Fueled by drug addiction and incarcerated parents, the rate of children in out-of-home care is rising in Warren and neighboring counties, the 2018 Kids Count County Data Book shows.

According to the annual county-by-county report from Kentucky Youth Advocates, the rate rose most sharply in Edmonson, Butler and Logan counties, respectively, over a five-year period. The increases mirror jumps seen in 92 counties statewide, a problem child advocates contend won’t be easy to reverse.

The report defines out-of-home care as “placements in licensed foster homes with relatives or unrelated caregivers, or institutional placements such as group homes or residential treatment facilities.”

“You often hear the phrase ‘it takes a village’ and I definitely agree with that,” said Tamara Prather, a family caregiver coordinator with the Barren River Area Development District.

When Prather helps grandparents and relatives caring for displaced children access resources, two main factors emerge repeatedly: drug addiction and locked-up parents. Caregivers need a support network and help with day-to-day child care costs, she said.

“Having family, friends or even caring people in your community can mean all the difference,” she said.

The annual Kids Count County Data Book offers the latest data on 17 measures of child well-being across the areas of economic security, education, health and family and community. It shows whether outcomes for children across Kentucky have improved, worsened or remained the same over a five-year period.

The full report and county profiles are available at kyyouth.org.

This latest report shows that Warren County has made several strides in recent years. More elementary school students are proficient in reading, and more middle school students are proficient in math, for example.

Other gains for Warren County include reducing the percentage of children living in poverty, lowering the rate of kids incarcerated in the juvenile justice system and a cut to the teen birth rate.

However, the rate of children in out-of-home care has increased in Warren County, a change also seen in every bordering county.

Defined as every 1,000 children under the age of 18, the rate for Warren County rose from 58.4 between 2011 and 2013 to 63.6 between 2015 and 2017.

Edmonson County saw the biggest rate jump, with the rate surging from 67.1 between 2011 and 2013 to 103.2 between 2015 and 2017. Butler and Logan counties followed, going from 61.7 to 80.9 and 31.2 to 47.5, respectively.

According to the report, Kentucky is facing record numbers of children in foster care. Kentucky also leads the nation with the highest rate of children in the care of relatives who aren’t their parents. The number of children being raised by a relative outside the foster care system has nearly doubled from 53,000 children between 2013 and 2015 to 96,000 children from 2016 to 2018.

Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, said the problem will have to be fought on multiple fronts.

“It’s not just a child welfare issue. It’s an opioid epidemic issue. It’s a criminal justice issue,” he said, calling on stakeholders to work together for positive change. “Everybody can’t just stay in their lane.”