Virtual Meeting with Senator Koehler

On Friday. Feb. 13, 2026, a virtual meeting was held with Senator Kyle Koehler's office to discuss:

• Tuition Waivers
• Driving Barriers

Link to slide deck.

The call included Marisa's powerful testimony. 

ACTION Ohio quoted in a press release from Representative Miller's Office

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Max Miller (OH-07) introduced H.R.7343, the Foster Youth Workforce Opportunity Act, to expand use of education and training vouchers (ETVs) to allow foster youth to access short-term workforce and vocational training programs, apprenticeships, and remedial education. Currently, vouchers do not grant recipients access to all the career pathways they need to be successful in the modern economy. The bill provides flexibility for youth to pursue alternative career pathways to obtain certifications needed for in-demand jobs. 

“Too many foster youths face unnecessary barriers when trying to pursue workforce training,” said Congressman Miller. “I’m proud to lead legislation to expand opportunities that prepare our young people for the jobs of today’s economy.”  

“I’m proud to serve as the Democratic co-lead on the Foster Youth Workforce Opportunity Act, said Congressman Dwight Evans. "This bill would help more foster youth to access education and training to help them succeed.” 

“ETV can currently be used for some vocational schools if the school is listed on the FAFSA. But that leaves many trade schools and short-term certificates ineligible. This can be a barrier to connecting former foster youth with necessary workforce skills,” said Lisa Dickson, Communications Chair, ACTION Ohio. “Extending ETV to connect former foster youth with apprenticeships and vocational training programs will set them up for success by linking them with needed educational support.” 

Bill text can be found here. 

Karimah's Testimony on the Fostering School Success Act

On Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, foster care alumna Karimah Addison Jones was able to submit testimony regarding House Bill 25, which has been renamed the "Fostering School Success Act."

2026 Foster Care Simulation hosted by Emerging Phoenix

 

On Saturday, Jan. 31, Emerging Phoenix hosted a foster care simulation called One Mile in Foster Shoes for the Franklin County CASA and Friends of CASA at Westgate Shelterhouse. This simulation was designed by Virginia foster youth. 

Local foster care youth and alumni assisted with manning the stations, including Intake, Processing, Waiting Area, Meal Station, Paperwork Station, Staging Area and Reflections Area. We spent an hour preparing for our roles, and assisted with the Simulation and Debrief.

The event was very powerful. It would an excellent value-add to a future PCSAO conference.

Link to more photos.

Virtual Meeting with Representative Max Miller's Legislative Correspondent

On Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, ACTION Ohio hosted an initial meeting with Representative Max Miller's Legislative Correspondent Janae Johnson. OHIO YAB Youth Ambassadors Raven Grice and Russ Lang shared their testimonies, paired with areas of interest to partner on in the future. 

Link to slides from the virtual presentation.

Janae shared that Representative Miller cares about the needs of foster youth during their journey into young adulthood. This was evidenced by his recent remarks that more must be done to connect foster youth with the tools they need to become successful young adults. 

She thanked our team for sharing firsthand insights, and offered to keep us posted about future Chafee hearings, and to host us for a visit in their DC office sometime this year. 

Additional federal representatives reached out after today's call to offer their support including:

• Karen Williams (legislative assistant and counsel in Congressman Miller's office), who mentioned that their office is working with the Work and Welfare Subcommittee, with oversight regarding federal Chafee programs to make these program opportunities as effective as possible, and to uplift those in foster care to their fullest potential. She mentioned that they look forward to working with us throughout this process, and thanked us for the recommendations offered.

• Brad Thomas (staff member of Chairman Jason Smith), who reached out regarding the Committee on Ways and Means and their Subcommittee on Work and Welfare, to connect us with Keval Sojitara, who is heading up their efforts regarding foster youth and to share our PPT and list of recommendations with Keval.

#JourneytoSuccess

Journey to Success is a multi-state policy campaign focused on engaging and educating federal policymakers about what’s working and not working to support successful outcomes for youth in foster care.

ACTION Ohio is honored to partner in this work, and appreciates this opportunity to elevate the voices of today's foster care youth and young adults. It's vitally important for decision-makers to hear directly from young people in and from foster care. 

The early months of 2026 are a vitally important window of time to connect with Members of Congress. 

• During 2025, key Congressional committees and caucuses held a series of hearings to examine the Chafee and ETV programs. This lays the groundwork for future legislative action to improve these programs. 
  
  
• Melania Trump's Fostering the Future Initiative is a catalyst to put reforms in motion. 

• Early 2026 is a vitally important opportunity to connect with Congressional Leaders, and to advise them on reforms that will directly benefit young people in and from foster care in their states.

Virtual Meeting with Representative Mike Carey's Senior Policy Advisor

On Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, ACTION Ohio hosted an initial meeting with Representative Mike Carey's Senior Policy Advisor Ryan Dalbec. OHIO YAB Youth Ambassador Lanasha Steele shared her testimony, paired with areas of interest to partner on in the future. 

Link to slides from the virtual presentation.

Ryan was no stranger to the needs of foster youth; his former boss, Arkansas Representative French Hill, serves on the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth. During the past 3 years, both Representative Hill and Ryan participated in previous Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Days.

Ryan mentioned that the most recent Ways and Means meeting regarding Chafee took place in November 2025, and there is interest in working on Chafee this year, but they don't yet know the timeline. He will alert us to upcoming developments. 

#JourneytoSuccess

Journey to Success is a multi-state policy campaign focused on engaging and educating federal policymakers about what’s working and not working to support successful outcomes for youth in foster care.

ACTION Ohio is honored to partner in this work, and appreciates this opportunity to elevate the voices of today's foster care youth and young adults. It's vitally important for decision-makers to hear directly from young people in and from foster care. 

The early months of 2026 are a vitally important window of time to connect with Members of Congress. 

• During 2025, key Congressional committees and caucuses held a series of hearings to examine the Chafee and ETV programs. This lays the groundwork for future legislative action to improve these programs. 
  
  
• Melania Trump's Fostering the Future Initiative is a catalyst to put reforms in motion. 

• Early 2026 is a vitally important opportunity to connect with Congressional Leaders, and to advise them on reforms that will directly benefit young people in and from foster care in their states.

Seeking to Safeguard Youth Entrusted to Congregate Care Facilities

Addison Torrence and Lisa Dickson of ACTION Ohio are participating in monthly meetings with:

• Representative Crystal Lett 
• Legislative Aide Maura Masterson
• Jordan Ballinger, Policy Director of Disability Rights Ohio
• Caroline Cole, Human Rights and Mental Health Advocate

With an eye towards developing future policies to safeguard youth from abusive treatment in group homes and residential facilities.