DCY Discussion of AAC, KGAP and the Bridges program

On Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, OHIO YAB Youth Ambassadors Yonnae Hobbs and Raven Grice held a virtual meeting with Alicia Masters and Carrie Block of the Department of Children and Youth. 

The three topics of discussion were:

• Adoption Assistance Connections to 21 (AAC)
• Kinship Guardian Assistance program (KGAP) 
• Ongoing evolution of the Bridges program

The Department of Children and Youth currently works diligently to promote AAC to Ohio youth who are adopted between ages 16-17. Outreach focuses on those ages, because those are the current parameters for support. The six years of data also include listening to the experiences of young people who lost eligibility for AAC. For example, if their adoptive family no longer provides support, the young person is no longer eligible. This information is captured in outcome reports, and can inform future policy. 

The OHIO YAB continues to elevate the experiences of young people who are adopted at a younger age than 16, and whose adoptive parents abandon them at or after age 18. And likewise for young people entrusted to kinship care, but don't meet the parameters. For example, the court might have put the young person in the temporary custody of a relative, but not a child welfare agency, which renders them ineligible.

These young people need and deserve support as they transition into young adulthood. The current parameters for AAC and KGAP are based on federal criteria. The state of Ohio is not restricted from expanding the parameters -- the state would just not receive a federal match of IV-E funds.

Action steps to seek to address the needs of young people who are currently not being served include:

1. Continued conversations and partnership with DCY.
2. Continued gathering of youth testimonials and data.
3. Seeking to identify funding streams.

Questions raised by OHIO YAB representatives last night included:

• Where is the accountability for adoptive parents who receive subsidies, and then abandon adoptees at the age of 18?
  
  
• What would it take to create an emergency fund for young people who need help during their transition into young adulthood, but who don't meet the requirements of AAC, KGAP or Bridges?
  
  
• Could the help be paired with resources/training on financial literacy?
  
  
• Could the future application process NOT be based on age, but rather on the young person's future plan?    (Being too old or too young for resources are known barriers)
  
  
• Could the focus be on having the young adult provide a budget to demonstrate what their financials are (housing, food, transportation, etc.), even if it's an estimate, so the young person could illustrate their need and what they would be using the emergency funding towards?
  
  
• Could support be focused on the young person mapping out a plan, with smart goals and action steps?    Including financial literacy and/or a budget?   And resource referral to trauma-informed, evidence-based therapy?

Ohio has already demonstrated the ability to map out helpful processes. The Ohio Reach Scholarship and Ohio Reach Emergency Fund are two examples of what is possible. Likewise, the Youth Navigator Network is currently effectively distributing Flex Funds for young people ages 21-22 who aged out of foster care and need-one time help with specific needs. 

One question that came up was: "In cases when youth experience a disruption, could external support have salvaged that placement?" Youth leaders felt that it depends on the situation or circumstances. This might benefit some but not all.  Also, there is a need for direct support to the young person, not just the adoptive parents or kinship caregivers. 

Another question that was asked was if the parameters of help should focus on a monthly stipend (like AAC and KGAP) or based off of the Bridges program. Youth leaders felt that access to fiscal, emotional and health support are all important. They recommended: "Not a cookie cutter approach. It needs to be molded to the youth, not forcing youth into a mold."