It’s inauguration weekend, and Ohio Republicans - and a few Democrats - are in Washington for the swearing in of President Donald Trump. And Trump's election and inauguration seems to have sparked a new movement among people who oppose his stated policies and those of Republican leaders. Andy Chow and Jo Ingles report from two events during a "day of action" in Columbus.
Ohio leads the nation in opiate overdose deaths, and thousands more people are addicted to opioids. And in many of those cases, the addict has a family. In the last seven years, the number of children taken into custody by children’s services agencies soared by nearly 20%, nad parental drug use was involved with half of children taken into custody by children’s services last year. Kids are staying in foster care longer and more kids are being placed in permanent custody or being adopted than being returned to their parents because of parental drug addiction. And that’s driving foster care costs up by two and even three times in some counties, and is creating shortages of foster homes. But at the same time, state funding for children’s services has plummeted by $93 million – 17%. Two directors share tragic stories from the front lines. Dr. Lorra Fuller heads Scioto County Children’s Services – a county at the epicenter of Ohio’s opiate epidemic. And Robin Reese leads Lucas County Children’s Services – and notes that urban counties have been dealing with some of these issues for many years.