On January 22, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown sent Governor DeWine a letter requesting increased kinship caregiver funding in the wake of D.O. v. Glisson saying approved kinship caregivers should receive the same payments as licensed foster parents.
“Kinship caregivers across our state have taken the brave step of opening up their homes and their hearts to raise vulnerable children who could otherwise transition into homelessness, costly foster care placements, or the juvenile justice system,” Sen. Brown wrote.
He added that
“Federal, state, and local policies fail to recognize these challenges, which may prevent grandparents from accessing the housing, health, education, and legal services they need. Any strategy to address this crisis and support kinship caregivers must maximize every available resource.”
The Senator also encouraged the state to implement the Guardianship Assistance Payment program for kinship caregivers. That program would expand placement options for children including those in foster care.
