New Philadelphia, Ohio (WJER) - Tuscarawas County Jobs And Family Services officials are encouraged by the governor’s proposal to almost double the state’s funding for family and children services. 

Governor Mike DeWine’s proposed two-year budget includes a $74 million increase in state funding for these types of government agencies. Tuscarawas County JFS Director David Haverfield describes the proposal as unprecedented.

“Ohio historically has ranked last in the country, 50th out of 50 states in terms of the state support of child welfare so he’s almost doubled the investment,” he says. “Really, this is just very surprising and very welcome.”

Haverfield says the money would be used to help orphans, children in foster care, families struggling with addiction and mental illness, and prevention services. He was in Columbus for DeWine's announcement.

“He’s very much a champion for kids and families, which is great. It has to go through the vetting process so we don’t have a dollar figure yet,” he says.

DeWine is scheduled to submit his budget to the Ohio General Assembly on March 15th.

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