The Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board and ACTION Ohio hosted a youth leadership retreat for Southeast Ohio foster care teens and young adults, ages 14-24.

We deeply appreciate the help and support of planning committee members, including Jenny Stotts, Jennifer Moore, Kate Silver, Lisa Seitz and Tara Huffman. Many thanks to the Athens County Foster Parent Association for sponsoring food, Athens County Children Services for sponsoring beverages, Athens County CASA for support and promotion and to Hocking College for providing the event venue. Thanks so much to each of you helping make this event possible.

Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Time: 10 am – 3 pm
Location: The Lodge at Hocking College, 15770 OH-691, Nelsonville, OH 45764
Room: Lodge Room 2

Registration was free, but required.

We invited youth and young adult participants from the following counties:

• Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Coshocton, Fairfield, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pike, Ross, Sciota, Tuscarawas, Vinton, and Washington Counties
• Every county in Southeast Ohio is welcome to bring youth.

Schedule:

• 9:00 am – Facilitators arrive to set-up, including shirts
• 10:00 am – Participant Arrival:
  • Welcome, Purpose of the Day, and Flip Chart: What Makes a Leader?
  • Goleman’s Six Leadership Styles ~ Facilitated by Asher
  • History of the Foster Care Youth and Alumni Movement ~ Facilitated by Sarah
  • Value of Youth Advisory Boards including How YABs Work
• Noon – Lunch
• 1:00 pm – Shirt Activity, Skit and Group Brainstorming with Flip Charts
• 1:30 pm – Hocking College Presentation and Walking Tour of Campus
• 3:00 pm – Departure

Youth Leadership and Peer Support in SE Ohio:

• Building connection to counteract the isolation that foster care youth, and even caseworkers, experience in Southeast Ohio
• Being able to communicate, build connections and brainstorm together
• Opportunities to build community and support networks, including both peer support and caring adults

The Ohio Youth Ombudsman’s Office will provide materials and Youth Rights Handbooks for participants.

Handouts for Participants:

• Ohio Reach Overview
• Ohio Reach Emergency Funds
• Ohio Reach Scholarship
• Appalachian Youth-Led Prevention Council, Part 1
• Appalachian Youth-Led Prevention Council, Part 2

Retreat Supplies:

• Printable Quiz
• Shirts for participants to personalize
• Flip Charts for participants to share their view of leadership and their insights and recommendations
• OHIO YAB Ice Breaker Balls