The Health Policy Institute of Ohio has released the fourth in a series of scorecards analyzing Ohio’s policy response to the addiction crisis and outlining areas where the state could be more effective.
The report, Ohio Addiction Policy Scorecard: Children, Youth and Families, provides policymakers and other stakeholders with the information needed to take stock of Ohio’s policy response to the crisis by reviewing state-level policy changes enacted in Ohio from 2013-19.
Key findings include:
- Addiction’s toll on families requires a comprehensive response. Parental addiction can harm children in many ways. Ohio has launched multiple programs to address the needs of these children, but more can be done to keep families together, ameliorate childhood trauma and build resilience.
- A hopeful moment for change. Policymakers have prioritized child welfare. Recent state and federal reforms lay the groundwork for improved investments in prevention and substantive changes to the children services system.
- Implementation and evaluation are critical next steps. Policymakers should closely monitor implementation of these changes and evaluate their impact on outcomes such as out-of-home placements, child well-being, addiction treatment access, and equity.