County recognizes foster care

TIFFIN — The Seneca County board of commissioners declared May as Foster Care Month. The board heard from Seneca County Job and Family Services (JFS) Assistant Director Steven Kaifas and Crystal Smith, head of the Foster Care and Adoption Unit. According to Kaifas, from 2014 to 2024, the number of kids in foster care in Ohio reduced from 16,000 to 14,000. However, there are only about 7,000 foster homes in the state. Of those 14,000 children, 3,300 are eligible for adoption, with about 1,000 of those children being teenagers. Smith shared that JFS has 38 children in its custody and 20 children that are currently in kinship care. Kinship care is when a family member, family friend or other person close with a child and their family provides care for a child who cannot be cared for by their parents. "We have a kinship navigator who is currently averaging about 5-10 kinship home studies monthly," Smith said. "We have 9 pending foster care and adoption home studies that are being completed. That is a huge number right now. We are going to be increasing our foster homes by 9 families." She said the department expects to average about six homes by the end of mid-summer with the goal of having 20 homes. Additionally, there are 9 adoptions pending. 3 children are eligible to be emancipated from foster care. Two of those children have decided to stay in care to continue working on their independent living skills. "One of our youth this year, which is really exciting, is going to be emancipated from foster care," Smith shared. "When she leaves here, she's going to have a portion of her STNA license already. When she leaves, she's going to be ready to emancipate into the work force." Seneca County Commissioner Brent Busdeker read a proclamation for Foster Care Month. "Throughout 2024, there were 67 children and foster care," he read. "Parents, caseworkers and foster families working together made it possible for over 20 children to be reunified with their families. These remarkable foster families provide lifelong love and support for children to increase positive outcomes for them and ensure that their voices are heard." In other news Members of the Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP) also attended the meeting. CEO and President Ruth Ann House began her annual report by explaining what the organization does. "May is Community Action Month and we typically go visit each of our sets of county commissioners in our core community action counties," House said. "Those are Wood, Sandusky, Ottawa and Seneca." 2025 is the organization's 60th year of operation, providing residents with energy and utility assistance, housing, school readiness programs for children, workforce development, housing repairs and preservation among other types of assistance. In 2024, GLCAP provided the following in Seneca County: 2,090 households received energy or water utility assistance, or were connected to affordable payment plans to better manage home utility costs 182 children enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start center-based and home-based programs 103 families provided with stable housing via homeless assistance programs, including veteran-specific assistance 49 utility customers provided with home energy education and efficiency improvements through the Electric Partnership program 23 homes made safer, warm and more energy-efficient through added insultation and other weatherization services 14 water/wastewater projects conducted in 6 communities, as well as 11 well assessments completed and 27 local offices trained in technical, financial and managerial needs for water/wastewater projects 13 individuals enrolled in workforce development and Financial Opportunity Center programs to improve job skills, gain employment and build income 12 homes provided with roof, electrical or other needed repairs through Community Housing Impact and Preservation funding When taking a deeper look at utility assistance provided by GLCAP, the organization has had the following impact on Seneca County residents last year 735 households offered energy credits to help with home heating utility costs 385 households supported with winter utility or fuel supply assistance 201 households helped with summer utility assistance GLCAP also receives funding through the Ohio Housing Trust Fund, which provides resources to prevent homelessness and critical home repairs in the area. It is supported through county recorder fees collected at the state level and allocated to counties. The local impact of the fund includes 12 homeless households connected to safe, stable housing in Seneca County and 63 households in Seneca County were saved from homelessness through rapid rehousing support. For additional information or to receive assistance from GLCAP, visit them online at www.glcap.org or call 1-800-775-9767 The commissioners concluded the meeting by approving the following supplemental appropriations and resolutions. Supplemental appropriations General Fund (0010) Travel & Expenses $479.97 General Fund (0010) Court Professional/Experts $15,000.00 General Fund (0010) Foreign Judges $750.00 Resolution Authorizing fund transfers be made for the LFG Alternate Formula to the EMA fund Accepting the resignation of Marah Estep as full-time paramedic for Seneca County EMS effective May 31, 2025 Reappointing Tony Paulus to the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties Appointing Madison Zimmerman to the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties Authorizing the Seneca Board of Commissioners to enter into an agreement/contract with Lexis Nexis Vitalchek for payment solution services on behalf of the Seneca County Juvenile Probate Court Authorizing the Seneca County Board of Commissioners to enter into an agreement/contract with M&B Asphalt for the 2025 Seneca County countywide township road repaving program on behalf of the Seneca County Engineer Authorizing the Seneca County Board of Commissioners to enter into an agreement/contract with Propio LS, LLC for translation and interpretation services on behalf of the Seneca County Department of Job and Family Services Approving the memorandum of understanding between the Seneca County Juvenile Court and Firelands Counseling and Recovery Services of Seneca County Approving the memorandum of understanding between the Seneca County Juvenile Court and Wellness Counseling Solutions The next commissioners' meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. next Thursday at the Bloomville EMS station, 9428 U.S. 224, Bloomville.