Ohio YAB

ohio yab logo (1)

The Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board (OHIO YAB) is a statewide organization of young people (aged 14-24) who have experienced foster care.

We exist to be the knowledgeable statewide voice that influences policies and practices that impact youth who have or will experience out of home care.


Statewide Quarterly Meetings

The OHIO Youth Advisory Board meets on a quarterly basis, on the third Thursday of January, April, July and October. Here is a link to our meeting schedule in 2023.

General Format of Statewide OHIO YAB meetings:

  1. OHIO YAB Youth Ambassadors report out on recent events
  2. Youth participants separate into brainstorming sessions in different corners of the room
  3. Lunch
  4. Youth participants report out on their brainstorming, and define next steps to move forward
  5. New and Good / Updates from county/regional YABs

Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board


The OHIO YAB leadership structure is made up of representatives from county and regional Youth Advisory Boards, similar to the United Nation’s leadership structure. Here is a link to our Youth Ambassador Referral Form.

OHIO YAB Youth Ambassadors:

  • Jewel Harris, Mattie Harrod, and Willow Elrod, Allen County
  • Olivia Bennett and Kyajah Rodriguez, Athens County
  • Todd Brooklyn, Ashtabula County
  • Isabella and Victoria, Champaign County
  • Raven Grice, Regine Turner and Makayla Lang, Cuyahoga County
  • Sabrina Niezgoda, Delaware County
  • Cynthia Louis-Charles, Miatta Joe, and Karimah-Addison Bolding, Franklin County
  • Kendalyn Paynter and Forest Leis, Greene County
  • Lyric Ruffin, Hamilton County
  • Kirsten Lewis, Jackson County
  • Fayvian Ferguson, Lake County
  • Jorge Cortes, Lorain County
  • Timyah Ciboro, Lucas County
  • Kelsie Brown, Warren County
  • Kinsley (Kayla) Spires, Williams County
  • Jonathan Thomas, Wood County

Ohio YAB Resources

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