1. Thank you all for attending today’s event

2. Background
A coalition of Ohio foster youth advocates whose mission is to organize Ohio’s efforts to extend supports to foster youth through age 21
Initiative launched in January 2014
OACCA provides staff and consultant support to the initiative
It is organized under a diverse volunteer Task Force, chaired by Mark Mecum

3. Background Generous support of Ohio Fostering Connections is
provided by:

4. Endorsers A New Leaf – Circleville
Adoption Network Cleveland – Cleveland
Agape for Youth, Inc – Dayton
Beech Brook – Pepper Pike
Catholic Charities Corporation – Cleveland
Central Ohio Rescue and Restore Coalition – Columbus
Children’s Defense Fund of Ohio
CHOICES, Inc. – Dayton
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center – Cincinnati
COVA – Center of Vocational
Alternatives – Columbus
Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services – Cleveland
Focus on Youth, Inc – West Chester
Foster Care Alumni of America – Ohio Chapter – Columbus
GLO Generating Learning Opportunities – Columbus
Harmony Project – Columbus
Homes for Kids – Niles
Justice for Children Project,
Moritz College of Law – Columbus
Legal Aid Society of
Southwest Ohio – Cincinnati
LHS Family and Youth Services – Toledo
Lighthouse Youth Services – Cincinnati
Lowery Training Associates – Cleveland
Marjory Curry and Associates – Toledo
Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition – Cleveland
Montgomery County FCFC

5. Endorsers NASW– Ohio Chapter
National Youth Advocate Program – Columbus
Nationwide Children’s Hospital – Columbus
Necco – Cincinnati
Nirvana Now
Oesterlen Services for Youth – Springfield
Ohio Association of Child Caring Agencies – Columbus
Ohio Family Care Association (OFCA) – Columbus
Ohio Judicial Conference
O.H.I.O Youth Advisory
Board – Columbus
Pressley Ridge – Cincinnati
ProKids – Cincinnati
Safely Home Inc – Bedford
Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University – Cleveland
Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY) – Delphos
St. Joseph Orphanage – Cincinnati
The Buckeye Ranch
The Junior League of Cincinnati
The Junior League of Cleveland
The Junior League of Columbus
The Junior League of Dayton
The Junior League of Toledo
The Junior League of Youngstown
The United Way of Greater Cincinnati
UMCH Family Services – Worthington
ViaQuest Clinical Services – Columbus
Voices for Ohio’s Children – Columbus
YWCA – Cleveland

6. Since 2010, approximately 5,000 Ohio foster children “aged out” of the system upon reaching age 18.
This is what many experience as independent adults – on their own.

7. At age 19, after 1 year on their own…
Source: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, National Youth In Transition Database, 2014.

8. Outcomes: Ohio vs States that Extend Care to 21
States with Extended Care
Difference
Enrolled in school
47%
70%
+ 23%
Earned Diploma/GED
53%
60%
+ 7%
Adult Connections
85%
92%
Homelessness
27%
10%
- 17%
Incarcerated
31%
13%
- 18%
Had a child
11% 9%
- 2%
Comparison of 19 year old Ohio youth who “aged out” with 19 year old youth nationally who remained in child welfare custody and/or were served by their state Fostering Connections programs
Steve Plottner
Source: National Youth in Transition Database Data Brief #3. HHS ACF

9. HB 50- Ohio Fostering Connections
Steve Plottner

10. HB 50- Ohio Fostering Connections
Introduced in February 2015 by Rep. Dorothy Pelanda
allows the State of Ohio to extend services and supports to foster youth through age 21.
requires participating youth be enrolled in school, job training, or maintain employment. 
State and Federally funded, State administered
Signed by Gov. Kasich in June 2016
Implementation is January 2018
Steve Plottner

11. Ohio Fostering Connections Implementation
ODJFS will administer the program
Program will be implemented in January of 2018
ODJFS named an advisory council to evaluate and make recommendations for statewide implementation
OFC Task Force recommendations focused on:
Eligibility
Placement
Administration
Case Review
Case Management
Data
Recommendations have been shared with ODJFS as well as statewide leaders
Steve Plottner

12. Ohio Fostering Connections
Steve Plottner