COLUMBUS, Ohio — New research on child custody policies in Ohio shows that families are receiving different treatment depending on their ZIP code.

According to the "Ohio Parenting Time Report," research shows children fare better when they have equal time with both parents in cases of divorce or separation. While a handful of Ohio counties have parenting time rules aligned with this data, report co-author Donald Hubin, director of the Center for Ethics and Human Values, said the vast majority do not.

"Sixty four of the 88 counties have parenting time schedules that are really of the 1950s or ‘Mad Men’ days’ model, where one parent will see the children for only 48 hours in a two-week period; so it's every other weekend,” Hubin said. “And most of those counties allow also 2-3 hours' mid-week parenting time."

The report showed just three counties - Ashtabula, Jefferson and Tuscarawas - provide default schedules that call for equal time. Kentucky recently became the first state to enact a law making joint custody the legal presumption if both parents are considered fit caregivers.

Van Wert is the only county that scored an "F" in the report. Hubin explained its parenting rule states that fathers have visitation every other weekend while mothers retain custody the majority of the time.

"That was shocking to me. I really thought the feminist law reform in the '70s had taken out such explicitly gendered language,” he said. “And it certainly has been removed from most places, but Van Wert county still assumes that the father is the parent that visits with the children and the mother is the parent that raises them."

Hubin said if child custody arrangements are handled properly, the negative effects of divorce or separation on children can be minimized. And the report noted that shared physical custody also is a best-case scenario when there is a lot of conflict between parents.

Hubin said that's surprising to a lot of people.

"They think, 'Well, if these parents can't even agree to use shared physical custody, how can they possibly raise their kids together?' And the fact is, they can,” Hubin said. “What they do is parallel parenting. They cooperate with one another when something pressing important has to be decided jointly."

While statewide shared-parenting guidelines are ideal, Hubin argued counties should update their default plans to ensure they are supported by research and consider the best interests of the child.

Ohio News Connection in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the George Gund Foundation.


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November is National Adoption Month and one Oregon nonprofit is making space for Black and Indigenous adoptees to share their stories.

Although most adoptees are well-adjusted, research indicates people who have been adopted are more likely to have mental health struggles and are four times more likely to attempt suicide.

Liana Soifer, cofounder and executive director of the group BIPOC Adoptee Voices, said if the dominant story around adoption is too focused on parents and advocacy groups, the struggles and triumphs of adoptees can be overlooked.

"Adoption is based on a transaction: 'You're adopted, you're done, you're good, your life is fine,'" Soifer observed. "And for many of us now adult, into adulthood, we're saying, 'No, it's not fine.'"

Sofier was adopted from South Korea by a white family, and said having limited information about where you come from can lead to feelings of shame and isolation. If you are in crisis or know someone who is, call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

In Oregon, most adoptees are adopted by close family members. On average, 125 children are waiting to be adopted from foster care. The number has declined significantly in the last six years, after the Oregon Department of Human Services changed its policies to minimize child separation.

Soifer emphasized every adoption story is unique and said the public needs to learn about the struggles adoptees experience, along with their successes.

"Changing the way that we frame things, not good or bad, but just like, 'Here's the reality. The most important thing we can do is just educating how those adoptees, how the birth families are impacted,'" Soifer explained.

Soifer added getting to know other BIPOC adoptees has been important for building her own sense of belonging. BIPOC Adoptee Voices hosts regular, free mixers and storytelling events.


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New data show many Connecticut residents can't afford daily life. This year's ALICE update shows the number of asset-limited, income-constrained employed families grew 13% in 2022. This is the largest increase in a decade.

The report says a family with two adults and two children in the state need an income of $114,000 per year just to afford the basics - not including emergency expenses.

Daniel Fitzmaurice, director of advocacy for the United Way of Connecticut, said some of what people do to make ends meet falls outside the data's scope.

"It's a little hard sometimes to quantify, for example, the compromises families make to maybe put their child in only a couple days a week of childcare rather than full-time childcare, or live with many people in their household rather than have the type of housing they want," he explained.

Three priority affordability issues for Connecticut residents are childcare, housing and food. Fitzmaurice and other advocates feel implementing a state child tax credit can be the best way to help ailing families. The state's proposed credit would provide an additional $600 for a family's biggest expenses.

One challenge for families to receive the child tax credit is ensuring they file their income taxes. Fitzmaurice noted those eligible people might not know about it or other programs. Another issue could be they either earn too much or too little to qualify for some state programs. He offered Connecticut's childcare subsidy as one example.

"Families at that income bracket actually work outside of the traditional economy; say hair braiding or driving an Uber or delivery services," he continued. "And so, they struggle to qualify for the childcare subsidy that would enable them to work, because they don't have enough documented work."

Beyond the benefits cliff, there is a mismatch between everyday costs and the jobs of ALICE families. Half of the most common jobs in the state in 2022 all paid under $20 an hour. But Fitzmaurice said most of these jobs - like cashiers, truck drivers, and personal care aides - are essential to the economy.

"These most common jobs are also some of our most essential jobs, but they have just traditionally had very low wages for what it costs to live," he said.

The Public Children's Services Association of Ohio has launched a groundbreaking new initiative called Practice in Action Together, aimed at revolutionizing child welfare practices across the state.

The program is designed to strengthen relationships between caseworkers and families.

Lara LaRoche, practice adviser for the association, emphasized the approach is key to improving outcomes for children. She noted she has been in the field for 30 years and has not been more excited about a practice model or a new implementation.

"It's all about the family and elevating the family's voice," LaRoche explained. "It's about relationships and really understanding the importance of how we're connected to one another, how we in the community support one another."

The new model is the first in the country codeveloped by families, workers and child welfare leaders. It focuses on building relationships to keep children in their homes and reunify them with their families when needed. Although relationship-building alone may not fully address systemic issues in child welfare, the approach offers a piece of the puzzle.

In addition to the new approach, the association is debuting a new podcast titled "3000 Good Things, Porch Time with Mike and Ashley," which aims to highlight positive stories within the child welfare system.

Mike Kenny, director of strategic initiatives for the association and co-host of the podcast, said the podcast's mission is centered on the belief the stories told truly matter.

"This podcast is really focused on once a week, on Friday morning, specifically for those working in child welfare, to hear one good thing that's happening," Kenny outlined.

The podcast will not only share uplifting stories but also tie them back to the Practice in Action Together initiative by highlighting behaviors from the model in action. With its first episode airing today, the association hopes to shift the narrative around child welfare in Ohio, offering a weekly reminder positive change is happening within the system.