Leadership and Life Skills Summit

In 2024, the OHIO YAB and ACTION Ohio will plan and facilitate a Leadership and Life Skills Summit for Current and Former Foster Youth, with support from the Ohio Children’s Alliance and the Department of Children and Youth.

The event will be focused on informing and empowering Ohio teens and young adults with a foster care history (ages 14-24). There will be a learning track for with CEUs for adults who transport youth. Adults must transport youth in order to be eligible.

Date: Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Time: 9 am – 4 pm
Location: Crowne Plaza Columbus North Worthington, 6500 Doubletree Ave., Columbus OH 43229

Registration is free but required: Link to register.

Lived Experience will be prioritized in Event Planning and Facilitation:

  • In the spirit of youth leadership, every workshop will include youth voice in the development of content to be presented.
  • Foster care alumni ages 24+ will also be invited to co-facilitate workshops and other activities.

Draft Schedule:

  • 9:00 am – Arrival: Beverages, Snacks
  • 9:30 am – Opening Session: Welcome and Purpose of Event
    Value of Recognizing Your Leadership Strengths and Leadership Style
  • 10:00 am – Breakout Session A
  • 11:00 am – Breakout Session B
  • Noon – Lunch
  • 1:00 pm – Breakout Session C
  • 2:00 pm – Breakout Session D
  • 3:00 pm – Informal Youth Speakout: Participants reconvene to debrief about the day, their experiences and what they learned
  • 4:00 pm – Departure

Suits for Success: One room will be set aside for Suits for Success. There will be volunteers on hand to show youth how to tie their first tie. Young people in and from foster care will be able to keep the professional clothing to wear as needed for job interviews and other important life events.

Youth Activities will include icebreaker balls and working on shirts.

Youth Workshops:

  • Creating and Maintaining Healthy Relationships ~ Tristina Allen and Olena Sowers, LPCC., MS., MA.
  • College and Financial Aid Resources ~ Nikki Chinn and Lucy Flowers, with Raven’s input
  • Ohio ETV ~ Amanda Davis
  • Job Interview Role Plays and Resources ~ Jeremy Collier and Kristin Camac
  • Introduction to Finances ~ Dedra Porter, Leave a Legacy Always
  • Leadership: The Power of Effective Communication – Talia Holmes
  • OHIO YAB Youth Workshop on Leadership – Mattie Harrod
  • Supporting Youth With Identity Development (this workshop invites both adults and youth) – Ruth-Ann Jones-Thompson

Adult Workshops:

  • Power Struggles and De-Escalation Strategies ~ Jaye Turner
  • Supporting Youth with Identity Development (this workshop invites both adults and youth) – Ruth-Ann Jones-Thompson
  • Exit Plans and Resources ~ Deanna Jones
  • Transitional Housing – FosterHub, Hope Landing, Lighthouse Youth and Family Services, Lorain County and possibly Moab House ~ moderated by Kim Eckhart

Resource Tables (16):

  • Bridges
  • CCMEP
  • CSCC- Scholar Network
  • Department of Children and Youth
  • El’lesun
  • Emerge Emancipation Program
  • ESSA
  • ETV funds
  • iFoster
  • JobCorps
  • Kaleidoscope Youth Center
  • Leave a Legacy Always
  • Ohio Medicaid
  • Ohio Reach
  • Youth Navigator Network
  • Youth Ombudsman Office

Planning Committee:

  • ACTION Ohio members
  • OHIO YAB members (current and former)
  • Organizational allies of Ohio foster care youth and alumni
  • Individual allies of Ohio foster care youth and alumni

Resource Sharing:

Here’s a sneak peek at the shirts, which will be shared as a workshop supply for participating youth: