Encouraging each of Ohio's 88 counties to support foster youth involvement in the OHIO YAB

On Wednesday, September 27, Raven presented on behalf of the OHIO YAB during the ODJFS bi-monthly touchpoint with county agencies. 

The meeting agenda was:

1. Welcome – Kari Akins                                              
2. News You Can Use - Vincent Ciola
3. Workforce- Melissa Palmer 
4. Kinship/Grandparents Month – Becky Murray and Lynn Sowards
5. Supported Rule and Practice Strategies–Ashley Keller and Sharla O’Keeffe
6. Ohio Independent Reporting Tool- Laurie Valentine 
7. Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board - Raven Grice  
8. Court Engagement- Jenn Reed and Tequilla Washington

Raven invited Ohio county public children’s service agencies to:

• Nominate youth to serve as OHIO YAB Youth Ambassadors on the statewide board
• Create and maintain local or regional Youth Advisory Boards

Raven shared the benefits of YAB participation for organizations, professionals and the youth themselves:

 

OHIO YAB receives Social Justice award

On Friday, September 22, 2023, the Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board (OHIO YAB) was deeply honored to receive a Central Ohio Social Justice Award, alongside fellow recipients: Star House and Huckleberry House.

Link to more photos.

Incorporating Youth Perspectives into the Mandated Reporter Curriculum

On Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, a virtual meeting was held with the Ohio Children's Trust Fund, Briljent and Scale Strategic Solutions. Dorothy Striker and Laurie Valentine were on the call to be of support. 

Discussion included: 

1.) The OHIO YAB issue brief on youth safety

2.) Jonathan' Thomas' Op Ed 

3.) The recent presentation on county child abuse hotlines

4.) Efforts to safeguard youth who run away to escape abuse

5.) How Ohio was the last state in the nation to make police mandated reporters

Mattie's insights about ESSA

OHIO YAB Youth Ambassador Mattie Harrod created a video regarding the Every Student Succeeds Act and opportunities to improve K-12 outcomes for Ohio foster youth, which was shared as part of a workshop during the PCSAO conference on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023.

Mattie's goal in creating this video was to map out the supports needed by K-12 foster youth at school.

The federal Every Student Succeeds Act, as passed in December 2015, makes a lot of promises on paper that ultimately need to be both funded and held accountable on a federal, state and local level. 

For now, in Ohio (the state of 88 counties), it is up to the voices of tenacious and courageous youth leaders like Mattie, as well as caring ally organizations such as the Ohio Department of Education, to advocate for ESSA support to be a consistent part of the foster youth experience.

Youth who self-report being abused should be taken seriously

The Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board is a statewide organization of young people (aged 14-24) who have experienced foster care. The OHIO YAB exists to be the knowledgeable statewide voice that influences policies and practices that impact youth who have or will experience out of home care.

On Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, the OHIO YAB held a virtual meeting with ODJFS Leadership to discuss concerns about child abuse hotlines screening out youth who self report being abused. OHIO YAB Youth Ambassadors Rory, KC and Raven participated. 

2023 Self Care Summit for Foster Youth and Alumni

Link to more photos.

September is Self-Care Awareness Month, and the OHIO YAB and ACTION Ohio partnered with Hope Valley and the Ohio Supreme Court to facilitate a self care retreat for current and former foster youth (ages 14-24).

The 2023 Self Care Summit for Ohio Foster Care Youth and Alumni took place on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 at the Hope Valley Retreat Center, 4560 Gratiot Rd SE, Newark, OH 43056. 

Activities included:

• Icebreaker balls, with prompts designed by foster youth for foster youth
• Creation Station: Rock painting and making bath bombs 
• Labyrinth Activity, facilitated by Hope Valley staff 
• Red Flags activity, with physical red and green flags 
• Self Calming activities and tools, such as creating an internal safe place  

We are deeply grateful to the Ohio Supreme Court for sponsorship, Hope Valley for hosting, adult supporters for transporting youth, and to two CSCC professors for facilitating self-care activities.

We received RSVPs from Allen, Athens, Belmont, Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Lawrence, Licking, Lorain, Perry, and Van Wert counties.