Governor DeWine Announces Ohio’s Participation in ‘A Home for Every Child’ Initiative

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(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams today announced Ohio will join ACF’s ‘A Home for Every Child’ initiative to improve outcomes for children in foster care.

“Every child deserves the safety, stability, and love of a permanent home,” said Governor DeWine. “By joining the Trump Administration’s ‘A Home for Every Child’ initiative, Ohio is strengthening our commitment to ensure that kids are not waiting on families, but that families are ready and waiting for them.”

According to ACF, for every 100 children entering foster care, only 57 licensed foster homes are available nationwide. ACF’s ‘A Home for Every Child’ initiative aims to create a better ratio of foster homes to the number of children in the foster care system. The initiative focuses on improving the foster care system for both children and caregivers by creating a faster, more efficient pathway to permanency while also ensuring there is a safe foster home for every child.  

“ACF is thrilled the Buckeye State is joining A Home for Every Child,” said Assistant Secretary Adams. “Children deserve to grow up in loving, stable homes, and through Governor DeWine’s leadership, Ohio will continue to see major advancements in its child welfare system. As a native of Defiance, I am grateful to be able to work together with the state to further enhance effective prevention efforts, kinship care, and diligent foster parent recruitment and retention.”  

Through this initiative, Ohio will work with state and local partners to recruit and support foster and adoptive families involved in the child welfare system, reduce the time a child is spent in foster care, and prioritize stability for youth across the state. 

“Ohio has fewer children in foster care now than when Governor DeWine took office in 2019. That’s a direct result of the initiatives he’s driven and supported to better meet the needs of our children and families,” explained DCY Director Kara Wente. “A Home for Every Child is another important step in protecting and caring for Ohio’s children and prioritizing the well-being of families. We will work to not only increase the number of foster homes, but we will also work to reduce the number of children entering foster care in a safe, responsible way.”  

Ohio’s participation in the initiative means finding new ways to eliminate barriers for children, enhance transparency and accountability, and work toward achieving ACF’s goal of a foster home-to-child ratio closer to 1:1. 

For more information about ‘A Home for Every Child,’ visit A Home for Every Child | The Administration for Children and Families.