National Advocacy Opportunities

Regarding the upcoming reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Ohio foster care youth and alumni are invited to write letters to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, regarding the need to support the specific needs of foster care youth.

• Letter from Senate Caucus on Foster Youth
• Letter from the Ohio Youth Advisory Board

Template that Ohio youth/alumni can use, and personalize with their own insights/experiences:

The Honorable Tom Harkin
Chairman, HELP Committee
428 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510


The Honorable Mike Enzi
Ranking Member, HELP Committee
428 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Enzi,


We are writing you on behalf of (your county youth advisory board), a youth-led organization of foster care youth, to request that foster care specific concerns be addressed in the Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.


As foster care youth, we have experienced educational challenges.  (Insert specific experience, such as changing schools in the middle of the year, having different textbooks and losing credits, etc. For statistics, you can use some of the stats listed on the Changing the Odds wiki).

There are specific steps that can be included in the reauthorization of the ESEA that would improve the educational experiences and outcomes for youth in and from foster care. (Make your suggestions)

Sign on behalf of the officers of your county youth advisory board: 

Name of Officer

Office Held

Name of Board