Follow Up Letter to Congressman Greg Landsman's Office

Good morning, 

The Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board is a statewide organization of young people, ages 14-24, who have experienced foster care. The OHIO YAB exists to be the knowledgeable statewide voice that influences policies and practices that impact youth who have or will experience out of home care, including foster care, kinship care, adoption, and group homes.

Congressman Greg Landsman has previously proposed several Acts which we wholeheartedly support, including:

• Campus Affordability for Foster Youth Act
• Hidden Foster Care Transparency Act
• HOME for Foster Youth Act

It meant so much to our group to meet with Tashia and Reggie. Alana shared with me that Tashia has already been in touch with her to share national opportunities to share her voice. Seeing Tashia’s example reminded Alana that, “There are no limits” when it comes to the power of lived experience. 

During our time with your office, we shared two one-pagers:

• Chafee One Pager
• ETV One Pager

During our time in DC, we made recommendations to HUD as well: 

• HUD One Pager – Overcoming Barriers to Voucher Access
• CSH – Conflict of Interest

Thanks so much for your time and dedication.

Follow Up Letter to Congressman Dave Joyce's Office

Good morning, 

The Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board is a statewide organization of young people, ages 14-24, who have experienced foster care. The OHIO YAB exists to be the knowledgeable statewide voice that influences policies and practices that impact youth who have or will experience out of home care, including foster care, kinship care, adoption, and group homes.

Congressman David Joyce has previously proposed several Acts which we wholeheartedly support:

• Foster Youth and Driving Act
• Find and Protect Foster Youth Act
• Foster Youth Mentoring Act

During our time with you, we shared two one-pagers:

• Chafee One Pager
• ETV One Pager

When it comes to the Fostering the Future Act:

• We care and understand that funding related to this provision is a sore subject. 
• During our time in DC, the popular consensus was to: “Pass the bill and then come back to the table."
• A proactive suggestion that Ohio foster youth have suggested is to add a COLA (cost of living allocation). 
• Because you don’t have to come back to the table if you include a cost of living increase in then bill.

We would be happy to provide sample language, as designed by Ohio youth leaders, if your office is interested. Thanks for your time once again.

Follow Up Letter to Congressman Max Miller's Office

Good morning, 

The Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board is a statewide organization of young people, ages 14-24, who have experienced foster care. The OHIO YAB exists to be the knowledgeable statewide voice that influences policies and practices that impact youth who have or will experience out of home care, including foster care, kinship care, adoption, and group homes.

We have the utmost respect and appreciation for Congressman Max Miller:

• He proposed the Foster Youth Workforce Opportunity Act, which is now part of the Fostering the Future Act. 
• To make it possible for ETV funds to be used for short-term workforce programs, apprenticeship programs, etc., and also would extend ETV eligibility from five years to six years. 
• OHIO YAB Youth Ambassador Raven met with his office virtually earlier this year, and was delighted to be able to come to DC as part of our recent Three Days on the Hill trip, to meet with his office again.

During our time with you, we shared two one-pagers:

• Chafee One Pager
• ETV One Pager

When it comes to the Fostering the Future Act:

• We care and understand that funding related to this provision is a sore subject. 
• During our time in DC, the popular consensus was to: “Pass the bill and then come back to the table."
• A proactive suggestion that Ohio foster youth have suggested is to add a COLA (cost of living allocation). 
• Because you don’t have to come back to the table if you include a cost of living increase in then bill.

We would be happy to provide sample language, as designed by Ohio youth leaders, if your office is interested. Thanks for your time once again.

Follow-Up Letter to Senator Husted's Office

Good morning, 

The Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board is a statewide organization of young people, ages 14-24, who have experienced foster care. The OHIO YAB exists to be the knowledgeable statewide voice that influences policies and practices that impact youth who have or will experience out of home care, including foster care, kinship care, adoption, and group homes.

We have the utmost respect and appreciation for Senator Jon Husted:

• He supported one of our youth leaders in sharing her voice during 2023 Foster Care Month
• He launched a statewide Adoption and Foster Care Portal
• He and his wife continue to support FosterHub’s work to create transitional housing and life skills preparation for foster youth in Appalachian Ohio 
• He has always been incredibly supportive when it comes to connecting Ohio youth with education and workforce opportunities

We also deeply appreciated meeting with him in person recently, as part of 2026 Three Days on the Hill. 

While our conversation initially focused on Chafee and ETV, one of our participating youth leaders came up with a proposal that would be entirely cost-neutral:

• Raven proposed an amendment to the 2018 Fostering Connections to Success Act, which would change Exit Plans from taking place 90 days prior to emancipation to taking place 180 days prior to emancipation.

