Extending foster care to age 23 in the state of Ohio

Extending Foster Care to 23 discussion, facilitated by Dorothy Striker of ODJFS, OHIO YAB ambassador Raven Grice and foster care alumna Kim Rhyan

During the recent statewide OHIO YAB meeting, youth recommended that the state of Ohio extend foster care supports to age 23. They felt that extension of supports to age 21 was a good start, and that prolonging supports for two additional years would be a helpful steppingstone to create long-lasting change. 

Challenges that youth with a foster care history currently face when turning 21, and “aging out” eligibility for Chafee supports or the Bridges program include the following:

a.) Concerns about money and budget:

• Rising costs of food and transportation
• Driver’s license, parking fees, parking pass, how to find a care
• Unsure of where to live during dorm breaks

b.) Loss of caseworker support:

• Abandonment issues
• Quote: “It takes time to develop trust with Bridges worker.”
• Quote: “We rely on the system because we cannot rely on our family. Family isn’t always blood.”

c.) Concerns about lack of readiness and preparation: 

• Individual development accounts are only available in some counties
• Quote: “We have a lack of natural supports.”
• Quote: “There is a lot of stuff that no one teaches us.”
• Quote: “We don’t have everything figured out by age 21.”
• Quote: “We don’t have a lot of time to make mistakes and learn from them” in a safe environment that allows youth to learn by experience.

d.) Desiring two years of additional time to receive support with:

• Being able to afford food, clothes, a place to live, furniture, and utilities 
• Emergency funds when needed
• Help applying for things, including maintaining access to medical care
• Helping to find a college or university
• Making a summer plan
• Completing college before losing support
• Finding a job, including finding a job after completing college (this can be scary)
• Disabilities services
• Filing taxes
• Adapting to life as an adult
• Learning how to be a parent
• Reuniting with family and/or developing emotional supports
• Connecting with individual or family counseling services

Youth felt that extending this period of transition would help them to be more successful in young adulthood.  

Youth also talked about inflation, and asked, “Could there be increased funding through Bridges, due to increased cost of living?  Rent and utilities are super expensive, due to the inflation rate of over 9%. Could this lead to increased funding for Bridges?”

 

Youth Voice on Shared Practice Model

Shared Practice Model breakout session, facilitated by Scott Britton of PCSAO and foster care alumna Jaye Turner

During the recent statewide OHIO YAB meeting, youth suggested ways to better transition from one worker to another, to better support youth.

They asked if there could be any notice that their caseworker was going on extended leave, vacation or quitting. And suggested proactive ways to make this transition smoother such as an introduction, and an transition if possible – similar to how Bridges was designed to provide a “warm hand-off.”

Communication with Caseworker

• Need personal relationship with caseworker 
• Caseworkers please build a relationship with youth and get to know them and let them get to know you. Take the time to build that connection.
• Tell youth before change occurs
• Be timely!  Don’t leave youth waiting for info
• Urgency! (i.e. travel letters, Prom, expunge record)

Please Advocate on Youth’s Behalf

• Taking initiative
• Take action, speak up, even with supervisor
   

Listening to Youth

• “It might not seem big to you or the agency, but it’s big to us”
• Best interest of child/youth
• Respect that youth may not want to talk with bio parents
• “Just because we’re blood that doesn’t mean we are family” 
• Respect and ask about a youth’s chosen family, and the family members they feel safe with
• Honesty, don’t sugarcoat, youth are mature: “I would rather have the truth and be hurt by that” than the alternative
• Trust the youth, give them choice
• “We know our family” 
• Let youth have a choice about talking to family members, staying at a particular foster home, whether or not they want to be adopted
• Make it youth choice re: adoption; stop trying to force them
  
  

Need for Youth Voice on Shared Practice Model

• We need Shared Practice Model: better training, right motivation
• What is the worker’s “why?”
• Instead of saying families can heal, say that families can heal with the right support
• Families need concrete and economic supports
• Prevention is tied in with mental health and economics
  
  

Need for Agencies to Value Caseworkers

• Caseworker shortage, burnout is becoming the status quo
• 20 youth to one caseworker is a recipe for failure
• One youth shared concerns about overwhelming caseworkers with unrealistic deadlines.

Video Project to Support Teen Moms in Foster Care

OHIO YAB Ambassador Kelsie Brown has dedicated her utmost efforts towards the creation of a video about Teen Moms in Foster Care, and her son Braydon has also been a valuable - and patient - part of the process. 

Skateworld of Vandalia was the one place where Kelsie felt safe as a child. The owners of the rink allowed free use of their venue for filming this project, and even opened up early in the day so we had the entire rink to ourselves.

It was wonderful to have Kelsie’s former foster mom as part of the video, during the portion filmed at a local park that the three of them used to visit. Mrs. Andrea specializes in fostering teen moms, and when Kelsie was entrusted to her as a scared 16-year-old, Mrs. Andrea both reassured and empowered her. In Kelsie's words, "She supported me in being responsible as a mother, without making me feel alone."

Link to additional photos.

July 2022 OHIO YAB meeting

Link to more photos.

 

 

Virtual meeting with Ohio's first-ever Youth Ombudsman

Details forthcoming... 

Press release from CDF-Ohio about Ohio's first-ever Youth Ombudsman

Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio applauds Governor DeWine’s appointment of Jenny Stotts as its first Youth Ombudsman, a role dedicated to ensuring that the concerns of youth in foster care are listened to and resolved

COLUMBUS — Today’s announcement of Ohio’s first Youth Ombudsman by Governor DeWine is good news for youth in foster care across the state of Ohio.

