Two Big Tables - and a Sweet Surprise

 On Wednesday, September 25, 2024:

• One Big Table was hosted by the Mirth Foundation: link to photos.
• One Big Table was hosted by the Junior League of Columbus: link to photos. 

Both Big Table events were focus on improving outcomes for young people in and from foster care. Here is a link to a document that illustrates how statistics are influenced by systemic factors. 

The Big Table is a community-wide day of conversation hosted by The Columbus Foundation that aims to inspire civic engagement and authentic human connection. The goal is to build momentum for a just and kind future for all. Volunteer hosts are equipped with a guidebook and materials to help facilitate discussions, in order to create open and natural conversations where all voices are hear.

It was a sweet surprise for ACTION Ohio Communications Chair Lisa Dickson to receive an award from the Junior League of Columbus. ACTION Ohio deeply appreciates JLC, and loves partnering with them on state legislation and the annual Central Ohio Thanksgiving Together event. They truly care about improving outcomes for young people in and from foster care. 

Presentation for Junior League of Columbus

On Friday, September 6, 2024, ACTION Ohio Communications Chair Lisa Dickson presented for the Junior League of Columbus about seeking better safeguards for youth who run away to escape from abuse.

Here's a link to slides from her presentation. 

200 Duffel Bags for Central Ohio Foster Youth

Link to more photos.

ACTION Ohio (Alumni of Care Together Improving Outcomes Now) is a volunteer group of foster care alumni whose initiatives include Suits for Success, Thanksgiving Together and facilitating the statewide youth advisory board. 

OCJ Kids, which stands for Opportunity, Community and Justice, exists to provide opportunities for the faith and business communities to impact the lives of foster youth. This organization is located in Arizona, but they partnered with the Assemblies of God to host a national youth conference in Columbus from August 5-9.

The Fine Arts Festival was designed by Assemblies of God Youth Ministries to help students discover, develop, and deploy their gifts, abilities and talents. On the fourth day of the festival, youth participants participated in an outreach project focused on resources for youth aging out of foster care. They packed 200 duffel bags to donate to foster youth. 

Representatives from ACTION Ohio and the Columbus Scholar House for Former Foster Youth assisted with packing and transporting these items to Franklin County Children Services. 

Testimony on Senate Bill 182: Foster to College Scholarships

Ohio foster care youth, alumni and allies continue to share their voices to advocate for companion bills House Bill 164 and Senate Bill 182. Many thanks to ACTION Ohio ally member Kim Eckhart and to the Junior League of Columbus for their tireless efforts.

These two bills mirror one another in their efforts to enact sections 3301.95 and 3333.89 of the Revised Code to establish the Foster-to-College Scholarship Program, to require the Department of Education to hire a full-time school foster care liaison, and to make an appropriation for the Foster-to-College Scholarship Program.

House Bill 164 has 58 co-sponsors, and on June 12, 2024, it passed in the Ohio House of Representatives with a vote of 84 in favor and three against. So, current efforts are focused on supporting the Senate version.

2024 Leadership and Life Skills Summit

 

Link to more photos.

The Leadership and Life Skills Summit took place on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at the Crowne Plaza North. This was Ohio's first statewide life skills summit for current and former foster youth since the pandemic. For the past five years, Ohio foster care youth and alumni have been brainstorming about how to make this event happen once again. Last year’s Self Care Summit was to help lay that groundwork.

The purpose of this event is to inform and empower young people (ages 14-24) who have experienced out of home care. We received RSVPs from Allen, Athens, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Cuyahoga, Delaware, Franklin, Geauga, Greene, Hamilton, Highland, Lake, Licking, Lorain, Lucas, Mahoning, Miami, Montgomery, Pike, Preble, Putnam, Ross, Vinton, Sandusky, Summit, Trumbull and Warren Counties. 

We are deeply grateful to the Ohio Children’s Alliance for partnering with us on the Aging Out Institute grant, which covered the cost of meals during this event. We also truly appreciate those who have supported the gathering, transport and distribution of Suits for Success. Without Velda Hofacker, Bethany Workman, Sarah Saunders, Jaye Turner, and an amazing team of staff volunteers from the Department of Children and Youth, successful transportation of approximately 950 brand new clothing items would have been impossible. 

This summit embodied “lived experience” because every workshop reflects the insights and input of current and former foster youth. Nine of the 11 workshops were facilitated or co-facilitated by current or former foster youth. There was also a learning track for with CEUs for adults who transported youth. Adults were required to transport youth in order to be eligible. 

Suits Sorting Day, Part 5

On Friday, May 24, 2024, Lisa Dickson and Bethany Workman prepared, bagged and packed up as many items as we could for transport on June 10, 2024 (the day before the Summit).

Thanks to Velda, we now have 500+ items of clothing for young women, in addition to the 300+ brand new clothing donations for young men.
 

Suits Sorting Day, Part 4

Deeply grateful to Velda Hofacker for providing women's clothing for the 2024 Leadership and Life Skills Summit, and for coming in two extra Fridays in May to help sort Suits.