Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine offers help checking foster kids' credit

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio's attorney general says his office is prepared to help public agencies meet a federal requirement that foster children who are at least 16 years old have their credit checked.

Foster youth ages 16 to 18 must receive an annual credit check under the mandate, and any errors found on their credit report must be cleared.

County public children services agencies will conduct the checks. And Attorney General Mike DeWine says an identity theft unit within his office will handle any problems with the foster children's reports.

DeWine says he recently sent the agencies a letter that included an affidavit to be filled out by youth who are found to have errors on their credit reports. He says this will help his office to respond to any issues.