Youth Services in Action ODADAS Bottom Line Conference

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Youth Services in ActionODADAS Bottom Line
Conference

• Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio (O.H.I.O) Youth
  Advisory Board

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Public Children Services Association of Ohio

• We are a proactive coalition of Public Children
  Services Agencies that promotes the development
  of sound public policy and program excellence for
  safe children, stable families, and supportive
  communities.  We do this through advocacy,
  research, training, consultation, and technical
  assistance

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The My Voice, My Life, My Future Project

• May 2006
• With generous support from Home at Last, a Pew
  Charitable Trust public awareness initiative,
  PCSAO begins their My Voice, My Life, My Future
  Project
• Five regional youth forums with over 30
  participants were held with PCSA directors and
  professionals from across the state.
• Youth also participated in a whirlwind trip to
  Capital Hill in Washington, D.C. and met with
  federal legislators.
• A two-day Youth Summit was held at Camp Joy.
• Art and writing submissions were received from
  many other foster youth across the state and were
  later bound together in a booklet.

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The My Voice, My Life, My Future Project

• May 2006 July 2006
• As a result of the youth participation in the
  project a set of eight recommendations, focusing
  on the courts, independent living skills,
  normalcy, siblings, mental health issues,
  communication and foster parents, are adopted by
  the youth.
• PCSAO developed a DVD, Our Voices, to share the
  experience of the My Voice, My Life, My Future
  Project and to further promote the
  recommendations that the youth had developed.
• Our Voices is distributed across the state to
  legislators, directors of Public Children Serving
  Agencies and other child welfare professionals.

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Our Voices Recommendations for Ohios foster
care system from youth in foster care

• The 2006 PCSAO My Voice, My Life, My Future
  Project

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Response to Our Voices DVD the My Voice, My
Life, My Future Project

• July 2006
• PCSAO and the youth participants receive much
  attention regarding the DVD and the youths
  recommendation. Interest in youth voices surge.
• Foster youth from across the state meet for the
  first time, decide to form a group, temporarily
  named the Founders Group. The group adopts the
  recommendations from the My Voice, My Life
  Project, and agrees to organize to attempt to
  make the recommendations a reality.

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Founders Group Progress

• August 2006
• The Founders Group sends a letter to PCSAO
  asking for support in creating a statewide group
  as well assistance in recruiting youth to become
  part of the statewide group.
• PCSAO commits to supporting the group and began
  to submit proposals on behalf of the Founders
  Group for financial support.

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Founders Group Progress

• October of 2006
• A statewide Founders Group convenes for a second
  time. At this time they prioritize
  recommendations as a group, break into regional
  entities and plan to meet locally. Youth are also
  trained on parliamentarian procedures.
• October December 2006
• Four regional groups each meet twice. The
  regional groups discuss ideas for a name, a
  mission statement and draft bylaws. Strong
  working relationships were established between
  professionals and the youth. Letters were written
  to directors and other elected professionals
  asking for support.

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Formalization of a Statewide Group

• January 2007
• PCSAO and Founders Group members prepared for
  the historical February 1st meeting and continued
  to recruit additional members.
• February 1st, 2007
• Founders Group members convened and adopted a
  formal name, a mission statement and bylaws to
  guide their mission.

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The Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio (O.H.I.O) Youth
Advisory Board

• Mission Statement
• We exist to be the knowledgeable statewide voice
  that influences policies and practices that
  effect all youth who have or will experience out
  of home care.
• We exist to bring all youth together regardless
  of race, sex, religion, creed, disability, sexual
  orientation or national origin.
• We exist to work with the Ohio Department of Job
  and Family Services by bringing our knowledge and
  personal experience to the table.
• We exist to assist youth in establishing and
  achieving realistic goals for the their future.
• We exist to provide exemplary leadership and
  empowerment opportunities for youth who have or
  will have experience out of home care.

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The Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio (O.H.I.O) Youth
Advisory Board

• Statewide Officers of OHIO YAB
• President Adrian McLemore (SW Region)
• Vice President Matt Williston (Central Region)
• Secretary Vanessa Jackson (SW Region)
• Treasurer Open Seat
• Media Spokesperson Arlene Jones (SW Region)
• Parliamentarian Richard Ramsey (SW Region)

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The Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio (O.H.I.O) Youth
Advisory Board

• 2007 Goals for the OHIO YAB
• Meet with leadership at ODJFS to discuss
  partnering on task forces and initiatives.
• Meet with Governor Strickland to discuss
  recommendations for the foster care system.
• Meet with federal legislators to discuss their
  concerns about foster care.
• Participate in national conferences
• Advocate for Medicaid and financial support for
  youth who age out of care until 23.
• Advocate for specialized services for teen moms
  in foster care.
• Organize a retreat for statewide and regional
  officers.

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Moderated Discussion with O.H.I.O YAB Members

• Arlene Jones, Statewide Media Spokesperson
• Ashley Flusca, Northeast Regional Representative
• Moderator Jessica Schneider Chance