately 60% of these cases cite neglect as the primary reason—a category that often includes issues related to poverty rather than willful harm or abuse.

 

For single parents with limited family support, the stakes are even higher. Without a partner or extended family to help manage crises, single parents facing housing instability, financial hardship, or temporary health issues may find themselves targeted by DCFS. Once children are removed, the path to reunification can be long and emotionally taxing, often exacerbated by inadequate legal representation or case plans that fail to address the family’s actual needs.

 

Financial Incentives and the Profit Motive

 

One aspect of the system that has drawn significant criticism is the financial incentives tied to child removals. Under the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) and other federal funding structures, states receive financial bonuses based on the number of adoptions they finalize from foster care. While the original intention was to expedite permanent placements for children, some argue that these incentives unintentionally encourage the removal of children—especially from low-income families who may be struggling but not abusive.

 

This funding structure has led to allegations that DCFS is more focused on removing children to secure funding rather than preserving families. In Ohio, this is particularly troubling, as many families targeted for intervention are dealing with poverty-related issues rather than intentional neglect. If financial incentives are linked to keeping children in foster care or expediting adoptions, this may create a systemic bias against family reunification. A comprehensive assessment of funding practices is needed to ensure that the child welfare system genuinely serves the best interests of children and families.

 

Reforming Funding to Support Families

 

To counteract any profit-driven motives, reforming the funding structure of child welfare programs is essential. Here are some ways Ohio could work to create a fairer, more supportive system:

 

 1. Redirect Funds to Family Preservation Programs: Funding should prioritize family preservation by allocating resources to support services that help parents address their needs without separation. This includes housing assistance, mental health resources, substance abuse treatment, and parenting support. By focusing on resources that keep families intact, Ohio can reduce the number of removals and better address the root causes of family instability.

 2. Incentivize Reunification and Preventative Measures: Instead of bonuses for adoptions, funding incentives should be tied to successful family reunifications and preventative interventions that keep children safely in their homes. Financial rewards for keeping families together would encourage caseworkers to provide support rather than viewing removal as the only option.

 3. Increase Transparency and Accountability in Funding Use: Implementing greater oversight to track how funding is used within DCFS would ensure that money is allocated to support children and families fairly. Publicly available data and regular audits could provide transparency and reveal any misaligned incentives or patterns of unnecessary removals.

 4. Allocate Resources for Community-Based Support: Reinvesting in community-based organizations that work closely with at-risk families can create a more supportive environment for struggling parents. These organizations, often embedded within the community, can offer resources without the fear of child removal, helping families stabilize before a crisis escalates.

 

Supporting Single Parents to Prevent Removals

 

One of the most significant steps Ohio can take to reform DCFS is to prioritize family preservation by offering targeted support to single parents, particularly those without extended family networks. Here are several ways Ohio’s child welfare system could help keep children safe while preventing unnecessary separations:

 

 1. Accessible Parenting Resources and Support Groups: Programs that provide single parents with essential resources—like parenting classes, counseling, and emotional support—can make a difference. Community-based support groups for single parents offer a valuable network of people who understand the challenges of raising children alone and can provide both practical advice and emotional support.

 2. Affordable Housing Assistance: For single parents facing housing instability, assistance with securing affordable housing or emergency shelter could help prevent removals. By collaborating with housing agencies, DCFS can ensure that parents have stable, safe homes without resorting to child removal as a solution to poverty-related issues.

 3. In-Home Assistance and Parenting Coaches: Providing in-home support to single parents in need can make a significant difference. Parenting coaches, childcare aides, and other resources can help parents manage household responsibilities, especially during times of crisis.

 4. Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Resources: Single parents often face high levels of stress and may struggle with mental health challenges. Expanding telehealth services and offering low-cost options can help parents access these services on their own schedule.

 5. Emergency Financial Support Programs: Short-term financial support and budgeting assistance could help struggling families avoid situations that may trigger a DCFS investigation, giving parents the chance to regain stability.

 

The Path Forward: Building a Child Welfare System That Supports, Not Separates

 

Ohio’s child welfare system has a critical role in protecting children from harm, but to truly help families, the system must shift its focus. Instead of punitive actions, DCFS should work to empower parents, provide community resources, and address underlying issues like poverty and housing insecurity. With funding reforms and a family-centered approach, Ohio can build a system that respects the rights of parents, protects children, and promotes family unity.