The Ohio Youth Advisory Board met on April 17, 2014 at the Quest Business Center in Columbus, Ohio. They reported on their progress in 2014 focus areas like outreach/policy, transitional housing, education, youth voice in court, independent living preparation, and employment. They discussed upcoming opportunities like regional youth boards in Lake, Ashtabula and Geagua counties and a Ross County youth board. The board also brainstormed topics for youth input like housing after foster care and the October youth conference.

1. Ohio Youth Advisory Board
Thursday, April 17, 2014
at Quest Business Center:
8405 Pulsar Place, Columbus OH 43240

2. • 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.
OHIO YAB Mission

3. OHIO YAB Agenda
Reporting Out:
• Progress on OHIO YAB Focus Areas for 2014
Youth Brainstorming
• Choice of Topics
Lunch
• Tardis Activity
• Announcements from Ally Organizations
New and Good
Upcoming Opportunities

4. 2014 Ohio YAB Focus Areas
• Outreach and Policy
• Transitional Housing
• Education
• Youth Voice in Court
• Independent Living Preparation
• Employment

5. Outreach and Policy
Progress on Goals
1. Columbus Dispatch
article on extending
foster care supports to
21
2. Presentation during
statewide Legislative
Briefing
3. OHIO YAB Youth Rights
Handbook

6. Two NEW Youth
Boards:
• Regional YAB in Lake,
Ashtabula and Geagua
County
• Ross County YAB –
with plans to reach out
and partner with
nearby counties

7. 1.) Assisted in facilitating
Kick-off of the Youth and
Alumni Taskforce to End
Youth Homelessness in
Cincinnati.
2.) Compiling a list of
transitional housing
resources.
3.) Partnering with a Place 4
Me in Cleveland.
Transitional Housing
Progress on Goals

8. 1.) Youth recommendations
from January OHIO YAB
meeting.
2.) Youth input on Ohio
Reach website.
3.) Youth input on
combined Ohio Reach
and Connecting the Dots
conference (today).
Education
Progress on Goals

9. 1.) Staff at residential facilities should be trauma-informed, and skilled
to assist youth in dealing with their triggers.
2.) Youth who are placed in residential facilities should be informed of
their personal rights, and who to contact if they feel physically
unsafe.
4.) Residential facilities should separate out youth who are suicidal from
youth who are physically violent.
5.) Residential facilities should provide a distinction between tweens
(ages 12-14) with teens (ages 15-17). Their developmental needs
are different.
6.) Current residential policies be reviewed with input from current
and/or former foster youth, including their policies on seclusion,
staff training and independent living preparation.
Advocating for Youth in Residential Placements
Youth-Developed Recommendations

10. 1.) Regular
meetings with
GAL
2.) Met with judges
3.) Glossary of
Court Language
4.) Teaching future
GAL class.
5.) The needs of all
youth matter.
Youth Voice in Court
Progress on Goals

11. LGBTQA Youth in Care
Ohio Pride

12. 1.) Statewide Independent
Living Curriculum
2.) Online Independent Living
Clearinghouse of Resources
3.) Compile and share youth
input about IL challenges,
Best Practices and
recommendations for the
future
Independent Living Preparation
Progress on Goals

13. OYAB Moving Forward in 2014:
Workforce
Promote Best Practices:
1. Connecting the Dots
2. Individual Development
Accounts (IDAs)
3. Overcoming barriers to
foster youth having a
savings account.
4. Address Stipend and gift
card challenges.
5. Promote creative use of
funding (i.e. Chafee, TANF-
IL, WIA)

14. Youth Brainstorming
Choice of Topics:
1. Housing After Foster Care: ~ facilitated by OHIO YAB Vice
President Dominique Jefferson
2. Oct. 17 Youth Conference: Youth input on the name, menu
and workshop ideas ~ co-facilitated by OHIO YAB Media
Spokesman Charles Scott, with Will Murray of Ohio Reach
3. Mind Matters: Youth feedback on materials designed to
inform foster youth about their medical rights, and how to
access medical/mental health needs post-emancipation.
4. Funding for Independent Living and Aftercare: ~ co-
facilitated by OHIO YAB Parliamentarian Dorothy Dodson,
with Dan Shook of ODJFS

15. Lunchtime Activity
1. If you go anywhere in space and time, where would it be and
why?
2. What’s your number one priority in the future?

16. New and Good:
Because the challenge of the moment
is the opportunity of the future

17. Upcoming Events and Opportunities
April 27 – May 1, Three Days On the Hill
June 12, SW Connecting the Dots Conference
June 25-27, Purple Project Conference
July 17, Ohio Youth Advisory Board Quarterly Meeting
July 25, Teening Up for Success Conference
Oct. 17, Connecting the Dots and Ohio Reach Conference