Ohio Youth Advisory Board

Thursday, January 19, 2017,Quest Conference Center, 8405 Pulsar Place,

Columbus, OH 43240

• 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.

OHIO YAB Mission

• President Stephfon Kennedy, Cuyahoga County

• Vice President Melissa Stroud, NE Ohio

• Parliamentarian Damahri Carter, Franklin County

• Officer-in-Training Ronnie Dotson, Franklin County

• Outgoing President Gabriel Young, Mahoning County

2017 Ohio YAB Officers Retreat

• An ice storm prevented our Dayton Officers and Officers-in-Training from being able to participate

• A staffing change impacted transportation for Allen County youth

• Therefore, we will be holding a follow-up retreat in Dayton, on February 5th

Follow-up Retreat

2017 OHIO YAB Officer Priority Areas: Recruiting and Retaining

Foster Parents and Host Homes for Teens

- Group homes closing down- Foster care extended to 21- Not enough foster parents willing

to take teens

Explore ways to recruit and retain foster parents and host homes - and make sure that teens, foster parents and caseworkers each know what’s expected of them

2017 OHIO YAB Officer Priority Areas: Inform and Empower Foster Youth

About Resources and How to Access

Ohio foster care teens and young adults need to know about education, employment, housing and other resources.

- Look into partnership with United Way

- Consider a resource handbook similar to the Youth Rights Handbook (how to update?)

- What about online possibilities?

2017 OHIO YAB Officer Priority Areas: Videos By Youth For Youth

1. A foster parent/host home recruitment video (including one or more foster parents of teens)

2. Future YouTube series to inform and empower foster care youth and young adults by sharing specific resources, and insights for their peers on how to navigate them

2017 OHIO YAB Officer Priority Areas: Two Projects Initiated By

Our Officer in Training

1. Upcoming trip to Huck House to map out a roadmap for youth of what to expect when they contact a “Safe Place”

2. Working on an OHIO YAB app

Brainstorming Topics

1. BRIDGES Program (foster care supports until age 21)

2. Every Student Succeeds Act

3. Recruitment and Retention of foster parents

4. Resources for youth in crisis

Lunchtime ActivityAccomplishments in 2016

Goals for 2017

New and Good

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

OHIO YAB Quarterly Meetings in 2017:• April 20• July 20• October 19

• March 12-16, Three Days on the Hill