2017 January OHIO YAB meeting

1. Ohio Youth Advisory Board
Thursday, January 19, 2017,
Quest Conference 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. • President Stephfon Kennedy,
Cuyahoga County
• Vice President Melissa Stroud,
NE Ohio
• Parliamentarian Damahri
Carter, Franklin County
• Officer-in-Training Ronnie
Dotson, Franklin County
• Outgoing President Gabriel
Young, Mahoning County
2017 Ohio YAB Officers Retreat

4. • An ice storm prevented our
Dayton Officers and Officers-
in-Training from being able to
participate
• A staffing change impacted
transportation for Allen
County youth
• Therefore, we will be holding
a follow-up retreat in Dayton,
on February 5th
Follow-up Retreat

5. 2017 OHIO YAB Officer Priority Areas:
Recruiting and Retaining
Foster Parents and Host Homes for Teens
- Group homes closing down
- Foster care extended to 21
- Not enough foster parents
willing to take teens
Explore ways to recruit and
retain foster parents and host
homes - and make sure that
teens, foster parents and
caseworkers each know what’s
expected of them

6. 2017 OHIO YAB Officer Priority Areas:
Inform and Empower Foster Youth
About Resources and How to Access
Ohio foster care teens and young
adults need to know about
education, employment, housing
and other resources.
- Look into partnership with
United Way
- Consider a resource handbook
similar to the Youth Rights
Handbook (how to update?)
- What about online possibilities?

7. 2017 OHIO YAB Officer Priority Areas:
Videos By Youth For Youth
1. A foster parent/host home
recruitment video (including
one or more foster parents of
teens)
2. Future YouTube series to
inform and empower foster
care youth and young adults
by sharing specific resources,
and insights for their peers on
how to navigate them

8. 2017 OHIO YAB Officer Priority Areas:
Two Projects Initiated By
Our Officer in Training
1. Upcoming trip to Huck House
to map out a roadmap for
youth of what to expect when
they contact a “Safe Place”
2. Working on an OHIO YAB app

9. Brainstorming Topics
1. BRIDGES Program
(foster care supports
until age 21)
2. Every Student
Succeeds Act
3. Recruitment and
Retention of foster
parents
4. Resources for youth in
crisis

10. Lunchtime Activity
Accomplishments in 2016
Goals for 2017

11. New and Good

12. Upcoming Events and Opportunities
OHIO YAB Quarterly Meetings in 2017:
• April 20
• July 20
• October 19
• March 12-16, Three Days on the Hill