2022 Youth Ombudsman testimony

Pictured with
Senator Cecil Thomas and Senator Teresa Fedor
of the Senator Judiciary

Link to more photos.

On Tuesday, January 25, 2022, we were able to provide testimony for House Bill 4, related to the establishment of a Youth Ombudsman. 

Proponent testimony was shared by: 

• Juliana Barton, ACTION Ohio
• Todd Brooklyn, OHIO YAB
• Kim Eckhart, CDF-Ohio

Testimony was also provided by Kristi Burre of the Governor's Children's Initiative, during which she mentioned that: 

• The independent Ombudsman Office is an important first step in listening to the youth voice and using it to inform policy changes and programs. 
  
  
• We are committed to this continued partnership with our youth advocates. 

• In discussions regarding the Ombudsman Office, youth shared they felt disconnected from resources and needed help navigating the children services system. 

• As a result, ODJFS has begun exploring ways to stand up a youth navigator program, which will support youth by answering their questions and providing information about the children services system. This program will complement the Ombudsman Office in a variety of ways.