Laquita Howell participates in 50 States in 50 Days

The Ohio stop on Kevin Montgomery's 50 States in 50 Days tour, benefitting the Orange Duffel Bag Foundation to support teens aging out of foster care and homeless teens, featured Laquita Howell of Hamilton County:

2010 NE Ohio Independent Living Summit

The 2010 Northeast Ohio Independent Living Summit, sponsored by Stark County Children Services, took place on Friday, October 29, 2010, from 9:00 am-4:00 pm at First Christian Church, 6900 Market Avenue North, Canton, OH, 44721.

This event was dedicated to “Supporting Success for Youth Transitioning From Foster Care.”

Supporting Organizations included: Stark County Children Services, OACCA, Foster Care Alumni of America Ohio chapter, Adoption Network Cleveland, Community Care Network, Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services, Family and Community Services of Portage County, Institute for Human Services, Lorain County Children Services, Lowery Training Associates, Lucas County Children Services, Mahoning County Children Services, Montgomery County Department of Job and Familiy Services, Pressley Ridge, Starr Commonwealth, and Voices for Ohio’s Children.

Outcome of Ohio YAB Officer Elections

 Madame President

Congratulations to 2011 Ohio YAB Officers:

• President Cieria Rodriguez-Toney, Lorain County
• Vice President*
• Media Spokesperson Dauntea Sledge, Franklin County
• Treasurer Traci Justice, Athens County
• Secretary Cheslie Akers, Miami County
• Parliamentarian Roneshia Finney, Montgomery County

*Vacant: Elections for this position will be held in January.

Seanine Cook, Cuyahoga County Youth Advisory Board: TAGyc

Seanine Cook, an Independent Living caseworker with Cuyahoga County Child and Family Services, was recently awarded 2010 Ohio Child Protection Worker of the Year by the Public Children Services Association of Ohio.

Seanine Cook was also recently awarded the Channel 3 News Today Gold Star:

• Social worker goes beyond the call of duty to help a foster kid, WKC.com, October 13, 2010

Along with two Cuyahoga County foster care alumni, Tone Frierson and Romero Smith, Seanine recently participated in the following radio interview:

• Kuhlman, Mary. Entering Adulthood a Lonely Road for Hundreds of Ohio Youth. Public News Service: Ohio, October 11, 2010.

2010 CASA Conference

General Session: Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board Panel Discussion
The Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board, created in 2006 by youth for youth, advocates for youth who have experienced out-of-home care.

The Ohio YAB’s recommendations include:

• Considerations for the courts and CASA/GALs
• Developing independent living skills, addressing mental health issues of youth in foster care
• Communication issues between caseworkers, foster parents and parents
• Sibling concerns
• Maintaining normalcy while in foster care

This panel of exceptional young adults spoke to the issues that are the greatest concern for youth in foster care, sharing their experiences, strength and hope for the future.

2010 Judicial Teleconference on Youth Voice in Court

Link to more photos. 

Agenda:

• Introduction of Topic and Panel Members 
• Magistrate shared the history of youth involvement in court and how this plays out in practice
• Youth Panel
• Questions from the audience

Youth Panel Questions

1. Please tell us a little bit about your experience in foster care… 
2. Were you able to attend one/more court hearings?   If so was it helpful?  Were you prepared ahead of time?
3. If not, what was it like not knowing what goes on in court?  What information about your case did you want the judge/magistrate to know?
4. How is hearing from youth in person different from hearing from their CASA or caseworker?
5. What would you tell a judge or magistrate that was on the fence about including youth in hearings?

Additional Questions:

a.) Are all hearings equal, or are some hearings more important than others? (i.e. placement decision/change in case/general review with no change)

b.) Should they make exceptions based upon:

• The child’s age?
• What a young person wants?
• If they think the child/teen isn’t emotionally ready?
• If the logistics are inconvenient? (long drive for adult/long wait for child)
• Whether or not the court is kid-friendly? (or teen-friendly)

Superintendent Delisle quotes Alex McFarland

The Office for Exceptional Children held their annual Special Education Leadership Conference yesterday afternoon and Superintendent Deborah Delisle provided the keynote address.

In her closing, she mentioned that she had come from a meeting with the OFCF Cabinet Council, where she heard from an amazing youth who had previously been in foster care. She proceeded to share Alex McFarland’s story as an example of the difference that one teacher can make in the life of a child, especially one that others may have overlooked or given up on.

Kara Waldron of the Office for Exceptional Children relates:

"Alex’s story was truly an inspiration to our crowd of more than 1,700. We are grateful for the work that he continues to do on behalf of Ohio’s youth. Without Alex McFarland, Adrian McLemore, and their counterparts, we might forget the meaning behind our efforts."