Webinar on Ohio's Foster Care System: Challenges and Opportunities To Serve Youth

On Friday, May 29, 2026, the Ohio Legislative Children’s Caucus will facilitate a webinar on Ohio's Foster Care System: Challenges and Opportunities To Serve Our Youth from 11 am - noon.

According to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, 14,455 students were in foster care during the 2024-2025 school year. Ohio foster youth are served through a tapestry of state, county, and local organizations. How is the system helping to equip foster youth for lifelong success?

After the welcome and opening remarks, the following presenters will share their perspective about Ohio's foster care system:

• Lisa Dickson, Communications Chair, ACTION Ohio
• Julia Marino, Junior League of Columbus, working with their Signature Project, Bridging the G.A.P. which supports youth aging out of the foster care system.
• Jasper Person, CEO & Lead Consultant, Tailored Fit, LLC, a youth development and empowerment expert working with foster youth in Dayton.

 Here is a link to Lisa's presentation. 

2026 Ohio Foster Care Summit - Together for Ohio Youth in Out of Home Care

 The OHIO YAB and ACTION Ohio are currently preparing for Nationwide Children's Hospital's two-day Foster Care Summit.

We will be presenting:

• A Youth Panel on the first day 
• A Breakout Session on the second day, including:
• a State Advocacy Timeline
• a Federal Advocacy Timeline

The Ohio Foster Care Summit is a collaborative two-day event bringing together healthcare professionals, child welfare teams, foster and kinship families, group homes and residential facilities and youth with lived experience. 

This engaging conference highlights statewide initiatives, practical strategies, and trauma-informed approaches to improve care and support for youth in foster care. Through expert presentations, interactive sessions, and shared stories, attendees will gain actionable tools to strengthen collaboration, enhance stability, and improve outcomes for youth across Ohio.

Target Audience: Healthcare professionals, child welfare staff and caseworkers, foster and kinship families, group homes and residential facilities, aged-out or alumni youth, court appointed special advocates, guardian ad litem, and any individuals or programs invested in the success and well-being of children in foster care.

Objectives: At the conclusion of this activity, learners will be able to:

• Identify and address key challenges facing Ohio’s youth in foster care.
• Strengthen cross-system collaboration and communication across the healthcare team.
• Empower foster youth and families through communication of shared experiences and education.
• Identify sustainable foster care resource networks across Ohio

Suits for Success - Suits Sorting Days

Link to more photos.

Ohio Participation in HUD Foster Youth Regional Roundtable

Link to additional photos.

On Thursday, April 23, 2026, Dauntea Sledge and Shyla Smith traveled to Pennsylvania to participate in a HUD FYI Regional Roundtable. 

Here are links to:

• Dauntea's bio
• Shyla's bio
• FSHO and FYI overview
• FSHO and FYI timeline

Run of Show:

9:30 am – Arrival 

10:00 am – Introduction  

10:02 am – Opening Remarks 

10:15 am – Remarks from Former Foster Youth (1-2 mins each) 

10:35 am –  Discussion: Equipping Youth with Tools for Success 

11:40 am – Closing Remarks

11:45 am – Group Photo

11:50 am – Roundtable Concludes

12:00 pm – Direct to Camera Opportunities

Lived Experience Experts were invited to share:

• Their name and where you are from. 
• One thing they wish you had access to earlier in your housing or financial journey. 
• One thing they want HUD and government leaders in the room to walk away thinking about. 
• A piece of their story. 

Discussion Topics:

• What did it take to feel prepared for financial adulthood? If you didn't feel prepared, what would have helped? (Bank accounts, credit, savings, job training, etc.) 
• What is something you are most proud of achieving since leaving foster care? How did money management, housing stability, or access to education help make that possible? 
• What made it harder to achieve financial success, and how did those barriers shape your decisions and those of your peers?
• Were there any bureaucratic barriers that were difficult (IDs, eligibility, documentation, and system navigation) 
• How did the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative or Family Unification Program shape your financial journey, and what would you change?  
• What can HUD and our partners do to raise awareness and better connect youth to programs like FYI and encourage young people to participate? 

2026 Star House Southside Groundbreaking

Link to more photos.

On Tuesday, April 10, 2026, Star House celebrated their 20th anniversary and the groundbreaking of their Southside location. ACTION Ohio Communications Chair Lisa Dickson was honored to attend and celebrate the amazing work of ally Ann Bischoff.

Star House served 1500 young people in 2025; at least 50% of whose lives previously intersected with children services.

A representative from the Reeb Center shared:

• “This neighborhood has become a hub of hope, thanks to Ann Ford Bischoff and her incredible vision. The Reeb Center welcomes  (Star House South Side) with open arms."

• "This will be a place for young people not just to find respite, but also to find hope - to find opportunity - to find a future.”

Mayor Ginther shared that his parents fostered for 30 years, and that they are no longer here on earth, but that he knows they were here in spirit:

• “This is an opportunity to meet young people where they are and provide services, stability, dignity and care.”

• “These vulnerable young people hear the word ‘no’ too often - this is a place where they will hear that: YES, you are welcome. YES, you are safe. YES, you matter."

Quotes from Shannon Hardin, President Columbus City Council:

• “This day is much more than a building - buildings are brick and stone, but this is a physical representation of our values.”  

• “We care about our young people - homelessness is not just ‘the shelters’ problem’ - they are all of our responsibility.”

The Nationwide Foundation shared that: “When (homeless) young people are supported through the complex challenges they face, they heal.” 

2026 Mitzvah Day at Congregation Beth Tikvah

Link to more photos.

On Sunday, April 12, 2026, ACTION Ohio volunteers Lisa Dickson and Kristin Camac spent the morning at Congregation Beth Tikvah, helping assemble Household Essentials. These will be some of the raffle prizes during the 2026 Leadership and Life Skills Summit for current and former foster youth, ages 14-24. Many thanks to Tanya Shats and Temple Beth Tikvah.

2026 Ohio Network of Children's Advocacy Centers Ohio for Kids Day

Link to more photos. 

On April 1, 2026,  the Ohio Network of Children's Advocacy Centers hosted an Ohio for Kids Day.

Here in Ohio, CACs (Children's Advocacy Centers) are youth-focused facilities that help abused children and teens heal by coordinating investigation and treatment. They go the extra mile in avoiding retraumatization, by not requiring victims of abuse to tell their story more than once.

This one day event was incredibly impactful: 

• We learned that the Ohio Department of Public Safety manages the accreditation process for Ohio law enforcement agencies. 

• We learned that the Governor's Office of Human Trafficking is doing pilot programming in Cuyahoga, Hamilton and Montgomery County, which includes a focus on youth who run away from group homes.

• Auditor Keith Faber acknowledged that when child abuse goes unaddressed, the consequences ripple outward, and affirmed his support of VOCA funding. 

It was also an amazing opportunity for networking:

• We are eager to connect with Nicole Dehner, Executive Director of the Office of Criminal Justice Services to further discuss our efforts regarding police officers as mandated reporters, and creating a statewide form and process.

• We were inspired by Micayla Wilson's passion and dedication in her work on the Governor's Office of Anti Human Trafficking, including the work that is happening in Montgomery County, and gave her information about our efforts to safeguard youth who run away to escape abuse.

• It was also an honor to Auditor of State Keith Faber, who was a former President of the Ohio Senate and is a current candidate for the Ohio Attorney General. We shared with him our concerns about youth who contact child abuse hotlines to self-report abuse, and are being screened out.

#noexcuseforchildabuse

#itsyourbusiness