Youth Voice on Recruiting Foster Parents for Teens

 

On Nov. 1, 2026, the OHIO YAB held a focus group to discuss foster parent recruitment for teens. 

The discussion focused on: 

1. How to advertise
2. How NOT to advertise
3. Where to advertise
4. Where NOT to advertise

1.) How to Advertise:

• Foster parent recruitment for teens must be a DIFFERENT strategy than for babies and children. 
• These are teens, on the verge of young adulthood. Focus on what they are looking for: "I am looking for a safe place to build my future. 
• When you foster teens, you are not fostering a child anymore; you are fostering a future adult. 
• Flyers and posters should have bright colors, cheerful language, and focus on how: "This could be a positive addition to your life; an opportunity to help a teen prepare to be an adult."
• Set up realistic expectations. Describe the relationship as a give-and-take. Teens have skills, talents and insights to share. 
• The flyer or poster could have a photo of a teen hugging an adult, as an example of positive relationship building. 
• Tagline ideas: 
• If you are ready to stand side by side with a teen, and learn and grow together.
• Would you like to be a hero in a teen's life?
• Foster: Support, Uplift, and Help a Teen Grow
• Framing the Message:
• Show a real-life positive example that will inspire others. 
• This reflects the power of storytelling, and shows you who teens are. 
• Teens in foster care have goals and dreams for the future. 
• Focus on their career paths and professions.
• Commercial:
• "My name is ____, and my goals are..." with real-life photos.
• Quote: "I believe the advertisement should humanize foster youth. They aren't separate species, an alien or an animal, they are humans with goals and dreams."
• Interviews:
• Uplift a real-life successful teen-and-foster-parent relationship. This provides authentic voice. It creates normalcy around a new new idea, and makes it seem more doable. 
• Interview a former foster youth who is now a foster parent today.
• The goal of fostering a teen is helping them learn independence and building trust over time. 

2.) How NOT to Advertise:

• Don't pair a photo of a foster youth with a negative message like: "Jeremy is such a strong-willed child."   
• Don't describe the teen or teens in general in a negative way.
• Don't refer to teens as children. 
• Don't post a sad photo of a teen looking down in a hoodie:
• Don't advertise on our pain. 
• Instead, paint a picture of how a caring foster parent for teens can help us build our future.
• If advertising to the faith community, avoid messages like, "Bring a soul to Jesus, be a foster parent."
• Avoid manipulation, tear-jerkers, and seeking pity -- we are not lost puppies. 
• Don't assume the teen wants to be adopted. Too often, teens are abandoned at age 18 by adoptive parents, and ineligible for resources.
• Don't tell a foster parent of a teen to promise forever. They should underpromise and overdeliver. Avoid false promises. 

3.) Where to Advertise:

• Be intentional, and focus on targeting specific professionals that serve youth. 
• Speaking as current and former foster youth, we don't want to invite EVERYONE into the pool of foster parents. They need to be safe, emotionally stable and fostering for the right reasons. 
• We don't just want more foster parents for teens, we want foster parents for teens whose motivations are genuine. 
• Schools: This is a learning environment that includes parents, coaches and teachers. 
• Libraries, Parks and Recreation Centers: These are places of positive gatherings. The staff at these places might be interested as well.
• Health-Related Locations: Dental Clinics, Family Medicine, Primary Care, Hospitals. These are places of compassion and healing. 
• Places of Worship: These should be included, but with a caveat on how you advertise. A teen shouldn't feel blackmailed to adhere to your faith in order to live in your foster home. 

4.) Where NOT to Advertise: 

• Do NOT limit your advertising to the poorest and most crime-ridden areas of town. 
• Framing matters: Don't post a foster parent recruitment poster on a bench, right next to a sign that says: "Give plasma for money."  The motivation for fostering matters. It should NOT be financially based. 
• Avoid Billboards: Stay away from broad advertisement, and be more targeted and intentional, to get those who want to foster for the right reason. 

Intersection Between Foster Care and IEPs

During the October 2026 OHIO YAB statewide meeting, one of the breakout sessions focused on the intersection between foster care and Individualized Education Plans. 

Prevalence: Between 33% and 50% of foster youth are assigned special education services, a rate nearly four times higher than the general student population. These statistics tell a story that includes trauma, displacement and school changes. Different schools don’t have the same curriculum, and changing schools can lead to students missing foundational elements. Each unplanned school change can set a student back academically by four to six months.

Risks of Diagnostic Errors: Accurately identifying disabilities in foster youth is highly complex because the physiological and emotional impacts of complex trauma, abuse, and neglect heavily mimic or mask the symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders.

OHIO YAB Recommendations:

1.) Shorten the IEP Reevaluation Timeline for Youth in Foster Care

Foster youth experience disproportionately high rates of placement and school instability, causing their academic, emotional, and behavioral needs to shift rapidly. To ensure their accommodations remain accurate and effective, it is recommended that the mandatory Individualized Education Program (IEP) triennial (three-year) reevaluation timeline be shortened. Implementing more frequent, mandatory formal evaluations for this population will prevent service gaps, reduce diagnostic errors, and ensure support plans adapt to the child’s current environment.

