Often in discussing the challenges to Ohio’s Child Protective Services system, lawmakers and other officials will stress that they believe the best place for children to be is with their families.

That is certainly understandable — and may be the case in many instances.

But time and again we see examples that prove sometimes the best place for a child is as far away from their families as possible.

In Circleville, one child is dead and another is very sick after they ingested fentanyl while inside their family’s apartment.

Nicholas Lee, 25, and Brianna Roush, 26, are each charged with involuntary manslaughter, attempted involuntary manslaughter, possessing and trafficking in fentanyl and two counts of child endangerment.

This is what makes the job of a child protective services worker so challenging. It would be helpful if there was not outside pressure to behave as though removing a child from a home is to be avoided at all costs. In reality, removing the child may be the best thing for them — even if it is an unpopular decision.

We’ve got to give up the idea that the adults in a household deserve the benefit of the doubt, rather than the children deserving the benefit of our vigilance.

And, we must hope for more foster families who are willing and able to give those kids a safe place.

It is not an easy problem to think about, let alone solve. The death of one child in Circleville should give us renewed inspiration to keep trying.