Speaker Huffman Appoints Rep. Andrea White as Co-Chair of Committee Studying Ohio's System for Placing Delinquent Children

Speaker of the Ohio House Matt Huffman (R-Lima) today announced that State Representative Andrea White (R-Kettering) will serve as co-chair of the Study Committee to Evaluate the Placement of Delinquent Children in Residential Facilities, which will begin meeting next week.

The study committee will focus on the placement process for adjudicated delinquent youth in Ohio, which are children under the age of 18 who have committed an act that would be considered a felony if committed by an adult. Juvenile judges are given the discretion to divert these youth into community-based residential facilities and programs rather than a Department of Youth Services correctional facility.

The study committee was created through House Bill 315 last General Assembly to evaluate the placement of delinquent children in residential facilities as well as the existing system, resources, and services used to support such children; identify gaps in the availability of appropriate residential facilities, resources, and services to serve such children; and to make recommendations for changes to better meet the needs of such children.

“Representative Andrea White continues to lead on this issue in the legislature, along with an array of other policy areas that aim to help and protect children,” said Speaker Huffman. “Through her work, she has developed a deep and informed understanding of the current judicial system related to adjudicated delinquent children and the need to better serve Ohio’s youth and public.”

In addition to Representative Andrea White, Speaker Huffman appointed Representatives Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) and Erika White (D-Springfield Township) to the committee. 

The study committee will also consist of the following members: 

• The Director of the Department of Children and Youth or the Director's designee
• The Director of the Department of Youth Services or the Director's designee
• The Director of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services or the Director's designee
• A public defender from the Office of the Public Defender appointed by the State Public Defender
• Two directors of public children services agencies, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the President of the Senate
• Two juvenile court judges, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the President of the Senate
• A county commissioner appointed by the President of the Senate
• A city council or township trustee member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives
• A representative of a residential facility serving six or fewer children who are alleged to be or have been adjudicated delinquent children appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives
• A representative of a residential facility serving more than six children who are alleged to be or have been adjudicated delinquent children appointed by the President of the Senate
• A representative of the Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives
• A county sheriff or chief of police appointed by the President of the Senate
• Three members of the Senate, with not more than two members from the same political party, appointed by the President of the Senate

“The safety and well-being of all children placed in the foster care system in Ohio is of utmost importance,” said Rep. White. “Representative Plummer and I learned through our group homes legislation that there are significant gaps and challenges related to meeting the needs of youth involved with the juvenile court system who are placed in the care of children’s services. This study committee is focused on fully identifying those issues and finding implementable solutions to improve care for these youth.”

The first meeting of the Study Committee to Evaluate the Placement of Delinquent Children in Residential Facilities will be held on August 24, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 121 of the Ohio Statehouse.