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

Joining ONCAC to Launch Child Abuse Protection Month

Ohio foster care youth and alumni believe that safety is the North Star when it comes to young people in and from foster care. Please review our issue brief on youth safety and an Op Ed written by Jonathan Thomas.

When it comes to progress here in the state of Ohio:

1. Mandated Reporting: We have been successful in our advocacy for Ohio police to become mandated reporters, and are currently seeking to encourage the state of Ohio to create a statewide form and process for police as mandated reporters. We deeply respect the insights of law enforcement, and would like to partner with them regarding design.

2. Youth Ombudsman: We have been successful in our advocacy for the establishment of a Youth Ombudsman Office, and remain involved to support the continued development of this resource.

3. Rights of Youth: We helped update the Foster Youth Bill of Rights, and participated in a video to share their importance.

4. Youth Who Run to Escape Abuse: We are working to eliminate “running away” as a status offense in the state of Ohio.

5. Youth Who Report Abuse, and Aren't Protected: We have ongoing concerns regarding young people calling child abuse hotlines and their concerns being screened out.

6. Youth Whose Grievances Need to Be Heard: We care about youth experiencing abuse in out-of-home placements and have met with DCY to discuss creating a Youth Specific Grievance Form.

7. Youth Spending Nights in Office Buildings: We previously reached out to address young people spending the night in office buildings, and have had a voice in helping develop Wellness Campuses.

We are truly looking forward to participating in Ohio for Kids Day, facilitated by the Ohio Network of Children's Advocacy Centers. 

 

Suits for Success

Suits for Success provides professional attire to current and former foster youth who are preparing to enter the workforce. We deeply appreciate Buckeye Ranch’s provision of storage space, and support from DCY, the Ohio Children’s Alliance, and Velda Hofacker. The Department of Children and Youth plans to host clothing drives on the mornings of May 13, 20 and 27, 2026.

We are currently inviting professional clothing donations in preparation for the 2026 Leadership and Life Skills Summit for current and former foster youth. During the Summit, we will have volunteers on hand to show youth how to tie their first tie. Young people in and from foster care will be able to keep these these clothing items, and wear them during job interviews and other important life events.

For those who are interested in donating to Suits for Success:

• The population we serve is current and foster youth, ages 14-24 years old.
• Donations accepted include hangers, racks and financial donations to support the cost of transporting the suits, rack rental and purchasing supplemental clothing items to support the needs of young people at the annual statewide conference for current and former foster youth.
• Those who donate clothing can receive a receipt if desired.

Learn more by visiting our website.

Pell Grant Shortfall

ACTION Ohio signed onto a March 2026 letter to express concerns and propose solutions.

Virtual Meeting with Senator Reynolds' Office

On Monday, March 2, 2026, Kim Eckhart, Lisa Dickson and Gabriella Craft had a virtual meeting with Simone Amoako, Senior Legislative Aide of Senator Michele Reynolds to ask if Senator Reynolds would be willing to include tuition vouchers in Senate Bill 13. 

In Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Virginia, publicly funded higher education institutions are prohibited from charging tuition for this population. This avoids needing to ask for a provision in the state budget every two years.

We shared the two diagrams below, along with a report demonstrating the high rates of food and housing insecurity faced by students with a foster care history.