Ohio Senator part of effort to make May National Foster Care Month
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WKBN) – The Senate passed a resolution to make May National Foster Care Month.
Ohio Senator Jon Husted co-sponsored the resolution, which passed the Senate on Thursday.
The legislation brings awareness to the challenges facing children in foster care, and encourages Congress to implement policies to improve their lives and support foster parents.
Husted was adopted out of the foster care system.
'Loving foster families offer the stability and guidance when kids may need it most,' he said. 'I've seen how transformational a child's first years of life can be and strengthening the foster care system gives kids a better chance to achieve their version of the American dream. I'm honored to shine a light on foster families and the kids they love.'
The number of Ohio kids in foster care has continued to increase during the opioid epidemic, outpacing the number of foster families in the state.
It has estimated that half of children in foster care have one or both parents struggling with substance abuse, according to a recent study.
The study shows that Ohio's foster care system serves more than 16,000 children, yet there are only 7,000 licensed foster families.
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