Ohio Republican Governor, Mike DeWine is reporting that he is close to releasing a proposal to approve relatives caring for children taken from their parents, even when the relatives are not licensed caregivers.

The Buckeye State has been under pressure from child advocates to follow a 2017 federal court ruling, ordering equality in payments to non-licensed relatives and to relatives who become licensed.

The issue has taken on new significance because the opioid crisis has seen a huge increase in the number of children taken from homes because of parents’ or guardians’ addictions.

About 16,000 children are in custody in Ohio today, which is more than a 20% increase from five years ago.