By Philip Phi
Posted Sep 5, 2026 at 7:10 PM
In a recent settlement, Montgomery County officials in Ohio have agreed to pay over $120,000 in attorneys’ fees to resolve a lawsuit involving the exclusion of Gracehaven, a Christian ministry, from the county’s foster care system. This decision comes after a legal challenge initiated by Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys on behalf of Gracehaven, a ministry dedicated to supporting young female survivors of sex trafficking.
The dispute arose when Montgomery County officials excluded Gracehaven from participating in a public program, despite the ministry’s qualifications, based on its commitment to hiring employees who adhere to its religious beliefs. Legal counsel Jake Reed from Alliance Defending Freedom emphasized that the government cannot deny public benefits to a Christian ministry solely due to its religious character and practices. The settlement reached allows Gracehaven to continue its vital work in the county.
Gracehaven, founded in 2008, offers comprehensive care and support to vulnerable girls through state-licensed therapeutic group homes. These homes provide a trauma-informed treatment model tailored to the needs of young sex-trafficking survivors. The ministry’s approach is integral to helping these girls overcome the emotional and behavioral challenges resulting from their experiences. Scott Arnold, the ministry’s director, highlighted the importance of employing individuals who share the ministry’s faith, as this is crucial to their mission of empowering and healing the girls they serve.
For several years, Montgomery County had contracted with Gracehaven for substitute care services, reimbursing the ministry with public funds. However, in 2024, the county decided to exclude Gracehaven when the ministry maintained its constitutional right to employ those who share its faith. This decision was challenged in court, and in April of the previous year, a ruling was made that the county could not exclude Gracehaven from participating in the foster care system as the case proceeded.
This resolution underscores the importance of accountability and integrity in governance, particularly concerning the inclusion of faith-based organizations in public programs. It also reflects the broader theme of justice and mercy, as articulated in Micah 6:8, where acting justly and loving mercy are central to societal well-being. The settlement allows Gracehaven to continue its mission, emphasizing the role of faith in providing care and support to those in need.
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Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
