1. Panel
Presentation:
Foster Youth
Resources and
Perspectives

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

3. Life’s Transitions Do Not
Happen Overnight
Recommended Reading: Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s
2012 Foster Youth Internship Report

4. Transition to Young Adulthood for
a young person growing up with their biological family

5. Challenges faced by a young person
who “ages out” of foster care

6. Support during the transition

7. Panel of Experts

8. Mission Statement:
Ohio Reach improves post-secondary outcomes
for foster care youth and alumni through
advocacy, leadership, networking and empowerment.

9. Foster parents can encourage youth to:

10. 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)

12. 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

13. • 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

14. Collective voices of
current and former foster care youth:

15. 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.

16. The OHIO YAB’s
ongoing activities include:
1. Quarterly statewide meetings
2. Annual Officer’s Retreat
2. Three Days on the Hill

17. 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.

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

19. The resources and
relationships that young
people need to succeed

20. Permanency Pact:

21. 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

22. Questions and Answers