Foster care is a system to take care of children and youth when their parents cannot.

A parent has a duty to take proper care of their children. When the parents fail to meet this duty and abuse or neglect happen, the State of Ohio through one of its agencies, such as the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) or a county Public Children Services Agency (PCSA), can remove the child from the home.

Foster Youth Rights Handbook: The OHIO Youth Advisory Board released a foster youth rights handbook, a comprehensive resource for youth experiencing Ohio’s child welfare system. The “For Youth, From Youth: The Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board Foster Youth Rights Handbook” is the first of its kind in Ohio and will assist Ohio’s foster youth in navigating the system and understanding their rights and responsibilities. Originally brought up as a goal in the 2008-2009 OHIO Youth Advisory Board’s Strategic Plan, the handbook is the direct result of youth input from the across the state. 

The rights highlighted in the book are derived from the Ohio Administrative Code. In conjunction with these rights, youth need to be aware of their own responsibilities. As such, the handbook describes the responsibilities youth have to ensure that their rights are met. Additionally, youth included recommendations for aimed at improving Ohio’s child welfare system.

Youth in the child welfare system deserve to be informed. The handbook will work to fulfill that purpose. This handbook does much to improve youth understanding of their rights in foster care, in turn they will be better prepared to advocate for themselves and navigate the system, which results in better outcomes.