• Raven has served as a Youth Ambassador for the Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board (OHIO YAB) for six years. She recently participated in the Jim Casey Initiative 25th Anniversary Convening.

• In her role, Raven has spoken with fellow foster youth throughout the nation, and heard from many that 90 days is simply not long enough. Doubling the amount of time will make it possible to make referrals earlier, and better set up today’s foster youth for tomorrow’s success. 

We’d love to stay in touch about Raven’s proposal, if it is of interest to the Senator. We care and understand that now is a busy time, but just as Senator Husted has always retained his care and focus on foster and adopted youth, we remain dedicated to improve outcomes for our brothers and sisters of the foster care system.

We also wanted to add one more note of thanks: Out of every legislator and federal decision-maker whom we spoke with in DC, including the Administration for Children and Families, Senator Husted was the one person who took the time to check in with individual young people and ask how they were doing in pursuit of their life goals. 

This truly reflected his sincerity and care for our population. 

Follow-Up Letter to the Leadership Team of HUD

Assistant Secretary Ben Hobbs, 

Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with us while we were in Washington D.C. 

Here is a link to more photos of our time together: 

• 2026 meeting with HUD

HUD’s dedication to our population was exemplified in that our meeting was initially with four staff members, but we ended up connecting with twelve. And that you and your team listened to and elevated Alexys Madero’s suggestion. Thank you with all of my heart. 

Upon our return home to Ohio, we met with Director Kara Wente of the Department of Children and Youth. We shared out about our time in DC, and she and her team offered support to us in reaching our goals on a statewide level. 

We would love to stay in touch with your team to continue to support FYI voucher access. It will be wonderful and helpful to have FYI information available on the HCV dashboard again, and we can provide an example of what we meant in terms of a What to Say When to address misinformation about FYI vouchers.

Please know that you have our heartfelt appreciation, utmost dedication and ongoing support. 

His gracious reply was as follows:

"Thanks again for coming in and supporting such a wide-raging conversation and dialogue. The feedback ACTION Ohio provides is very valuable for our team and we see you as integral partners for all our FYI efforts. The program would not be what it is today without your support and engagement. Thanks for the continuous flow of new ideas as well and helpfulness on all our joint events. Please never hesitate to reach out and let’s keep driving forward for better outcomes and life transformations for our foster youth."

Follow-Up Letter to the Administration for Children and Families

Ryan Hanlon,

Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with us while we were in Washington D.C. 

We deeply appreciate your time, and the thoughtfulness you demonstrated by connecting by phone with one of our youth leaders who had forgotten to bring his Real ID. 

Our time in DC was truly rewarding, including our meeting with HUD, during which our meeting was initially with four staff members, but we ended up connecting with twelve. This exemplifies HUD's commitment to our population. They value and remember the role of Ohio foster care youth and alumni in designing FYI vouchers.

Upon our return home to Ohio, we met with Director Kara Wente of the Department of Children and Youth. We shared out about our time in DC, and she and her team offered support to us in reaching our goals on a statewide level. It is wonderful to have such local support - and the dedication that she and her team demonstrates is why Ohio spends down our Chafee and ETV allocations for the benefit of transitioning youth. 

Please let us know if we can be helpful to you and your work. We would love to encourage other states to share Ohio’s sense of urgency when it comes to spending down Chafee and ETV allotments. It is vitally important for every state in the nation to prioritize measurable, long-term youth outcomes in housing stability, financial literacy,  and career pipelines rather than allowing funds to get caught in bureaucratic stagnation.

Likewise, as A Home for Every Child moves forward, we will be working within our state to ensure robust training for foster parents, including and especially specialized training for foster parents who focus on ages 12-17. We have been laying the groundwork for years: 

• Life Skills: Essential Elements of Interdependence – A Learning Pathway for Resource Families was created by the Ohio University Consortium for Child and Adult Services (OUCCAS), in collaboration with the Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board (OHIO YAB) and ACTION Ohio.

• Courses and activities within this professional development pathway are designed to help foster parents and kinship caregivers gain necessary knowledge and skills to assist youth skill development, which will promote a successful transition to interdependence.

• Youth voice has been, and remains, key in the creation and continued development of the Life Skills Pathway, including identifying the Essential Elements of Interdependence, mapping out Essential Resources for each category, designing badges for each category and creating a menu of Life Skills Activities for caregivers to share with youth at home. 

