Virtual Meeting with Director Wente

Below is a follow-up message sent to Director Kara Wente after a virtual meeting with her and twelve representatives of the OHIO YAB on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. 

Director Wente,

Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with us at a time that we are available and thanks for being willing to do so on evenings and even weekends if needed. Sunday nights at 6 pm work best for us, but we can often make Wednesday or Thursday nights at 6 pm or later work as well. 

Thank you so much for inviting our feedback, because as we looked at the current website for the new Ohio Department of Children and Youth, and as we looked at the list of priorities and goals, we did not yet see ourselves and feel included. We care and understand that this website and these efforts are in a transition stage, and we would love to be of help and support. 

The OHIO YAB recommends that the website of the new Ohio Department of Children and Youth include a “Youth Page.” Currently, the website only has tabs for Families, Providers and Partners. Since the department’s mission statement is: “To place children at the core of its mission to promote positive, lifelong outcomes for all Ohio youth,” we believe that a subpage on their website for Youth is needed.

We can and understand that the Department has not hired a new Communications person yet. As Aaron mentioned last night, “I cannot wait to meet the new Communications Director when we are gifted with that beautiful human!”

When it comes to the future “Youth” page on the website, we would love to work together on two goals:

1.) Resources: For the Youth Page to include resources for teens and young adults who lack family support. Not every young person has a family that they can rely on; they need and deserve access to information and resources as well. We are including an attached summary of resource links that Ohio youth leaders have recommended be included on the future Youth subpage of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth website.

As one of our youth leaders mentioned last night, as a youth without family support transitioning into young adulthood: “It’s so hard for get information to even know about resources. They are not accessible if you don’t have someone who knows. This makes it 10 times harder.”

While a “Youth” page on the Ohio Department of Children and Youth’s website can never replace the need for caring adults to coach, support and encourage teens and young adults, it can inform those caring adults and the youth themselves. 

2.) Photos of Teens and Young Adults: Again, we would love to help with this, once the new Communications staff member is hired. When youth reviewed the current website, they noticed that: “It’s not really focused on teens. It seems focused on ages 10 and under. There is no representation of teens in the photos on the website, just families and children and focused on the first years.”

One of our youth leaders asked last night, “Speaking as someone who entered the system at three years old age, and re-entered at 10 years old, we (the teens and young adults) are the children that you wanted to help. Where is the focus on older youth? What made you all steer towards younger children?”

She added, “We are those same three-year-olds. We are just older now.” 

When it comes to the Department’s website --- and, ultimately, the Department’s goals, it would be wonderful if the voices, experiences and outcomes of teens and young adults who lack family privilege could have greater representation. And, again, we would love to help.

As one of our youth leaders, Aaron, shared at the end of the call:

• Thank you for giving me the opportunity to listen in on this insightful meeting tonight. It sparked a deeper conviction in my soul. 

• Director Wente, my gratitude goes out to you for a most well-presented gathering. I feel you hear our passion and truly will be a voice in rooms we might not be able to at this moment.

• Director Duesen, my gratitude goes to you for sharing and giving us space to be heard.

• To all our youth that shared tonight - you were phenomenal, and you spoke for my heart.

Aaron recommended: "Let's stay connected with regards to a follow-up Zoom meet together! Having a Progress Tracking Report would be amazing."