2.) Standardize Statewide IEP and 504 Plan Training for Ohio Foster Parents and Caseworkers

To ensure equitable educational advocacy across all 88 counties, the State of Ohio should implement a mandatory, consistent training curriculum regarding Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Section 504 plans for all foster parents and caseworkers. Standardizing this education statewide will equip caregivers and professionals with the uniform knowledge needed to navigate Ohio’s educational system, identify when a youth qualifies for accommodations, and actively participate in the compliance and review process.

October OHIO YAB Statewide Meeting

Link to more photos.

Link to slides.

The October OHIO YAB statewide quarterly meeting included a discussion about the Negative Impact of Deficit-Based Language. 

Lonnie receives the 2026 PCSAO Leader of Tomorrow Award

Lonnie is a young man whose courage and determination have established him as a Leader of Tomorrow. Having navigated the foster care system since age eleven, Lonnie has redefined permanency on his own terms.

Throughout high school, Lonnie excelled both academically and in extracurricular activities. He balanced drum line with serving as president of Mifflin Punchers Promoting Peace, all while working consistently at Subway for four years. He graduated in the top five of his class, inducted into the National Honor Society, earning the distinguished “Heart of Mifflin” plaque.

Currently heading to Wright State University on competitive scholarships, his dream is to study education to become a teacher who genuinely relates to his students. Beyond his academic goals, he channels his lived experiences into community advocacy, serving as Youth Advisory Board treasurer and a speaker destigmatizing youth trauma and mental health. Lonnie is a natural performer with a passion for the stage. His nickname is Loonie Toons, and he can portray all the characters. Lonnie’s goal is to hopefully start a drumline at Wright State.

What truly distinguishes Lonnie is his extraordinary authenticity. He leads with a warmth and humor that allows his peers to confidently show up as their true selves, famously illustrated by his vibrant collection of colorful, patterned socks. A devoted brother whose siblings mean a lot to him, Lonnie continues to show us that with passion and perseverance, the possibilities are endless.

PCSAO was pleased to present Lonnie with their 2026 Leaders of Tomorrow Award.

Jim Casey Initiative 25th Anniversary Convening

From September 29 - October 1, 2026, OHIO YAB Youth Ambassador Raven participated in the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative’s Convening, celebrating 25 years of the Initiative’s work including the Opportunity Passport. 

Raven's work on the REACH Youth Action Board for A Place 4 Me has made her incredibly knowledgeable about Opportunity Passports -- and eager to see this resource made available in all 88 counties of our state.

September 2026 Meeting with DCY Leadership

Link to PPT. 

Three Days on the Hill

Administration for Children and Families:
We met with Ryan Hanlon, Associate Commissioner of the Children's Bureau, to talk about Broken Adoptions, Life Skills and Safeguarding Youth From Abuse, including when it comes to national implementation of the Home for Every Child Act. We deeply appreciate his willingness to connect with one of our group members via FaceTime, since entry into ACF requires a Real ID. 

HUD: 
Our meeting was initially with four staff members, but we ended up connecting with twelve. This exemplifies HUD's commitment to our population. They value and remember the role of Ohio foster care youth and alumni in designing FYI vouchers. We spoke with HUD Leadership, including Assistant Secretary Ben Hobbs,to share ideas to support FYI voucher access and including the voices of those with lived experience as trainers regarding this provision. 

During the meeting, Alexys shared an idea which is being elevated to the First Lady. More on that to come...

Legislative Visits:
During our time in DC, we met with the offices of :

• Congressman Max Miller
• Congressman David Joyce
• Congressman Mike Turner
• Congressman Mike Carey
• Congressman Greg Landsman
• Senator Jon Husted

Our legislative visits focused on recommendations related to ETV and Chafee. The only exception was when we met with FSHO champion Congressman Mike Turner and shared our BROE proposal. We deeply appreciated the personal connection that Senator Jon Husted made, by inviting each participating young person to share their goals and accomplishments. 

We were unable to meet with Senator Bernie Moreno or Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, but stopped by both of their offices to deliver materials. 

Here are links to additional photos from our:

• 2026 meeting with ACF
• 2026 meeting with HUD
• Legislative Visits
• DC: Day One
  
• DC: Day Two 
• Journeys and Preparation

During our visits, it always makes our hearts happyto connect with foster care alumni who now work in DC. Such was the case during this trip, when our paths crossed with Tashia Roberson-Wing, Senior Legislative Assistant of Congressman Greg Landsman's office. 

DC taglines: 

• Lived It. Leading It. Ohio foster youth aren't just voices to be heard, they are partners whose lived experience can inform stronger systems and resources, better policy provisions, and better outcomes for the young generation who come after them. 

• Putting a Face On the Population They Serve: We made an impact; they now know who we are and we put a face to the population they serve. We are more than just numbers - we are a united voice who get together to make change.