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The time is now to help foster children

Ohio’s most vulnerable children are in need of a larger support network, as the number of families willing to be part of the foster care program is shrinking. Further, the number of families who have training in dealing with children with behavioral challenges is even smaller. This despite approximately one-quarter of children having come into children’s services custody not because of abuse or neglect, but because of behavioral health, intellectual disabilities or juvenile justice involvement. “That surprises a lot of people,” Scott Britton, assistant director of the Public ...

Behavioral health can make a difference

While not every student looks forward to the start of another academic year, for some students the return to school means a return to better access to everything from food to behavioral health care. Regarding the latter, Ohio public schools are improving, as a report by the Statehouse News Bureau’s Ohio Newsroom says there has been a 20% increase in the number of schools offering behavioral health services over the past year. That is good news, as a 2022 survey showed approximately one-third of Buckeye State students say they have challenges with anxiety, and more than 100,000 high ...

Get kids caught up on vaccinations

It’s the start of a new school year; let the spreading of germs begin! If you are a parent or guardian who is not exactly enthusiastic about that prospect, it’s important to make sure your child is up to date on routine vaccines — and to consider a few others. According to a report by USA Today, children across the country are still getting caught up after a gap in wellness visits to pediatricians during the COVID-19 pandemic. That can mean a gap in protection against hepatitis B, rotavirus, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, haemophilus influenza type b, pneumococcal disease, ...

Congress should keep their eye on FAFSA

Remember the struggle last academic year as students and their families tried to figure out the new “simplified” Free Application for Federal Student Aid? Well, the U.S. Department of Education is at it again, this time announcing a phased rollout for the 2025-26 form. That means it will be available to some students on Oct. 1, but not to everyone until Dec. 1. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, this is an attempt to fix any issues that crop up while the first batch of students is working on the form. But, it means many other students will be two months behind the ...

Ohio cannabis companies thrilled with recent sales

Companies that have put down roots in Ohio to take advantage of the legalization of adult-use recreational marijuana are thrilled with the results. According to a report by The Canton Repository, in just the first four days, sales reached more than $11.5 million. That kind of demand also meant prices rose quickly. “Ohioans were clearly ready and excited for the historic end of cannabis prohibition in the Buckeye State: Since the start of adult-use sales, foot traffic and transactions have already increased two to three times across all five Zen Leaf dispensaries statewide in ...

Volunteer firefighters are needed

For many Ohioans, particularly those living in rural communities, a call to 911 for a structure fire or wildfire is answered by the men and women of a volunteer fire department. They stretch to their limits to protect those living outside the service area of larger, professional departments. They make up nearly 70% of the departments in the state. Those limits are being stretched thinner by the day, as shortages across the state make it harder for volunteer departments to do their jobs. But last week, Gov. Mike DeWine announced a new awareness campaign to address that shortage and ...