2026 July OHIO YAB Meeting

Link to slides. 

2026 Leadership and Life Skills Summit

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On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, the OHIO YAB and ACTION Ohio facilitated a Leadership and Life Skills Summit for Current and Former Foster Youth, to inform and empower Ohio teens and young adults with a foster care history (ages 14-24).  This event was made possible thanks to the support of the Ohio Children’s Alliance, the Department of Children and Youth, and The Ohana Project.

103 youth and young adults from the following counties participated: Allen, Butler, Champaign, Cuyahoga, Erie, Franklin, Geauga, Hamilton, Highland, Hocking, Jefferson, Licking, Lorain, Miami, Montgomery, Pickaway, Sandusky, Stark, Washington and Wood. 

2026 Ohio Foster Care Summit - Together for Ohio Youth in Out of Home Care

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The Nationwide Children's Hospital's two-day Foster Care Summit took place on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 and Thursday, May 28, 2026.

The OHIO YAB and ACTION Ohio presented:

• A Youth Panel on the first day 
• A Breakout Session on the second day, including:
• a State Advocacy Timeline
• a Federal Advocacy Timeline

The Ohio Foster Care Summit is a collaborative two-day event bringing together healthcare professionals, child welfare teams, foster and kinship families, group homes and residential facilities and youth with lived experience. 

This engaging conference highlights statewide initiatives, practical strategies, and trauma-informed approaches to improve care and support for youth in foster care. Through expert presentations, interactive sessions, and shared stories, attendees will gain actionable tools to strengthen collaboration, enhance stability, and improve outcomes for youth across Ohio.

Target Audience: Healthcare professionals, child welfare staff and caseworkers, foster and kinship families, group homes and residential facilities, aged-out or alumni youth, court appointed special advocates, guardian ad litem, and any individuals or programs invested in the success and well-being of children in foster care.

Objectives: At the conclusion of this activity, learners will be able to:

• Identify and address key challenges facing Ohio’s youth in foster care.
• Strengthen cross-system collaboration and communication across the healthcare team.
• Empower foster youth and families through communication of shared experiences and education.
• Identify sustainable foster care resource networks across Ohio

May Virtual Meeting with DCY

Link to slides. 

Ohio signs on to the federal "A Home for Every Child" initiative

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On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, Governor DeWine signed on to Ohio's participation in the federal A Home for Every Child initiative. Ohio is the 16th state to sign on to this effort, and the first county-administered state to do so...  OHIO YAB Youth Ambassadors are eager to have a role in future implementation. During the event, DCY Director Kara Wente affirmed that her office will work with current and former foster youth to safeguard youth voice and youth safety. 

April 2026 OHIO YAB Statewide Quarterly Meeting

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Link to slides. 

Congratulations to Lonnie

Congratulations to Lonnie Thompson for receiving the Franklin County Rising Up and Moving On award.