2019 Meeting With HUD Secretary Ben Carson

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2019 Meeting With the Governor's Office

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On Tuesday, January 29, 2019, Ohio foster care youth, alumni and allies held an introductory meeting with LeeAnne Cornyn, Director of Children’s Initiatives for the Office of Governor Mike DeWine and Chelsea Cordonnier of ODJFS.

Participants included representatives from the OHIO Youth Advisory Board, ACTION Ohio, Adoption Network Cleveland, and the Columbus State Scholar Network.

The agenda focused on:

1. Introductions and well-deserved congratulations to LeeAnne Cornyn
2. Appreciation for Governor Mike DeWine and the many ways that he has served as a champion for Ohio foster youth in his former role as Ohio Attorney General
3. Creating a statewide Foster Care Ombudsman’s Office
4. Reforming Ohio child welfare funding
5. Establishing an ongoing communications mechanism to stay in touch and keep working together

Training for Huckleberry House

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ACTION Ohio was honored to present a workshop for Huckleberry House on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019, from 10:30 am - noon. This invitation came from Kyra Crockett Hodge, who chairs the Cultural Competency Committee. Huckleberry House workers do have some working knowledge of the foster care population – but they want to be as helpful as possible in advocating for this population.

After a discussion of Culture of Foster Care, each participant received copies of the following:

1. OAC rule
2.Life Skills Assessment  
3. Youth developed discharge plan
4. Permanency Pact  
5. Central Ohio resource list, based on resource knowledge that Ohio teens and young adults in and from foster care have mentioned as being vital to their success

We were incredibly grateful that Chynna Kelley could be there to help talk participants through the complexities of the Bridges program. Her insights were invaluable.

2018 Central Ohio Thanksgiving Dinner

Central Ohio Thanksgiving in Columbus:
Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, from 1:00 – 4:00 pm
eStem Academy, 8579 Summit Road, Reynoldsburg OH 43068
*Lots of free parking on-site. Look for the balloons to find the right entrance.
Event Flyer

Sponsors included: Reynoldsburg City Schools, including the Leo Club, National Council of Jewish Women: Columbus Section, Congregation Beth Tikvah Sisterhood, Junior League of Columbus, Kay’s Catering, Half Price Books, Dave Thomas Foundation, My Very Own Blanket, Cece Norwood, Kristin Gilbert and Dora Sterling.

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2018 SW Thanksgiving Dinner

SW Ohio Thanksgiving in Cincinnati:Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Junior League of Cincinnati’s Columbia Center
3500 Columbia Pkwy, Cincinnati, OH 45226
*There is a parking lot and street parking
Event Flyer

Sponsors included: Junior League of Cincinnati, The Peoples Church, Opportunities Knocking TLP, Easley Blessed Photography, My Very Own Blanket, University of Cincinnati's HEMI initiative, Montgomery County JFS, Kroger, and Safe Pastures Transitional Living.

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2018 SE Thanksgiving Dinner

SE Ohio Thanksgiving in Athens:
Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Ohio University, Grover Center
*There are parking meters and a large parking lot nearby
Event Flyer 

Sponsors included: Kiser’s BBQ, Ohio University, Athens County CASA, Athens County Foster Parent Association, Athens County Children Services, Fairfield County Children Services, and My Very Own Blanket.

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2018 NE Thanksgiving Dinner

NE Ohio Thanksgiving in Cleveland:
Saturday Nov. 3, 2018, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Saint Ignatius High School, 1911 West 30th St., Cleveland OH 44113
*Parking was available next to the Breen Center on Lorain Ave.
Event Flyer

Sponsors included: St. Ignatius High School, Cuyahoga County Children and Family Services, Junior League of Greater Cleveland, National Council of Jewish Women, Cleveland Section, Adoption Network Cleveland, Fill This House, Open Table, The Purple Project and My Very Own Blanket.

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