Passport to Success conference in Cincinnati

The Passport to Success conference at the University of Cincinnati was a huge success. Kudos to the University of Cincinnati, HEMI, Hamilton County Job and Family Services, Hamilton County Connecting the Dots, and many other sponsors and supporters of this worthwhile event.

Foster Care Alumni of America's Ohio chapter facilitated the Suits for Success area.

• Suits for Success provides professional attire to current and former foster youth who are entering -- or hoping to enter -- the workforce. This program was created in 2011 by the Ohio State Bar Foundation and the Ohio chapter of Foster Care Alumni of America, and was initially launched during the statewide 2011 Career and Entrepreneurship conference for Ohio foster care youth and alumni.

• Foster care alumni served as alumni role models. They not only helped foster youth try on clothing, but also shared first-hand knowledge of resources and encouraging each participating young person to take full advantage of every resource made available to them. Conference facilitators commented on the effectiveness and positive nature of this approach.

Teening Up for Success Conference in NE Ohio

Northeast Ohio foster care youth and alumni greatly enjoyed participating in the Teening Up for Success conference, hosted by Stark and Lorain counties. The Ohio chapter of Foster Care Alumni of America led two workshops on "Resources and Relationships to Help Youth Succeed."

Youth and Alumni Voices During the OFCA Conference

The Ohio Family Care Association hosts an annual statewide conference for resource parents, including foster, adoptive, kinship, respite and even some biological parents.

The Ohio chapter of Foster Care Alumni of America had the honor of facilitating the resource panel for foster parents. Panelists included three foster care youth, two foster care alumni and three organizational representatives from Ohio Reach, Capital Law School's Foster Youth Advocacy Clinic and the Ohio Benefit Bank.

The focus was on resources to support teens in foster care before and during their transition into young adulthood.

Youth and alumni did a wonderful job during the OFCA conference:

• They presented themselves in a professional manner 
• They were positive in the delivery of their message 
• They were well-prepared, and the time they took to prepare led to their message being effective 

The ally presenters from Ohio Reach, Capital Law School and the Ohio Benefit Bank were knowledgeable and informative, and the resources they shared were relevant to the presentation, and well-received by the audience.

Foster parents were very receptive, and post-panel conversations were productive. Several foster parents expressed interest in taking youth in their care (ages 15+) to upcoming teen conferences.

 

2014 OFCA Panel - updated PPT from Lisa Dickson

Fall 2014 meetings of the Ohio chapter of Foster Care Alumni of America

SW Ohio CTD event, with Keynote Speaker Antwone Fisher

Kudos to FCAA Ohio members Doris Edelmann, Brittany Christian, Adrian McLemore and Philip Shanks for the wonderful job you did in helping to plan and facilitate the second annual SW Ohio Connecting the Dots conference in Dayton.

Foster care alumni Violet Ramunni in DC

On May 29, 2014, the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth held the third annual "Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day." Nearly 70 current and former foster youth from across the country gathered on Capitol Hill to shadow Members of Congress and advocate for changes to the child welfare system.

Ohio's very own Violet Ramunni, of the Summit County YAB in Ohio, was chosen to participate in Congressional Youth Shadow Day. She shadowed Congresswoman Marcia Fudge.

 

Foster care alumna Alexis Cook in DC

On April 8th, Alexis Cook traveled to Washington, D.C. with FosterClub. During her time in DC, she met with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH). Alexis attended his weekly coffee with constituents where she discussed the importance of providing services for young people in foster care once they turn 18 and “age out” of the system.



Alexis is currently involved in the Youth and Alumni Advisory Committee on Ending Homelessness. This group is made up of current and former foster youth ages 14-26 who serve to represent the voices of Youth and Alumni in Lighthouse Youth Services’ 16 month planning process to end youth homelessness in Cincinnati.

During the Kick Off of the Hamilton County youth council, Alexis was the first to arrive. She manned the registration desk and welcomed each young person as they arrived. Because Alexis had already received training in FCAA Ohio Purposeful Sharing back in 2010, she was able to answer questions from other youth about how to determine what was appropriate to share.

 Two days after the Kick-off of the Youth and Alumni Advisory Committee on Ending Homelessness, Alexis helped present foster care youth and alumni recommendations and insights to the larger Steering Group for this initiative. She was interviewed by Clyde Grey of WCPO news about the need for additional transitional housing options for young people.