Earlier this year, Governor DeWine signed H.B. 4, which established the role of the Youth Ombudsman, who is charged with investigating complaints made by youth in foster care and advocating for their best interest. The OHIO YAB (Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board), the statewide organization of young people (aged 14-24) who have experienced foster care, Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio (CDF-Ohio), and ACTION Ohio (Alumni of Care Together Improving Outcomes Now Ohio), were partners in the Youth Ombudsman advocacy campaign and are especially thankful for today’s announcement as the culmination of work by both groups and the fulfillment of a commitment by Governor DeWine, a longtime advocate for children in foster care.

“Stotts is a leader who demonstrates a sense of urgency when a young person’s concerns have not been addressed by those entrusted with their care. This role is critical, especially in instances where youth find themselves in an unsafe placement. We urge her to prioritize protecting youth from retaliation,” said Kim Eckhart of CDF-Ohio.

H.B. 4 requires that the OHIO YAB have input into the selection of the Youth Ombudsman. The OHIO YAB submitted this input during the selection process and welcomes the appointment of Stotts, who embodies their recommendations. They recommended that the leader be proactive in informing youth about the Foster Youth Bill of Rights and how this office can help to enforce those rights. At a minimum, they will have experience in advocating for youth who have experienced foster care, such as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Also, they should have experience in investigations and understand the rules and laws of the child welfare system in Ohio, as well as the different processes among counties. The key recommendation is that youth can trust this person and recommend the office to their peers who are experiencing a situation of abuse or rights violations.

“Stotts served as a county CASA director and is someone who understands trauma and how it affects behavior. She is an adoptee who grew up with foster siblings. She has made it possible for foster youth to share their voice and insights on numerous occasions, and we trust and know that she will welcome their ongoing insights in the future,” said Lisa Dickson, co-facilitator of the OHIO YAB.

“Stotts moves with intentionality and consideration that will greatly benefit the youth this office will serve. We are excited to hear of her announcement and have faith she will bring that to the role,” said Deanna Jones, MPA, BSSW, LSW, Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio Consultant and former foster youth and caseworker.

The OHIO YAB and CDF-Ohio are hopeful that the Youth Ombudsman will serve to enforce the Foster Youth Bill of Rights and play a key role in educating youth about their rights. They urge the Youth Ombudsman to identify and advocate for system-level reforms to protect youth. They see this role as a key part of holding the system accountable and making the system more responsive to youth needs from the youth’s perspective.

Press Release from the Governor's Office regarding Ohio's first ever Youth Ombudsman

Governor Appoints Two Ombudsmen to Lead New Office

May 19, 2022

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Governor Mike DeWine today announced the selection of two individuals to lead the Youth and Family Ombudsmen Office.  Jenny R. Stotts will serve as the first-ever Youth Ombudsman, while Jennifer A. Sheriff will serve as the first-ever Family Ombudsman. The office, a recommendation included in the Children’s Services Transformation Advisory Council’s Final Report, will be housed in the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and is set to open May 31, 2022.

“Members of the Children Services Transformation Advisory Council heard over and over again from foster youth, former foster youth, and families that  separate, independent ombudsmen were needed to listen, investigate, and find solutions when there are concerns,” Governor DeWine said. “I am proud that we are enacting this recommendation, and I am confident that this new office, combined with other council recommendations, will help Ohio better serve kids and their families.”

On February 28, 2022, Governor Mike DeWine signed Amended House Bill 4 into law, creating the Youth and Family Ombudsmen Office. The office, which consists of both a Youth Ombudsman and a Family Ombudsman, will ensure the independent and impartial review of youth, family, and community complaints and concerns, while attempting to resolve the issues.

Prior to accepting the Youth Ombudsman position, Stotts served as the Executive Director of the Athens County Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardian Ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Program and the Regional Coordinator of CASA in Southeast Ohio. Her professional experiences include direct practice in child protective services as a caseworker and forensic interviewer. Stotts also served in workforce preparation as part of the University Partnership Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program (UPP). Stotts is a licensed social worker.

Family Ombudsman Sheriff most recently served as the Lucas County Child Protection Ombudsman. After graduating from law school in 2008, she spent the next eight years prosecuting criminal cases with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Beginning in 2016, she managed a challenging child abuse and neglect caseload as an Assistant Attorney General representing the Arizona Department of Child Safety.

“Having been a foster parent, I know the value in an office dedicated to helping both youth and families,” said ODJFS Director Matt Damschroder. “The Youth and Family Ombudsmen Office, and our recently published bills of rights for foster youth and resource caregivers, are examples of how we can empower families and make the system easier to navigate.”

Damschroder also announced that in addition to the appointment of the Ombudsmen, Rachel Selby has been selected to serve as State Liaison for the office. In her role, she will serve as a liaison between the office and its stakeholders to grow awareness about its services. Selby has a Masters of Humanities and most recently served as Philanthropy Officer for Dayton Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Governor DeWine created the Children Services Transformation Advisory Council in late 2019 to hear directly from those who have experienced the children’s services system first-hand and make recommendations to help children’s services better meet the needs of the families they serve. Following 10 field hearings, the council issued their final report that included 37 recommendations. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has fully implemented or has made significant progress in implementing 36 of the recommendations to ensure lasting change for Ohio’s children and families.