Ohio - An Ohio program that helps families dealing with substance abuse issues is the first program in the whole country to gain national certification from Children and Family Futures. 

The Ohio Sobriety Treatment and Reducing Trauma (Ohio START), which helps stabilize families struggling with substance abuse, is the first in the nation to receive national certification from Children and Family Futures. 

"We launched Ohio START when I was attorney general, and since then, hundreds of families have benefited from access to both treatment and recovery," Governor DeWine said. "Many families have found hope and healing through Ohio START, and I congratulate our partners at the Public Children Services Association of Ohio and across the state for this recognition."

Then-Attorney General DeWine began Ohio START in 2017 as a pilot program to provide recovery services for parents who have substance use disorder and specialized treatment for children who have been impacted by parental drug use.

The program grew under Governor DeWine's leadership to expand to 53 counties. Administered by the Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO), Ohio START has supported more than 2,300 children.

Ohio START is a collaboration among child protective services, peer mentors, the courts, and behavioral health and treatment providers who work closely to help parents achieve sobriety and children to heal from any trauma they may have experienced.