The Public Children Services Association of Ohio says the opioid crisis is overwhelming the foster care system as more children are removed from the homes of addicted parents.
More than 15,500 children are now in foster care, up from 12,600 four years ago. Agency director Angela Sausser says Ohio is on track to place more than 20,000 children in foster care by 2020.
Sausser says more state funding is needed to address the crisis despite increases lawmakers provided this year.
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The state's share of children service costs is 10 percent. The National Center For Health Statistics this week ranked Ohio second in the nation for the number of opioid overdose deaths.