COLUMBUS — Belmont County Department of Job and Family Services Director Jeff Felton weighed in as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced plans to launch the Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence program to benefit children.

Known as OhioRISE, the initiative aims to provide resources for families with children who are struggling with special needs. These could include developmental disabilities, mental illness, substance abuse or a combination of conditions. DeWine pointed out one case in which a father had to give up custody of his child to receive the help needed.

“Far too many families in Ohio struggle to stay together, and in many cases that’s not because of abuse or neglect … because their children have very complex needs,” DeWine said, adding that many Ohio families are overwhelmed and often deal with multiple state agencies. “As a result, their children do not really get the care that they need. Too often, families are having to choose between keeping their family together or ensuring their child receives the critical treatment that they need.”

DeWine said the executive budget passed two years ago included new funding for “multi-system youth,” and the General Assembly has agreed to the plan and added additional funds.

“Thanks to those resources, our administration has funded and helped coordinate the care of more than 450 young people who have incredibly complex needs,” DeWine said.

This has resulted in more home-based services and residential treatment tailored for their situations.

DeWine said his office estimates there may be as many as 60,000 Ohio children in need of intensive services and care coordination.

During his broadcast on the Ohio Channel, DeWine said OhioRISE will be part of the Department of Medicaid’s managed care overhaul, building on other successful programs and featuring new community-based services.

“It offers a different way to take care of the children who many times we are failing today,” DeWine said.

To enroll in OhioRISE, children must be Medicaid-eligible and have significant behavioral health needs that require enhanced services.

“Over the next 10 months, Aetna Better Health of Ohio, who has been selected as the vendor, will work with the Department of Medicaid and the Family and Children First Cabinet Council to bring OhioRISE to life,” DeWine said.

Felton thanked the governor and the General Assembly for their support of public children’s services agencies.

“It was much-needed and very much appreciated,” he said. “When we receive custody of these children, we are responsible for meeting really all the needs of that child.”

Felton said the DJFS addresses social, emotional and behavioral health needs.

“Children coming into our care for whatever the reason, generally through no fault of the parents in the cases that we’re talking about today, have more and more complex needs, the trauma that they’ve experienced. Finding the resources to meet those significant and complex behavioral health needs is really a challenge for the child welfare agency,” Felton said. “I’ve told my community many times, we are experts in child abuse and neglect, but when it comes to these complex behavioral health needs, we really don’t have that expertise. But nonetheless, it is our responsibility to see that those needs are met.”

Felton said his department is also charged with taking phone calls from psychiatric hospitals to determine if it safe for a child to come home, and to explore other options if it is not.

“We’re not alone in Belmont County in seeing increased complexity in the number of children with these needs for the same limited resources,” Felton said, adding these families are also often engaged with local juvenile courts.

“The point of OhioRISE is so that these matters don’t end up with you,” DeWine said.

More information can be found at managedcare.medicaid.ohio.gov.