Youth Ombudsman Advocacy

 The work continues... 

2021 Thanksgiving Together

Those of us who have experienced foster care firsthand know that the holidays can be a painful reminder of lost connections. That’s why ACTION Ohio works with our allies each year to host early Thanksgiving dinners for foster care teens (ages 14+) and alumni (ages 18+).

This annual celebration began in 2007, and has continued ever since. As former foster youth ourselves, we want our brothers and sisters of the system to know that they always have a seat at the table for Thanksgiving.

Due to ongoing complications related to COVID, we were only able to host one statewide Thanksgiving Together event this year. The event took place on Sunday, November 14, 2021 in Columbus.

• We had over 200 RSVPs.
• My Very Own Blanket donated 200 handmade blankets, as well as pillowcases, teddy bears and infinity scarves.
• Project PASSION, as facilitated by El'lesun and the Fostering Achievement Network made clothing items available to participants, with support from the Ohio Children's Alliance
• Youth received lanyards attached to flash drives that were pre-loaded with resources to support their transition into young adulthood
• Every youth participants received a gift card in the raffle this year

One of the most powerful moments during the event was when a young man who is currently homeless gave a speech praising Star House. He invited staff members to stand and be recognized. He then asked participants to raise their hands if they are currently or have ever been homeless. The plethora of hands raised throughout the room underscored the urgency of supports to support foster youth in their transition into young adulthood. 

Link to more photos.

We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, including: Reynoldsburg City Schools, the Leo Club, the National Council of Jewish Women: Columbus Section, Junior League of Columbus, My Very Own Blanket, Project PASSION, Andi Atwood, Jenny Stotts, Bethany Murray, Kristin Gilbert, Cece Norwood and Ruth-Ann Jones Thompson.

Congratulations, Cloe Cooper

 

Cloe Cooper was recently honored by receiving the 2021 Triad Advocate of the Year Award from Adoption Network Cleveland.

Significant contributions by Cloe and how they have made a difference for others include, but are not limited to: 

1.) Serving as a Scholar Coordinator for the CSCC Scholar Network. This program exists to support current and former foster youth who are currently enrolled at Columbus State Community College by providing ongoing mentorship, peer support, and leadership experiences.

2.) Founding and directing the Fostering Achievement Network (FAN), which serves as a campus support network for former foster youth who are currently attending The Ohio State University. 

3.) Serving as a Peer Mentor through Ohio Reach, a network of professionals, advocates, and students across the state of Ohio who are determined to support former foster youth on their higher education journey.

4.) Playing an integral role in the design of CMHA’s Columbus Scholar House for Former Foster Youth which serves former foster youth ages 18-24 who are pursing post-secondary education.
 

5.)  Serving as an appointed member of the Ohio Supreme Court Subcommittee Responding to Child Abuse, Neglect and Dependency, and advocating for trauma-informed changes in the court system in response to the voices of those with lived experience.

6.) Partnering with Jaye Turner of El'lesun to facilitate Project PASSION, which empowers and supports young adults in or from the child welfare system and provides them with no-cost professional attire as they enter and maintain jobs in the workforce.

Meeting with ODMHAS Director Lori Criss

On Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, Nikki Chinn, Residential Liaison for ACTION Ohio, partnered with the Juvenile Justice Coalition, the National Juvenile Justice Network, and Disability Rights Ohio to hold a joint meeting with Lori Criss, the Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services.
 
The focus was on sharing the national report on Sequel facilities, and concerning patterns including seclusion, restraint, and failure of the grievance process. 

Participants made three requests:

1. Transparency in the licensing process, with opportunities for public comment. Could ODMHAS publish the status of Sequel’s license, and of all facility licenses?   Is there a way for youth/families to know if facilities are in good standing, or incidents (restraints, complaints, licensing actions, etc)?

2. Adequate investigation of residential treatment facilities, including unannounced visits. 

3. Ensure Sequel can’t operate and continue to harm young people in Ohio. Sequel has a track record in Ohio and nationwide.  What safeguards exist to prohibit them from being relicensed?  How does OMHAS take the history of residential facilities into consideration with their licensure?   

Statehouse News Bureau

Ohio bill would give foster children a "bill of rights"
Jo Ingles, Statehouse News Bureau, Oct. 22, 2021.

Published October 22, 2021 at 3:20 PM EDTAdvocates for foster children on Zoom, talking about the bill

Democratic lawmakers sponsoring the legislation say it's needed to protect Ohio's foster kids

Two Democratic Ohio lawmakers are sponsoring what’s being called the “Foster Youth Bill of Rights” that they say will give at least 15,000 children in the state’s custody more knowledge about their options and give them more of a voice in their care. Statehouse correspondent Jo Ingles reports the bill is similar to laws passed in 20 other states.

Sen. Tina Maharath (D-Canal Winchester) was herself in foster care as kid. She says children in the system need this legislation.

“The rights established in this bill would help keep foster youth safe, healthy and cared for while in the foster youth system. It’s also going to help educate foster youth of their rights,” Maharath says.

