Ohio Children's Alliance

As Foster Care Awareness Month comes to a close, we’re grateful for everyone working each day to support children, youth, and families across Ohio. 💙

Thank you to foster caregivers, professionals, advocates, and community partners who continue to make a difference in the lives of young people.

While May is ending, the commitment to supporting children and families continues all year long.🤝

Through the current Fostering Futures culinary classes, young people are gaining practical skills, growing their confidence, and taking important steps toward independence. 🚀🌟

Participants are building workforce readiness through hands-on learning and skill development in areas like time management, financial literacy, resume building, and interview preparation.

Programs like Fostering Futures help create pathways to long-term success by giving young people the tools and support to move forward with confidence. Learn more about the program here 👉https://www.ohiochildrensalliance.org/fostering-futures

This Memorial Day, we honor and remember those who gave their lives in service to our country.

We are grateful for their sacrifice and wish everyone a safe and meaningful holiday weekend. ❤️🤍💙

Day 2 wrapped up the Trauma-Informed Summit with powerful learning, reflection, and inspiration. 🚀

We started the morning with the healing power of rhythm and drumming before diving into sessions on resilient leadership, felt safety, developmental trauma, student voice, and creating healthier workplace cultures.

The Summit closed with an unforgettable keynote from Derek Clark, who shared his journey through childhood trauma, foster care, resilience, and redemption, reminding attendees that healing, hope, and transformation are possible even in the face of adversity. 🌟

Thank you to everyone who joined us to learn, connect, and continue advancing trauma-informed practices across Ohio. 🤝

Day 1 of the Trauma-Informed Summit is in the books! 👏

We started the morning with connection over breakfast before Dr. Benjamin Miller challenged attendees to rethink what effective, accessible mental health care should look like today.

From there, the day was packed with conversations on belonging, trauma-informed leadership, burnout prevention, resilience, workplace wellness, and community healing, giving attendees practical tools they can bring back to their teams and organizations immediately.

We closed the evening with networking, reflection, and fun activities that reminded us trauma-informed work also means making space for joy and connection. 🤝

HR professionals are kicking off the Trauma-Informed Summit with an experience designed to restore, recharge, and build resilience.🌟

Today's Pre-Summit Workshop with Jen Schneeman explores practical, trauma-informed strategies to navigate stress, prevent burnout, and sustain wellbeing in every space of life and leadership. Through engaging discussion and experiential practices, participants will gain portable tools to support contidence, energy, and whole-person mental health.

A meaningful start to the Summit and an important investment in the people leading this work every day.🤝

We’re excited to highlight Integrated Services for Behavioral Health (ISBH) in our Member Spotlight! 🌟

For more than 30 years, ISBH has been meeting people where they are, delivering community-based health services across Ohio, with a strong focus on rural and Appalachian regions.

Their work reflects a deep commitment to reducing barriers to care, strengthening the behavioral health workforce, and supporting youth and families where they live and heal. 🏠🤝

Read the full impact story to learn more about how ISBH is making a difference �https://www.ohiochildrensalliance.org/_files/ugd/b23fde_d7f8963e3af2447ca456ac08912a0a0c.pdf

Exciting momentum is building across Ohio’s college campuses! 🎓Ohio Reach is expanding in 2026 with nine new campus designations, signaling a deeper, growing commitment to supporting students with foster care experience.

“Students with foster care experience succeed when campuses are prepared to support them,” said our CEO, Mark Mecum. “Ohio Reach helps create those opportunities for success, and it’s encouraging to see nine more institutions deepen their commitment to this work in 2026.”

We’re proud to see this network continue to grow and open more doors for students across the state.🌟

The Ohio Children’s Alliance has been awarded a contract from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth to administer an initiative that supports residential centers and group homes across Ohio in meeting new Residential Staff Core Training through a financial incentive program designed to strengthen the workforce and improve outcomes for children and families. 🌟

Agencies in good standing can qualify when 75% of direct care staff and 100% of administrators complete the training by May 22, 2026. This investment helps ensure staff are trained, supported, and equipped to provide high-quality care statewide. 🤝

📚Register for the course: https://childrenandyouth.ohio.gov/for-providers/foster-care-licensing/residential-functions/certified-residential-toolkit
📝Apply for incentive dollars:https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fcontent.govdelivery.com%2Fattachments%2FOHDCY%2F2026%2F04%2F27%2Ffile_attachments%2F3630710%2FRSCT%2520Incentive_Application%2520Instructions_2026.04.27.pdf/1/0100019dd03ff021-f2638ca0-8223-423d-8ba9-969ff14edea9-000000/DQW4NReVgHwhVWgKByiJn4oQzWllLoRh5FG5ah-FSXE=452

Please join us in celebrating our Senior Coordinator of New Business Development, Haley Farver, who recently graduated from the 9th Fundraising Leadership Academy through The Columbus Foundation ’s Nonprofit Forum. 👏

This three-month program brings together non-profit leaders and development professionals to strengthen fundraising strategies, share insights, and build practical, data-driven tools that support stronger organizations and communities.

Congratulations, Haley!🎉