A full review of how child welfare workers handled the Siders family case is expected by the end of the year, top state officials said.
"We look at every fatality and near fatality and try to scrutinize: Did something happen that we wish would've been different? Is there a lesson to be learned? Could there have been more information?" said Kara Wente, director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, on Sept. 2.
Gov. Mike DeWine said additionally, he expects to present specific recommendations for reforms based on the Siders case and other issues before he leaves office.
In July 2026, the parents of 16 children, Gary Jr. and Elizabeth Siders, and the grandparents, Gary Sr. and Christina Siders, pleaded not guilty to felony child endangerment
after authorities found the children living in a small, squalid rental home in Vinton County. Gary Jr. and Elizabeth – as well as Josh Saunders and Brandon Henderson, part of the extended Siders family – also face child sex abuse charges.
In 2020 and 2021, Gallia County's child protective services agency had two welfare cases involving the oldest Siders children. Caseworkers documented medical and educational neglect, possible lead poisoning, a roach infestation and uncooperative parents. Rather than remove the nine children from the home, a Gallia County judge ordered "protective supervision" and a case plan. Both cases closed and the family moved out of Gallia County.
DeWine said that while child safety is the top priority, the decision to remove a child from their home is a judgment call.
“These are difficult decisions, though, made by people who are fallible and human. These are not easy decisions because when you take a child out of the home, there is trauma. You have to make a judgment call: is there more trauma or less trauma by leaving that child in the home or taking that child out? Tough, tough decision.”
Under his administration, the state doubled its share of funding toward the child welfare system. But disparities remain between counties that have local levies to pay for child protective services and those that don’t.
“The practical matter is that there are many counties that cannot pass a levy,” DeWine said. “So, as we look to the future, we have to realize that make sure that we have sufficient money to have a floor under all 88 county children’s services.”
Gallia County does not have a property tax levy. Caseworkers start out at $23.50 an hour and, like other counties, Gallia County faces significant turnover, said Dana Glassburn, Gallia County Job and Family Services Director.
“Funding is always an issue, regardless. You have to look at the states as a whole. Ohio is one of the lower states as far as funding. It’s just the reality,” Glassburn said. “But the biggest thing is you got to have foster families.”
“People just don’t want to get involved,” he said.
State government reporter Laura Bischoff can be reached at lbischoff@usatodayco.com and @lbischoff on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: State review of Siders case expected by end of year, DeWine says