There are 31 rights listed in the bill, from being free from abuse to having privacy to living in a clean and safe environment. Maharath and fellow Democratic Senator Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) say they’ve worked with former foster care children and their advocates when coming up with this legislation.

Fox News coverage of press conference

Lawmakers pushing for "bill of rights" for Ohio foster kids 
Nelson, Haley, WSYX/WTTE, Oct. 22, 2021.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — A former Ohio foster youth shared harrowing stories Friday while talking with state lawmakers.

"I also had severe food restrictions, by the time I was adopted out of that home I was visibly malnourished," Melinda said

It's one reason some are advocating for change at the state level.

Lawmakers pushing for "bill of rights" for Ohio foster kids

"So this bill of rights is a great foundation, bottom line for change," Melinda said.

Sen. Tina Maharath, D-Canal Winchester, a former foster child herself, and Sen. Teresa Fedor, D-Toledo, took questions about Senate Bill 254, which introduces a "Foster Youth Bill of Rights."

It lists 31 rights, like freedom from abuse and the right to live in a clean, safe place, which would be distributed to kids in the foster care system - a growing number.

"From 2011 to 2019 the number of children in Ohio's foster youth system increased by 30 percent," Maharath said.

"The state is doing a poor job and it is time to get the resources and the foundation and guardrails to protect our most vulnerable," Fedor said.

One name brought up Friday was Ma'Khia Bryant.

ABC6/FOX28 Investigators have been looking into the care she received, asking questions about her caseworker.

"If our voice is not being captured then I am worried about the next Ma'Khia Bryant. I am worried about the next Deanna Jones at some point we have to be proactive. We can't continue to be reactive," said Jones, a former foster care youth and caseworker as well.

But could this make a difference? Some asked how or if rights would get to kids.

Some former foster youth believe this is a foundation, creating change only if an independent ombusdmans office is also created.

"What is striking to me is the issues that I saw as a foster child, I saw as a caseworker and I would love to see something really put in place to really not be window dressing," Jones said.

Fedor is planning to advance that independent office in an amendment to House Bill 4.

"Since the State of Ohio is the parent, we are going to have to get busy getting all this done because this is part of the state's responsibility to protect our most vulnerable citizens," Fedor said.

There are no GOP co-sponsors on the bill right now.

Toledo Blade coverage of Press Conference

Lawmakers seek bill of rights law for foster youth
Jim Provance, Toledo Blade, Oct. 22, 2021.

Oct. 22—COLUMBUS — A pair of Democratic legislators called Friday for cementing into Ohio law specific rights for children in the state's foster-care system, ranging from protection from abuse to access to food and health care.

"It's the state's responsibility to be the parent of our children who find themselves in the foster-care system," state Sen. Teresa Fedor (D., Toledo) said. "Thus, it makes complete sense to evaluate its responsibility to perform that duty for our most vulnerable."

The current state budget called for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to write a bill of rights for foster-care children in state rules. But Ms. Fedor, fellow state Sen. Tina Maharath (D., Columbus), and foster-care advocates are backing Senate Bill 254, which would insert such a bill of rights into permanent law that could not be easily changed later.

They also called for creation of an independent ombudsman to hear foster children's complaints. Ms. Fedor said she will attempt to amend that into a separate foster-care measure currently in the Senate that would reform how the foster-care system handles complaints. House Bill 4 was triggered by the 2019 death of a 10-year-old Dayton boy in the system after years of unchecked abuse.

"This bill of rights is really great ... but for it to be enforced, for it to be able to have substance and to actually make changes in foster youths' lives so that there's not another [horrifying foster-care story], we really need to have this office so we can enforce this bill of rights," said Cloe Cooper, of the Fostering Achievement Network. "This bill of rights is a great foundation, a bottom line, for change."

The bill does not yet have co-sponsors from the Republican party, which controls both Ohio General Assembly chambers. But the separate House Bill 4 has already passed the Ohio House of Representatives with overwhelming, bipartisan support.

House Bill 4 calls for creation of an ombudsman within ODJFS, but Democrats argue the office should be independent because otherwise it could result in the agency being asked to investigate itself.

The family-services department has not yet written the bill of rights called for in the budget law. Senate Bill 254 instead proposes 31 specific rights that the bills say are supported by those within the foster-care system.

Among those would be the rights to:

—Be free of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse; inhumane treatment, and sexual exploitation.

—Have the child's privacy protected and belongings secured.

—Access to medical, mental, and educational evaluation and treatment.

—A clean and safe living environment.

—Be placed away from other foster-care children known to pose a threat.

—Have communication with a caseworker at least monthly.

—Have regular visitation with siblings, barring a court order to the contrary.

—Have clothing appropriate to a child's age and "gender identity"

"The rights established in this bill would help to keep foster youth safe, healthy, and cared for while in the foster youth system," Ms. Maharath said. "It's also going to help educate foster youth of their rights, empower them to make their informed decisions."