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A new program signed into law in Ohio in 2016 has finally seen its start up earlier this month. When the governor signed Substitute House Bill 50, Ohio became the state to watch with our new Bridges program, under the direction of Ohio Jobs and Family Services. This program specifically addresses the needs of foster care young adults aging out of the system. Previously, individuals in foster care who turned 18 years old were released from the state’s care and considered independent adults. However, this transition was typically made with no assistance from the state nor from either their foster or birth families.
Few 18-year-olds are ready for such independent adult living situations. Although many students that age move on to college and careers, they tend to do so with family support and assistance. Consider all the transitions young adults make in living arrangements, schooling, as well as career, financial, and health care planning. In fact, according to a press release from OJFS, “Few of us have the skills, tools and wisdom we need to live on our own and make informed career decisions when we turn 18,” said Cynthia Dungey, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), which is administering Bridges through a contract with the Child and Family Health Collaborative of Ohio. “Bridges will provide the helping hand many youth need during an often turbulent time. It will help former foster youth become successful, self-sufficient adults” (“New Bridges Program”). Between 2012 and 2016 alone, the number of youth in Ohio’s foster care system in danger of aging out increased 20 percent (Kelly). Not only that the number of youth in foster care increased 16 percent in the same time frame. With more children in the system, the projections are high for more young adults aging out of the system each year without any safety net or family to help them transition. Bridges is a voluntary program for 18 to 21-year-old former foster care youth in school or an education program, working, or who have a medical condition preventing them from going to school or working. Even if the young adults do not qualify in these categories, they may still be eligible for supportive services through Ohio’s public children’s services agencies, which are legally required to help if asked. The Bridges program is being touted as a possible model for the 25 states which have not yet revamped their foster care programs. A collaborative project between state and local service agencies focused on the issues of transitioning youth, former foster care youth have opportunities for mentorship with Bridges representatives, as well as for participating in life skills and other training. Ohio’s program also includes an advisory council engaging former fostered youth, along with the juvenile court system, and foster and children services. Works Cited Kelly, John. “Bridges, Ohio’s Extended Foster Care Program, is Underway.”The Chronicle of Social Change. 7 Feb. 2018. “New Bridges Program to Help Former Foster Youth to Achieve Independence.” Ohio Jobs and Family Services. 2 Feb. 2018.
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U.S. FORUM CONNECTION #170, FEBRARY 2018
This publication is intended for your information about issues important to education, women and children. How you choose to use the information included here is up to you. This free newsletter is sponsored by the United States Forum of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is an organization of leading women educators with over 80,000 members. Delta Kappa Gamma members wishing to subscribe to this FREE newsletter should send a request to the editor Angela O. Bedenbaugh at Bedenbaugh.Angela@gmail.com. We urge you to share this newsletter with other interested individuals who are not members of Delta Kappa Gamma or members who do not subscribe to this publication. IN THIS ISSUE NLS IS MARCH 18-20 APRIL IS SEXUAL AWARENESS MONTH BILLS ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT GUN LEGISLATION CONTACTING YOUR LEGISLATOR FORUM FACEBOOK PAGE LINK FORUM WEB SITE NLS IS MARCH 18-20 The National Legislative Seminar will be held March 18-20 at the Holiday Inn, National Airport, Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. Registration forms can be found athttp://www.usforumdkg.org/uploads/4/4/6/6/44667559/nls_registration_2018_updated2.pdf APRIL IS SEXUAL AWARENESS MONTH Just as pink has been associated with breast cancer awareness and is observed in February, April has recently been designated Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and is associated with the color teal. The advent of the “Me Too” movement has motivated women to speak out and become more active in politics. It is estimated that the number of women running for public office has exploded in the last couple of years. A survey of hundreds of women in the entertainment industry reported in USA Today found that 94% of the women in entertainment surveyed reported some form of sexual harassment or sexual assault. BILLS ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT Congressional Sexual Harassment Training Act (H.R.4155, S.2236) the acts provide for mandatory sexual harassment training of anyone in Congress or employed by Congress. Both bills were introduced by women and both were referred to committee. GUN LEGISLATION Several bills dealing with the gun issue have been filed. The Automatic Gunfire Prevention Act (H.R.3947, S.1916). According to the Congressional Record “This bill amends the federal criminal code to make it a crime to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a trigger crank, a bump-fire device, or any part, combination of parts, component, device, attachment, or accessory that is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semiautomatic rifle but not convert the semiautomatic rifle into a machine gun.” It does not prohibit law enforcement or government agents from possessing these weapons modifications. Both bills were sponsored by women. Two other similar bills Assault Weapons Ban of 2017 (S.2095) and Assault Weapons Ban of 2018 (H.R.5077 & H.R.5087) have been filed. None of these bills have been reported out of committee. Each state has its own set of gun laws, and these laws differ widely. Generally the southern states have the least control on gun ownership. ****************************************** FORUM FACEBOOK PAGE LINK For those of you desiring discussion of legislative topics there is a U. S. Forum Facebook page online at http://www.facebook.com/DKG.US.Forum FORUM WEB SITE: http://www.usforumdkg.org/ CONTACTING YOUR LEGISLATOR If you wish to contact your senator to express your opinion, you can call the Congressional Switchboard at 1-866-327-8670 [this is a toll free number]. Another way of contacting your senator is via email or a telephone number which is not toll free both of which are available athttps://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm Email access and addresses http://www.house.gov/ for members of the House of Representatives http://www.senate.gov/ for members of the U.S. Senate White House 1-202-456-1111 FIVE CONSTITUENT CONTACTS WILL CAUSE A LEGISLATOR TO PAY SERIOUS ATTENTION TO A GIVEN ISSUE. |
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