• Ohio youth leaders have also been empowered to review trainings within this pathway to offer feedback and suggestions. One of the young people you met in D.C. (Raven Grice) helped build this pathway, and is now writing curriculum of her own as a certified statewide trainer through the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program. 

Thanks once again for your time. 

Three Day on the Hill

Administration for Children and Families:
We met with Ryan Hanlon, Associate Commissioner of the Children's Bureau, to talk about Broken Adoptions, Life Skills and Safeguarding Youth From Abuse, including when it comes to national implementation of the Home for Every Child Act. We deeply appreciate his willingness to connect with one of our group members via FaceTime, since entry into ACF requires a Real ID. 

HUD: 
Our meeting was initially with four staff members, but we ended up connecting with twelve. This exemplifies HUD's commitment to our population. They value and remember the role of Ohio foster care youth and alumni in designing FYI vouchers. We spoke with HUD Leadership, including Assistant Secretary Ben Hobbs,to share ideas to support FYI voucher access and including the voices of those with lived experience as trainers regarding this provision. 

During the meeting, Alexys shared an idea which is being elevated to the First Lady. More on that to come...

Legislative Visits:
During our time in DC, we met with the offices of :

• Congressman Max Miller
• Congressman David Joyce
• Congressman Mike Turner
• Congressman Mike Carey
• Congressman Greg Landsman
• Senator Jon Husted

Our legislative visits focused on recommendations related to ETV and Chafee. The only exception was when we met with FSHO champion Congressman Mike Turner and shared our BROE proposal. We deeply appreciated the personal connection that Senator Jon Husted made, by inviting each participating young person to share their goals and accomplishments. 

We were unable to meet with Senator Bernie Moreno or Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, but stopped by both of their offices to deliver materials. 

Here are links to additional photos from our:

• 2026 meeting with ACF
• 2026 meeting with HUD
• Legislative Visits
• DC: Day One
  
• DC: Day Two 
• Journeys and Preparation

During our visits, it always makes our hearts happyto connect with foster care alumni who now work in DC. Such was the case during this trip, when our paths crossed with Tashia Roberson-Wing, Senior Legislative Assistant of Congressman Greg Landsman's office. 

DC taglines: 

• Lived It. Leading It. Ohio foster youth aren't just voices to be heard, they are partners whose lived experience can inform stronger systems and resources, better policy provisions, and better outcomes for the young generation who come after them. 

• Putting a Face On the Population They Serve: We made an impact; they now know who we are and we put a face to the population they serve. We are more than just numbers - we are a united voice who get together to make change. 

Thinking about the Overton Window of Political Possibility

When it comes to politics, the Overton Window of Political Possibility reflects that what seems impossible now might be possible later, with the upcoming changes in state leadership.

Foster care is a bipartisan issue, but not every politician understands it or understands the importance of investing to improve outcomes for former foster youth.  

Ohio elections will impact the the range of ideas the public and politicians are willing to accept as mainstream policy. The true test of willingness will occur after the election.

Right now, the political focus when it comes to Ohio foster care is about how much placements cost:

• The highly publicized Vinton child abuse case has brought attention to foster care.
• But some groups are focusing solely on the fiscal cost of caring for vulnerable youth. 
• There is an entire bill being dedicated just to that (HB 184).

2026 NILA Conference

The 38th Annual National Independent Living Conference took place from August 18-21, 2026 in Reston, VA. On Tuesday, August 18th, an FYI Symposium was held from 9 am - 5 pm. Doris Edelmann and Jamole Callahan of ACTION Ohio presented. 

Ruth Anne White of the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare received the first annual FYI Pioneer Award.

Jamole gave Deric Cobb a shout-out from the state.

The Franklin County Youth Advisory Board did a wonderful job of networking with other states. 

2026 Leadership and Life Skills Summit

Link to photos.

On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, the OHIO YAB and ACTION Ohio facilitated a Leadership and Life Skills Summit for Current and Former Foster Youth, to inform and empower Ohio teens and young adults with a foster care history (ages 14-24).  This event was made possible thanks to the support of the Ohio Children’s Alliance, the Department of Children and Youth, and The Ohana Project.

103 youth and young adults from the following counties participated: Allen, Butler, Champaign, Cuyahoga, Erie, Franklin, Geauga, Hamilton, Highland, Hocking, Jefferson, Licking, Lorain, Miami, Montgomery, Pickaway, Sandusky, Stark, Washington and Wood. 

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

Link to photos. 

The Nationwide Children's Hospital's two-day Foster Care Summit took place on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 and Thursday, May 28, 2026.

The OHIO YAB and ACTION Ohio presented:

• 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

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.