The Dayton area has more foster group homes than anywhere else in Ohio. And the impact on the Miami Valley is a growing crisis.
The News Center 7 I-Team’s lead investigative reporter, John Bedell, looked into how this is impacting kids in the state’s care and our community. Plus, he investigated the possible solutions being talked about here in the Miami Valley and at the statehouse in Columbus.
The I-Team has gotten new numbers dealing with the state foster care system. In Dayton, the data paints a picture that’s oversaturated.
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According to data obtained by the I-Team from the City of Dayton, of the 220 foster group homes for kids across Ohio, 78 of them (or 35%) are in Montgomery County.
These are homes for children who, for whatever reason, have been removed from their own homes and are currently in the state’s care.
Local officials tell the I-Team, in many cases, the children living in these group homes in the Dayton area aren’t from Montgomery County because there’s a lack of facilities statewide.