A total of 19 counties are now participating in the Ohio START (Sobriety, Treatment, and Reducing Trauma) pilot program created to serve families harmed by parental opioid abuse in southern Ohio.
Attorney General Mike DeWine announced the creation of Ohio START in March. The program will provide specialized victim services to children who have been abused or neglected due to parental drug use.
?Children are often the silent victims of this epidemic, and they deserve the best possible support and care,? DeWine said.
Ohio START will also provide drug treatment for parents of children referred to the program.
Counties participating in Ohio START have access to the Victim of Crime Act grants to the program. The Public Children Services Association of Ohio, which is administering the grants on behalf of each county, will now receive a total of $4,829,000 to launch the southern Ohio pilot program across all 19 counties.
Other counties participating in the program are: Adams, Athens, Brown, Clermont, Clinton, Fairfield, Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Hocking, Meigs, Ross, Scioto, and Vinton.
If shown to be successful, Ohio START could expand to more counties in other regions of the state.
More information on Ohio START can be found on the Ohio Attorney General?s website.
