22-04-2025
Area counties team up for specialized foster program
Apr. 21—LIMA — Child welfare agencies from Allen, Auglaize and Hardin counties are launching a multi-agency, tri-county Treatment Foster Care program.
Allen County Children Services Executive Director Sarah Newland spoke at the Lima Rotary Club on Monday, explaining what the program means and what the public can expect moving forward.
The program will create specialized, highly trained foster homes to treat children with behavioral and mental health needs in the homes to produce better outcomes for the children while keeping them in their communities.
In the past, children from Allen County have been placed outside of the county to meet their needs.
"With the rising number of kids that have special needs, higher needs and a decline in placement statewide, we are trying to find options for our youth that can meet their needs locally," Newland said. "We want kids back in our community."
Allen County Children Services took in 762 reports in 2024, 72 percent of which were due to neglect or physical abuse. It also handled cases involving 414 positive drug screens.
Children in group homes from Allen County are as far away as Cincinnati, Dayton and the northeastern part of the state.
"It's not the best for kids," Newland said. "(We want to be able to) keep them in the school district, be around their family, so, that is our goal."
The plan to develop Treatment Foster Care is moving forward, including recruiting and supporting treatment foster homes willing to take on eligible children for the program with individual support, training, on-call 24/7 caseworker support and counseling for crisis response, according to information from Children Services.
Anyone interested in fostering can call the Allen County Children Services at 419-227-8590.
"We are always looking for foster care placements," Newland said.
Allen County Children Services is located at 123 W. Spring St., Lima.
Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351
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