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2021 OHIO YAB Policy Work
The document discusses advocacy efforts since 2006 to establish a Youth Ombudsman Office in Ohio. Key points include: 1. Advocating for a Youth Ombudsman Office that is separate from the state's child welfare agency and able to independently investigate concerns about youth safety and well-being. 2. The office would be specifically designed for and by foster youth/alumni to emphasize youth-centered service delivery. 3. Current safeguards are seen as failing the population served, as demonstrated by prolonged abuse, lack of follow-through on concerns reported to hotlines, and other issues. 4. Efforts are ongoing to engage stakeholders and advocate for the office to ensure it remains focused
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2021 OHIO YAB Policy Work
- 1. Peer Support and PolicyWork since 2006
- 2. Home for theHolidays
- 3. Annual Early Thanksgiving Dinners2008-current
- 4.
- 5. Advocacy for TANF-IndependentLiving Funds
- 6.
- 7. Ohio Police asMandated Reporters
- 8.
- 9. Annual DC Trips,2013-current
- 10. Annual HUD Visits,2016-current
- 11. 2019 Meeting withHUD Secretary Ben Carson
- 13. Current and formerfoster youth must be involved in design to emphasize youth-centered service delivery Current Safeguards Are Failing Population Served Separate from ODJFS Office Design • Prolonged abuse; risk of loss of life. • Lack of follow-through when youth reach out to local child abuse hotlines. • Lack of compliance with the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act re: youth AWOLs. • Youth experiencing abuse in bio, foster, adoptive, kinship, respite, residential and group home placements • This office needs to be youth-specific, and separate from whatever mechanism is established to support foster caregivers • Independent and autonomous agency with oversight specific to child welfare • Not part of the state’s division of child and family services • Possessing regulatory powers • To ensure that this office is designed by and for foster youth • Available statewide for youth to reach out and share concerns related to their safety and well being • Independent investigations taking place within a speedy timeframe
- 18. Importance of stayingengaged to ensure that the Ombudsman Office is youth-focused and able to independently investigate
- 20. Representative Manchester’s willingnessto consider amending HB 4 Two Equal Roles: - Each with their own division, staff, and budgets • Can focus on youth experiencing abuse in bio, foster, adoptive, kinship, respite, residential and group home placements • Can partner with other ODJFS OFC staff/departments to assist youth with other processes, such as • Verification letters to prove they were in foster care • Referrals to resources • Addressing barriers to service access • Can focus on adults • Biological parents contesting removal • Foster parents expressing issues with agencies • Caseworkers expressing concerns • Etc. *This is one of those situations in which “siloed” = good. Family Ombudsman (Adult Serving) Youth Ombudsman (Youth/Alumni Serving) OHIO YAB and ACTION Ohio play an ongoing role in interviewing for this office and evaluating its success
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- 23. How we areadvocating for the Youth Ombudsman Office H.B. 110 Let Others Know Spread the word Information Sessions Ongoing communication . Personal Stories We need a team to work on this Social Media Push Please submit by (date) Legislative Visits Ongoing Issue Brief The parameters of the Office State Comparisons Lessons Learned from other states News Press release, articles and Op Eds How you can help in making this goal a reality: