{"id":2605782,"date":"2026-05-22T09:26:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T13:26:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ohio-officials-who-excluded-christian-group-from-foster-care-system-forced-to-pay-massive-sum\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T09:26:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T13:26:50","slug":"ohio-officials-who-excluded-christian-group-from-foster-care-system-forced-to-pay-massive-sum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ohio-officials-who-excluded-christian-group-from-foster-care-system-forced-to-pay-massive-sum\/","title":{"rendered":"Ohio Officials Who Excluded Christian Group From Foster Care System Forced to Pay Massive Sum"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fohio-officials-who-excluded-christian-group-from-foster-care-system-forced-to-pay-massive-sum%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2605782&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Officials in Montgomery County, Ohio agreed to settle a lawsuit for more than $120,000 after the county reversed its decision to exclude Gracehaven-a Christian ministry-from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">foster care system<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Gracehaven, which <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >helps young people rescued<\/a> from sex trafficking, saeid it was barred from a public program because of its religious hiring practices. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio ruled that the county could not exclude the organization for that reason, and the county later agreed to make the decision permanent and pay attorneys\u2019 fees.Gracehaven leaders said they were grateful for the outcome, emphasizing that their Christian staff is central to their care for survivors.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Officials in Montgomery County, Ohio, agreed to a more than $120,000 settlement after reversing a decision to exclude a Christian organization from the foster care system.<\/p>\n<p>Gracehaven, which <a href=\"https:\/\/gracehavenohio.org\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">assists<\/a> young people rescued from sex trafficking, filed a lawsuit in 2024 accusing the county of barring them from \u201ca public program and benefit for which it is otherwise qualified.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The decision was \u201cbased solely on the ministry\u2019s commitment to hire only employees who  and adhere to its religious beliefs,\u201d according to a May 12 <a href=\"https:\/\/adfmedia.org\/press-release\/ohio-county-officials-pay-120k-to-settle-lawsuit-after-excluding-christian-ministry-from-foster-care-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">release<\/a> from the Alliance Defending Freedom.<\/p>\n<p>Montgomery County had previously contracted with Gracehaven for years, reimbursing the ministry with public funds in exchange for their care services.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">An OH ministry worked with local government to help victims of sex trafficking \u2026 until officials ended the relationship over the ministry\u2019s faith-based hiring.<\/p>\n<p>After an <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ADFLegal?\">@ADFLegal<\/a> lawsuit, the ministry is helping young women in the county again\u2014and the county is paying $120K. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8bLoDtv2yI\">pic.twitter.com\/8bLoDtv2yI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Kristen Waggoner (@KristenWaggoner) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KristenWaggoner\/status\/2054553823385915661?\">May 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>But they \u201csuddenly decided to exclude\u201d Gracehaven after the organization \u201ctold county officials that it was not waiving or surrendering its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-dems-pass-massive-voting-rights-bill-conservatives-claim-it-will-chill-speech-demolish-election-integrity\/\" title=\"House Dems Pass Massive\u00a0\u2018Voting Rights\u2019 Bill; Conservatives Claim It Will Chill Speech, Demolish\u00a0Election Integrity\">constitutionally protected freedom<\/a> to employ those who  its faith.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio <a href=\"https:\/\/adfmedia.org\/press-release\/court-ohio-ministry-free-to-care-for-young-survivors-of-sex-trafficking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ruled<\/a> last year that Gracehaven could not be excluded from the foster care program because of its policy to only hire employees aligned on faith.<\/p>\n<p>Montgomery County has now agreed to make that decision permanent \u2014 and to pay over $120,000 in attorneys\u2019 fees.<\/p>\n<p>Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Jake Reed said in a statement that \u201cthe government can\u2019t deny public benefits to a Christian ministry that is caring for young survivors of sex trafficking solely because of its religious character and exercise.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGracehaven is a force for good, offering comprehensive care, support, and a safe place to call home to the most vulnerable girls in Ohio,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING: Ohio ministry free to care for young survivors of sex trafficking<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGracehaven is a force for good, providing comprehensive care, support, and a safe place to call home for the most vulnerable girls in Ohio.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Because of the court\u2019s ruling, the county must work\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Alliance Defending Freedom (@ADFLegal) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ADFLegal\/status\/1914401757578359237?\">April 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re pleased to favorably settle this lawsuit. The county agreed that it cannot exclude Gracehaven from the foster care system simply because it hires those who  its faith.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gracehaven Director Scott Arnold also gave thanks for the outcome of the lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGracehaven empowers young girls rescued from sex trafficking by helping them thrive with dignity in a renewed life,\u201d Arnold said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur team of Christian employees is paramount to this work,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs we help these girls work through their pain and trauma and move toward living healthy, fulfilling lives, our ability to hire like-minded people of faith to carry out our mission is essential. We\u2019re grateful for Alliance Defending Freedom\u2019s help in securing this victory.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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