Ohio foster care youth and alumni began advocating for a Youth Ombudsman Office in 2018. Please visit this link to learn more about the history of this effort. There is also a video celebrating our success. We are overjoyed that the Ohio Youth Ombudsman Office has been successfully established.

Ombudsman Reports and OHIO YAB Evaluations:

1.) In 2023, the OHIO YAB submitted an evaluation of the first Youth Ombudsman annual report. The Youth Ombudsman Office responded by writing a letter in support of youth suggestions.

2.) In 2024, the OHIO YAB submitted an evaluation of the second Youth Ombudsman annual report.

3.) In 2025, the OHIO YAB is submitted an evaluation of the third Youth Ombudsman annual report.

You can also review our:

• Talking Points
• Lessons Learned from Other States
• Youth Ombuds Office – Frequently Asked Questions

Our previous testimonials include: 

• Written testimonials from Julius Kissinger and Violet Ramunni
• Sharing testimonials in person
• Jonathan Thomas’ written testimony
• Jonathan Thomas’ video testimony
• Jeremy Collier’s written testimony
• Jeremy Collier’s video testimony

News coverage includes: 

• On February 15, 2020, our Letter to the Editor was published in the Columbus Dispatch. 
• 2021 June Op Ed by Dylan McIntosh
• 2021 May Columbus Dispatch article, featuring Deanna Jones and Nikki Chinn
• 2021 May Gongwer article regarding HB 4, featuring Jermaine Ferguson
• 2021 May Gongwer article regarding HB 110, featuring Juliana, Deanna and Nikki
• 2021 April Imprint article, with quotes from Adrian, Jamole and Lisa
• 2021 July Imprint article, with quotes from Jaye and Deanna
• 2022 January Gongwer article regarding HB 4, with quotes from Kim and Juliana

The Youth Ombudsman Coalition was initiated by the Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board, which is a statewide organization of young people (aged 14-24) who have experienced foster care that exists to be the knowledgeable statewide voice that influences policies and practices that impact youth who have or will experience out of home care.

Members of this growing coalition include: ACTION Ohio, Adoption Network Cleveland, Athens CASA/GAL Program, Better Together Toledo, the Children’s Defense Fund, Columbus State Scholar Network, Community of Hope, Disability Rights Ohio, El’lesun, the Fostering Achievement Network, iFoster Inc, the Juvenile Justice Coalition, Junior League of Columbus, the Miresa Arts Foundation, the National Center for Housing & Child Welfare, the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition, the Ohana Project and Think of Us.