BLASDELL, N.Y. — As it's said, there is no place like home. For Olivia Schwarzott and her husband, that saying has a very special meaning.

"One of my best friends growing up was in foster care and I also didn't have the greatest childhood,” Schwarzott said. “So it was always in the back of mind as something I wanted to do."

Since 2006 they've opened their Blasdell home to 15 foster children. Six of them now have a permanent home with Schwarzott. But as the family is running out of space, they're no longer accepting placements. She calls it a tough decision.  

"There were days when we would get multiple calls throughout the day for multiple placements,” she said.  

There is a foster placement crisis all over the country says Sara Grady, a program coordinator with Catholic Charities of Buffalo.

She says the opioid epidemic is a reason why there is a rise in need.

"We are seeing a lot more children coming into care, unfortunately, because of parental substance use," Grady said.

Sharon Rochelle of the Erie County Department of Social Services said between 30 and 40 children are taken into care each week within the county. 

Between county certified homes and homes certified through organizations like Catholic Charities, there are 450 foster homes in Erie County. That's compared to the more than 1,500 children in the foster program. That tally doens't include children placed in the care of relatives.

Rochelle says the opioid epidemic is not only adding to those numbers but making each case more complex and heartbreaking.

"There's substance abuse involved, domestic violence, depending on the drug of choice," she said. "Oftentimes, the children are abandoned."

It's this part of the epidemic that's raising a lot of concern for Niagara County's Social Services Commissioner Anthony Restaino.

"I think that there is a crisis and I think that's seen in the rise in number of child abuse reports and cases," he said.

Restaino says in 2016, there were just over 4,000 cases. In 2017, the number rose to more than 4,200.

"If it's a founded report to where we have to remove the child, obviously that puts a strain on the foster care system," Restaino said.

He adds it's more than a numbers game. It's about lacking diversity, in race, religion and geographical location. There's even a need for families that will take in children with developmental disabilities or sexual identity issues.

While there is no shortage of space in agency facilities or group homes, placement in a home is ideal as it gives kids stability and a better chance at being adopted.

Olivia and her husband are proof of just that. After all, they're in the process of adopting number seven. She hopes sharing her family's story will inspire others to open their homes, too.

"Just seeing their eyes light up when they've accomplished something or met a goal, it's very rewarding," Schwarzott said.

More information is available on Catholic Charities’ website, or Erie County Department of Social Services'.