Ohio Bridges connects at-risk youth with life skills

SANDUSKY — It's a birthday both kids and parents look forward to with anticipation.But for young people in the foster care system — whatever difficulties they might have already experienced growing up — their 18th birthday brings even more frightening changes to their lives.Enter Ohio Bridges, which aims to quell those uncertainties. The relatively new state program for at-risk young adults assists those between ages 18 and 20 who emancipated from, or aged out of, foster care. Foster care ends on or immediately after an individual's 18th birthday unless under court orders specifying otherwise.Ohio Bridges works on a voluntary basis. Nobody is forced to join or sign up."It helps provide ongoing support for young people who can no longer receive supports through children services programming due to their age," said Jason Harland, the northwest Ohio regional coordinator for the Ohio Children's Alliance. The alliance, a statewide child advocacy organization, works with Ohio Bridges, a state-run initiative, to administer the program.Harland and others view the three-year window as a crucial time to help develop individuals into productive and educated members of society."We were finding many of them were not prepared for 'normal' life," Harland said. "They didn't go to typical high schools. They didn't have the typical upbringing other people did. They were not prepared for what they were about to face in life. This program can change all that."Spanning the gapAfter many years, state officials and child advocacy workers created Ohio Bridges.Young adults, after they apply for or receive a referral, such as from Erie County Job and Family Services, can receive help from Ohio Bridges, which fills needs missing in many agencies, Harland said."The post-emancipation departments of counties just don't have the funding or financial means to assist every young person who has aged out of care," Harland said. "So that's why the state created it: to ensure that this at-risk population of young adults are not ending up on the streets, ending up in jail or ending up dead."Working with the alliance, Ohio Bridges clients develop certain goals and aspirations they want to achieve. The alliance then provides support, guidance and mentorship to accomplish these tasks.This would include:• Finding safe, affordable housing; Ohio Bridges can also help clients pay for rent, utilities, food, clothing and other personal incidentals or necessities• Signing up for health insurance• Keeping up on physical and mental health• Getting a driver's license• Enrolling into education programs to receive a diploma, whether a GED or college degree, and applying for financial aid or scholarships• Applying for work through the state's Ohio Means Jobs programAll services provided by Ohio Bridges aim to make young adults emancipating out of foster care independent and self-sufficient, Harland said.Through a two-year budget approved by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, the state earmarked about $5.5 million in 2019 and 2020 for Ohio Bridges. The money gets divvied up throughout Ohio's counties."Each person that's enrolled in Ohio Bridges gets a specific amount allotted to them based on criteria," Harland said. "This is beneficial for the young adults. Some people might see this as, 'Why are you paying for their rent?' when we see it as 'Yes, we'll pay your rent, but we will teach you life skills and connect you with mentors and more.'"The local benefitOf the 81 children in Erie County's custody today, 51 stay in foster care. Others, meanwhile, go to places such as group or residential home settings and kinship care.Based on local data from recent years, no more than two children on an annual basis emancipate out of Erie County's foster care system — among one of the lowest rates in Ohio.What's the reason?Erie County's children services workers take an aggressive, hands-on approach to find a safe and caring home for each adolescent well before they reach an emancipation level."We always try to have a permanency option for the child and are always exploring a relative or kinship option," said AJ Lill, the county's deputy director of social programs for job and family services. "When one is available, that party could receive legal custody of their child. When one is not available, the agency files permanent custody of the child with plans to find an adoptive family for the child."Ohio Bridges, then, can help those who don't get adopted or united with a family member. And there has already been some success stories coming out of Erie County.For instance, one individual received help enrolling for college at BGSU Firelands. Another obtained assistance to reunite with family members in Columbus.Harland recently visited with Erie County Job and Family Services higher-ups in an effort to direct additional youth to Ohio Bridges. Of the 1,100 or so applicants for Ohio Bridges since its inception, only five have come from Erie County.Erie County officials welcome him, his team and the program's aid."The state is beginning to realize that more and more of these children that are in foster care, group homes or residential care lead rather sheltered lives and are limited in the kind of experiences they can have outside of the area they are in," said Karen Balconi Ghezzi, the county's job and family services executive director."So, to suddenly be cut loose at 18 and be told, 'You're on your own' is truly a shock," Balconi Ghezzi continued. "For some kids, that's an overwhelming shock. But programs like Ohio Bridges are aimed at making that transition something that will be positive and productive for them."Learn moreFor additional information on Ohio Bridges, visit bridgestosuccess.jfs.ohio.gov or call (614) 568-9428.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Erie County Job and Family Services higher-ups — including executive director Karen Balconi Ghezzi and deputy director of social programs AJ Lill — are both highly supportive of the Ohio Bridges program. The program works with young adults emancipating, or aging out of foster care, and prepares them with life skills.