OHIO Youth Advisory BoardOvercoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth (OHIO YAB)

Ohio’s statewide organization of young people (ages 14-24) who have experienced foster care

• 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

OHIO YAB Toolkits for County and Regional Youth Advisory Boards

OHIO YAB Toolkits:What’s inside?

Tools to facilitate hands-on leadership activities:

- Conflicts and Resolutions activity: One youth reads and acts out the message on the cards.

Other youth press either the applause buzzer (to indicate an effective message) or the “no” buzzer (to indicate a message that could be improved upon)

OHIO YAB Toolkit Supplies, continued

- Communication exercise: Two youth sit back-to-back.

They each have shapes on a tray.

The first youth creates an image with the shapes, and then describes it to the second youth – who then has to replicate the picture without seeing it.

OHIO YAB Toolkit Supplies, continued

- Icebreaker balls

- Conversation starters

- Instructions for additional activities

Youth Rights Handbook

1. Many thanks to ODJFS for distributing the handbook.

2. Making sure that all young people receive it – especially foster youth who are placed in private agencies, group homes and residential facilities.

Request for an updated statewide Grievance Procedure, to be used consistently throughout the state

Youth concerns, continued…

2016 OHIO YAB Strategic Plan:Independent Living

Ensure youth voice throughout the development process of Ohio’s future statewide independent living curriculum, to ensure that it:

(a.) includes hands-on activities

(b.) begins with a pilot

(c.) includes youth feedback throughout the process, including youth evaluation forms

(d.) allows public and private agencies to customize the order in which the material is provided according to the immediate needs of their youth

Working towards Normalcy, and a Prudent Parent Standard

Stand up

if you’ve ever…

Direct quotes from youth:

- Our goal is for foster youth to live relatively normal lives- Our vision is for teens in foster care to have the same level of freedom as if they weren’t in foster care

- Concerns that when permission slips are needed for school/extra-curricular activities, the process of getting permission can take so long, and require so many different people to sign on, that the young person can often wind up missing out on the opportunity altogether

Working towards Normalcy, and a Prudent Parent Standard

• Inviting the insights of all participants regarding how we can work together to ensure that youth voice is included in all stages of statewide discussions of policy and practice..

Group Brainstorming