Thursday, November 23, 2017

Thinking of you on Thanksgiving


ACTION Ohio ~ Alumni of Care Together Improving Outcomes Now

It’s Thanksgiving Day, and what I am most thankful for is having the chance to celebrate
regional early Thanksgiving dinners with my brothers and sisters of the foster care system. We hope you were able to make it, and be a part of our celebrations. We want you to know that you are welcome to stay in touch with us all year.

Leadership Opportunities

We encourage young people ages 14-24 to get involved in their local youth advisory board. There are also statewide opportunities for leadership coming up in 2018. Please consider filling out the
OHIO YAB Officer in Training Application.

Video Opportunities

Three separate times, during three different early Thanksgiving dinners, a young person began crying because they said they had finally found a foster parent who believed in them. Ohio needs foster parents for teens, and host homes for young adults. Please look over, and promote the
OHIO YAB Video Project Application.


DC Advocacy in 2018

We are currently working behind the scenes to finalize the date for our sixth annual Three Days on the Hill. Ohio youth voices over the past five years have led to Representative Michael Turner proposing the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act. It’s time to end the Foster Care to Homelessness Pipeline.

Statewide Resources


We want our statewide family of those in and from foster care, and our allies, to know that you matter. We want you to know about every resource available to support your success.

Higher Ed?    We hope you know about filling out the FAFSA as an independent student, applying for
ETV funds, and reaching out to Ohio Reach regarding campus supports.

Legal Help?  
FYAC is a fantastic (and free) resource. They can help track down your foster care records, assist in landlord-tenant disputes, and so much more.

Healthcare?  We hope you know that former foster youth are eligible for
free Medicaid until age 26. You can call their hotline at 1-800-324-8683.


Lisa Dickson
Communications Chair
ACTION Ohio
Alumni of Care Together Improving Outcomes Now
www.fosteractionohio.org

2017 Central Thanksgiving dinner


Link to additional photos.

The 2017 Central Ohio Thanksgiving Dinner took place in Columbus: 
  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017 
  • Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm 
  • Location: eStem Academy, 8579 Summit Road, Reynoldsburg OH 43068
    *Part of Reynoldsburg High School's Summit Campus 
Event Sponsors:
  • Stonybrook United Methodist Church 
  • E-merge Real Estate 
  • Reynoldsburg City Schools, including the Leo Club 
  • National Council of Jewish Women, Columbus Section 
  • Junior League of Central Ohio 
  • Kay's Catering
  • Starfish Alliance 
  • United Methodist Children's Home 
  • Half Price Books 
  • Dave Thomas Foundation 
  • My Very Own Blanket 
  • Alina Walker, CASA
Planning Committee: 
  • Lisa Dickson, Jamole Callahan, and Doris Edelmann, Deanna Jones, Ruth-Ann Jones Thompson, ACTION Ohio
  • Ann Bischoff, Star House


Wednesday, November 15, 2017

2017 SE Ohio Thanksgiving Dinner


Link to additional photos.

The 2017 SE Ohio Thanksgiving Dinner took place in Athens: 
  •  Date: Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017 
  • Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm 
  • Location: Ohio University, Grover Center 
Event Sponsors:
  • Kiser's BBQ 
  • Ohio University 
  • Athens County CASA 
  • Athens County Foster Parent Association 
  • Athens County Children Services 
  • ACTION Ohio 
  • Fairfield County Children Services 
  • My Very Own Blanket 
Planning Committee: 
  • Jenny Stotts, Athens County CASA 
  • Michael Outrich, Lisa Dickson, Jamole Callahan and Doris Edelmann, ACTION Ohio 
  • Lisa Seitz, Athens County Children Services 
  • Stephanie Jackson, Fairfield County Children Services

2017 SW Ohio Thanksgiving Dinner


Link to additional photos.

The 2017 SW Ohio Thanksgiving Dinner took place in Cincinnati:
  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 
  • Time: From Noon - 2:30 pm 
  • Location: Peoples Church, 220 William Howard Taft Road, Cincinnati OH 45219 
Sponsors: 
  • The Peoples Church 
  • Opportunities Knocking TLP 
  • Easley Blessed Photography 
  • ACTION Ohio 
  • The Forgotten Initiative 
  • Montgomery County JFS 
  • Kroger 
Planning Committee: 
  • Elizabeth Garmon and Allanna, The Peoples Church 
  • Val Bairnsfather, Safe Pastures Transitional Living 
  • Doris Edelmann, Lisa Dickson and Jamole Callahan, ACTION Ohio 
  • Laquita Howell, Opportunities Knocking TLP 
  • HEMI 
  • Pat McCollum, SWOFCA

Sunday, November 5, 2017

2017 NE Ohio Thanksgiving Dinner


Link to additional photos.

The 2017 NE Ohio Thanksgiving Dinner took place in Cleveland: 
  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017 
  • Time: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm 
  • Location: Saint Ignatius High School, 1911 West 30th St., Cleveland OH 44113 
Event Sponsors: 
  • St. Ignatius High School 
  • Cuyahoga County Children and Family Services 
  • Junior League of Greater Cleveland 
  • National Council of Jewish Women, Cleveland Section 
  • ACTION Ohio 
  • Fill This House 
  • Adoption Network Cleveland 
  • Open Table
  • Bessie's Angels
Planning Committee: 
  • Danielle Green-Welch, Cuyahoga County Children and Family Services 
  • Lisa Dickson and Doris Edelmann, ACTION Ohio
  • Special thanks to Delilah Hoffman for making many calls to public and private child welfare agencies behind the scenes, to identify the agency contact person, and encourage their agency to transport youth so they could attend

Photos and details about the Pathways conference

Coming soon....