South Dayton News

State Representatives Andrea White (R-Kettering) and Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) have introduced a bill aimed at ensuring children in foster group homes receive safe, stable, and supportive care. The legislation seeks to address issues related to the quality of care and supervision for children, particularly in Montgomery County, which houses 80 of Ohio's approximately 200 group homes.

The concentration of group homes in Montgomery County has led to challenges for local service providers, including courts, schools, medical professionals, and law enforcement. These challenges are exacerbated by difficulties in reaching out-of-county case workers responsible for guardianship and permissions for the children. As a result, there have been significant delays in providing necessary care and interventions. Notably, calls to children's group homes in Dayton have increased by 87% since 2019.

"Our number one concern is for our children who are in need of a temporary loving, safe environment," said Representative White. "Ohio is taking steps to secure more family homes where foster children can be placed. In the meantime, we have children who are being placed many miles away from their parents or caregivers due to a shortage of places in their home communities."

Representative Plummer added: "Juvenile group homes have become a new option to provide substitute living arrangements for the growing number of youth who need out-of-home care. Montgomery County has seen a substantial increase in group homes in our community, creating its own set of challenges for our youth-serving organizations and community service providers."

Specific components of the bill include:

- Raising minimum training requirements for staff and providers.

- Creating time standards for juvenile group home providers and custodial children's services agencies to respond promptly.

- Requiring hospitals to notify relevant departments when a foster child visits an emergency department or is admitted.

- Mandating law enforcement to notify custodial children's services agencies during interactions with foster children.

- Establishing guidelines for housing juveniles charged with violent offenses separately from other foster children.

- Ensuring group home providers meet local zoning requirements before licensure applications.

- Providing DCY and ODMHAS with authority to suspend licenses immediately under urgent situations.

- Allowing townships to revoke conditional use permits if zoning standards are not met.

- Requiring DCY to maintain a clear complaint process regarding specific group homes.

- Exploring incentives for establishing more group homes where needed.

HB 583's initial version includes intent language focused on increasing requirements, compliance, and accountability for children's group homes. A detailed substitute version is currently being drafted and will be introduced at the first hearing before the House Families and Aging Committee.