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DJFS awarded $170,000 for START program

T-L Photo/ CARRI GRAHAM The Harrison County Courthouse in Cadiz is preparing for the Christmas season with its annual decorations. The staff will soon add red and green lights to the decor.

By CARRI GRAHAM

Times Leader Staff Writer

CADIZ — The Harrison County Department of Job and Family Services has been awarded $170,000 to aid families with substance abuse issues.

The agency was selected to participate in the Ohio START program — Sobriety, Treatment and Reducing Trauma — in September. Gov. Mike DeWine launched the program in 2017, while he served as attorney general. The program’s mission is to help entire families who are impacted by child mistreatment and parental substance abuse disorders. START has now expanded to 14 counties. According to the program’s website, the program was created to tackle the rising number of children in need of foster care.

Deb Knight, assistant director of Harrison County DJFS, met with the board of commissioners at Monday’s rescheduled meeting. Commissioners Paul Coffland and Don Bethel signed a memorandum of understanding agreement regarding the awarded funds. Commissioner Dale Norris was absent from the meeting, and commission sessions usually are held at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays.

The memorandum is between the Public Children Services Association of Ohio, a nonprofit corporation, and the HCDJFS. The association is an advocacy group that supports child protection program excellence and sound public policy for safe children, stable families and supportive communities in Ohio, according to the memorandum.

Knight said the signing of the agreement releases the awarded funds so that the department can begin to be reimbursed through the program. This is the first year Harrison County has received funding from the SMART program.

“We are really struggling with our families with substance abuse issues. Hopefully we can help keep kids at home with families, as long as they are safe. The data (from the program) makes us feel hopeful to get families into recovery,” Knight said.

Studies have shown that families involved in the program have double the sobriety of those not involved, she said. It also has helped improve outcomes for both parents and children affected by child maltreatment and parental substance use disorders, the program states.

Knight said the funding will help the department pay for case workers’ salaries, training costs, a family peer mentor and also help families in emergency situations.

“It’s really difficult. This gives us the tools to make a difference, and we’re hoping this will make a difference,” she said.

The HCDJFS has 25 children in its care, Knight said. Of those, 14 are in custody at least partially due to substance use, she said.

“We’re excited to expand our services to our families that are experiencing substance use issues,” she said.

Since the program began, the initiative has served 900 Ohio residents and 500 children in 46 counties.

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