Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Parents Ask For Help Retaining Custody While Getting Treatment For Kids

Ohio Public Radio

Parents who have surrendered custody of their children to youth services are telling Ohio Senators about their heart-wrenching decisions. Because of limited resources and lack of insurance coverage, these families can no longer afford treatment for a range of mental health and developmental issues. A provision in the two-year state budget proposal could prevent custody relinquishment.  Ohio Public Radio's Andy Chow explains.

Mothers and fathers stood before the Senate Finance Committee to share what they called stories of pain, humiliation, and sorrow.

 

Mark Butler has been outspoken about relinquishing custody of his son, who would have violent outbursts and needed a variety of treatment.

 

He’s calling on the Senate to increase funds supporting who are known as multi-system youth.

 

“Help figure out why this is still happening and fight for us wherever you can. Do not let another family, another family who’s already struggling, suffer the way my family did.”

 

A budget amendment would pump $18 million into this fund.

 

The coalition of parents are also calling on more research to find out how many families resort to relinquishing custody.

 

The Statehouse News Bureau was founded in 1980 to provide educational, comprehensive coverage of legislation, elections, issues and other activities surrounding the Statehouse to Ohio's public radio and television stations. To this day, the Bureau remains the only broadcast outlet dedicated to in-depth coverage of state government news and topics of statewide interest. The Bureau is funded througheTech Ohio, and is managed by ideastream. The reporters at the Bureau follow the concerns of the citizens and voters of Ohio, as well as the actions of the Governor, the Ohio General Assembly, the Ohio Supreme Court, and other elected officials. We strive to cover statehouse news, government issues, Ohio politics, and concerns of business, culture and the arts with balance and fairness, and work to present diverse voices and points of view from the Statehouse and throughout Ohio. The three award-winning journalists at the bureau have more than 60 combined years of radio and television experience. They can be heard on National Public Radio and are regular contributors to Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Marketplace. Every weekday, the Statehouse News Bureau produces in-depth news reports forOhio's public radio stations. Those stories are also available on this website, either on the front page or in our archives. Weekly, the Statehouse News Bureau produces a television show from our studios in the Statehouse. The State of Ohio is an unique blend of news, interviews, talk and analysis, and is broadcast on Ohio's public television stations. The Statehouse News Bureau also produces special programming throughout the year, including the Governor's annual State of the State address to the Ohio General Assembly and a five-part year-end review.
Related Content