Child advocate: Foster care lawsuit necessary after inaction

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - An advocate for people who take custody of children they’re related to says a lawsuit seeking to boost payments for those children’s care was made necessary by the state’s inaction.

Barbara Turpin is with the Ohio Grandparents/Kinship Coalition. She says she’s hopeful a federal lawsuit filed last week against the state will help qualified caregivers receive the help they need.

At issue is a gap between payments to non-licensed relatives and licensed foster care parents.

Ohio has been under pressure from child advocates to follow a 2017 federal appeals court ruling ordering equality in such payments.