Panel Presentation:

Foster Youth Resources and

Perspectives

One of our roles as parents:To empower youth to plan for the future

Life’s Transitions Do Not Happen Overnight

Recommended Reading: Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s 2012 Foster Youth Internship Report

Transition to Young Adulthood fora young person growing up with their biological family

Challenges faced by a young personwho “ages out” of foster care

Support during the transition

Panel of Experts

Mission Statement:Ohio Reach improves post-secondary outcomes

for foster care youth and alumni through advocacy, leadership, networking and empowerment.

Foster parents can encourage youth to:

The Ohio Benefit Bank is a program of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, designed to assist Ohioans in accessing life-changing programs and resources such as:

• Universal Youth Transition Plan • Food and Nutrition Programs• Taxes and Student Aid Programs (including the FAFSA)• Medicaid• Child Care • Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)• Ohio Works First Cash Assistance (OWF)

The Foster Youth Advocacy Center provides free legal help to current and former foster youth in Central Ohio, ages 16-25.

This team of lawyers and law students can assist with:

• Attaining an original birth certificate• Attaining an original social security card• Attaining a current state identification card• Understanding legal documents• Sealing or deleting criminal records• Getting healthcare, public benefits, housing or insurance

• Eligibility: Under age 26, in foster care on 18th birthday, received IV-E funding/services prior to age 18

• Application process: Caseworker submits a JFS 01958 form and Medicaid application OR youth reaches out to Medicaid, identifying themselves as a former foster youth.

• Maintaining coverage: Emancipated youth must report any changes in address, telephone number and email address to Ohio Medicaid

Medicaid benefits for former foster youth

Collective voices of current and former foster care youth:

The Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board (OHIO YAB) is a statewide organization of young people (aged 14-24) who have experienced foster care

Mission Statement:We exist to be the

knowledgeable statewide voice that influences policies and

practices that effect all youth who have or

will experience out of home care.

The OHIO YAB’s ongoing activities include:

1. Quarterly statewide meetings2. Annual Officer’s Retreat2. Three Days on the Hill

Foster Care Alumni of America Ohio chapter (FCAA Ohio) is a statewide organization of former foster youth (ages 18+) and allies who share our mission.

Mission Statement:To connect the alumni community and

to transform policy and practice, ensuring opportunity

for people in and from foster care.

Annual activities include: 1. Annual Thanksgiving Reunions 2. Pay It Forward Program 3. Suits for Success

The resources and relationships that young people need to succeed

Permanency Pact:

What exactly can I rely on you for?

It is critical to the youth’s success to identify those adults who will continue to provide various supports through and beyond the transition from care.

Clarifying exactly what the various supports will include can help to avoid gaps in the youth’s safety net and misunderstandings between the youth and the supportive adult(s).

• A home for the holidays• A place to do laundry• An emergency place to stay• Care packages while in college• Storage• Someone to discuss problems with• A phone or computer to use

Questions and Answers