Richland County focuses on youth "aging out" of foster care.

Aging out of Foster Care is subject of May 9 forum at OSU-Mansfield
Richland Source, April 15, 2025. 

Richland County Youth and Family Council, in collaboration with Richland County Children Services, is hosting a pivotal event titled “Aging Out of the Foster Care System…What Now?” 

This forum, scheduled for Friday, May 9, at 11 a.m. in Eisenhower Hall at The Ohio State University at Mansfield, aims to shed light on the challenges faced by youth transitioning out of the foster care system and explore ways the community can offer support for their successful integration into society.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with esteemed local leaders, including Michelle Miller, Executive Director, Richland County Youth and Family Council; Herbert Ross, Program Director/QMHS/CDCA/Life Coach/Intervention Specialist, Family Life Counseling; Mary Stephan, Independent Living Caseworker, Richland County Children Services; RCCS youths who have aged out of foster care; and Kathy Goodwin, Family Housing Intervention Specialist, Third Street Family Health Services/Safe Program Mansfield City Schools.

The discussion will be expertly moderated by Aurelio Diaz, 5th Ward Mansfield City Councilman.

By fostering dialogue and collaboration, this forum seeks to inspire collective action in providing a nurturing environment for these young individuals to flourish.

Doors open at 10:45 a.m.,free luncheon at 11 a.m., forum begins at 11:30 a.m. 

For further details, contact Michelle Miller at 419-774-5442. The public is invited to help make a positive impact on the lives of those transitioning from foster care to independence.

Allen County seeks to keep foster youth closer to home

Allen County Children Services co-launches new foster care program to keep children closer to home
Myers, Stacey. Fox Hometown Station. April 21, 2025.  

A specialized treatment foster care program is being created to help children who have previously been housed in out of town facilities.

Allen County Children Services executive director Sarah Newland announcing that they are teaming up with child welfare agencies in Auglaize and Hardin Counties to get those children back in their home counties. A new treatment foster care program will give specialized training to foster parents to treat children with behavioral and mental health needs.

ACCS director Sarah Newland discussed the new program at the weekly Lima Rotary Club meeting.

"This program will be vital in allowing us to keep kids local in our community and not placing them counties away for treatment, and allow them to remain in a family like setting," Newland said. "There's so many benefits to these children that can remain in our community."

Newland adds they will be looking first at their current foster parents to see if they are willing to take on this higher level care and also looking for additional homes in Allen, Auglaize and Hardin Counties to become licensed.