Cleveland's First Foster Care Closet

'We see you': Inside Cleveland's first foster care closet, where every child gets to choose
Lindsay Buckingham, WKYC, March 23, 2026.

Kathy DiVincenzo founded Honey from the Rock after discovering Cuyahoga County leads Ohio in children experiencing foster care — and nothing like this existed.

Walk through the doors of Honey from the Rock and it doesn't feel like a charity warehouse — it feels like a boutique.

That's exactly the point.

Racks of clothing organized by size, shelves lined with books and hygiene products, stuffed animals donated by the Cleveland Monsters from their annual teddy bear toss — every inch of this 9,500-square-foot space in Cleveland was built with one word in mind: dignity.

"The goal is, 'Can we make it look like a boutique? Can we elevate that experience for them?' And we can only do it through community support," said Kathy DiVincenzo, founder and executive director of Honey from the Rock — Cleveland's first foster care closet.

DiVincenzo knows firsthand what foster families need. As a foster parent herself, she didn't find her purpose in a boardroom — she found it in her own home.

"I always say that I found my purpose in proximity," she said. "It wasn't until I literally lived the need that I saw the need. Here in Cuyahoga County, we lead in the number of kids experiencing foster care in the state of Ohio."

That statistic stopped her cold — and motivated her to act. In January of last year, what DiVincenzo thought would be a small closet opened its doors as a 9,500-square-foot community hub. She was shocked to find nothing like it existed before.

"I was shocked to find that there wasn't a resource like this prior to us starting it," she said.

Support from Honey from the Rock begins the moment a child enters the foster care system — even before they arrive at the space.

"Our support actually starts the moment they come into care in Metro Health Triage," DiVincenzo explained. "We have what's called our Gap Pack program, providing that emergent support for a child coming into the triage process. And then we have our emergency order within 48 hours."

After that initial support, children can return up to four times a year — either shopping in the boutique in person or placing a custom curbside order, similar to a Target Drive Up experience.

But what sets Honey From the Rock apart isn't just the resources — it's the philosophy behind every single order.

"Every child who walks through these doors gets something most of us take for granted: a choice," DiVincenzo said. "Being able to bring them into a space like this and they get to literally choose their own style — we just had a 14-year-old shopping last night who had a style where if I was packing her emergency order, I wouldn't have expected from her. So being able to welcome them in and say, 'Who are you?' Let's discover that sometimes for the first time together of a safe space that they can really choose who they want to be and how they want to represent themselves."

That philosophy carries into every custom order — down to the last detail.

"We even had Sonic socks that we were able to find for a little dude that loves Sonic," DiVincenzo said. "So each and every element of the order is saying, 'We see you, and what you love really matters to us.'"

And Cleveland, DiVincenzo says, has shown up in a way that moves her to tears.

"Watching Cleveland link arms ... there is truly nothing better than to be able to see a need and with the help of Cleveland to be able to fill it."

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Honey from the Rock welcomes the community to get involved in three ways:

• You can volunteer as a worker bee, coming in to pack custom orders and sort donations.
• You can donate new or like-new items every Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. — just pull up curbside and volunteers will handle the rest.
• You can give online. 

Article about Dalen from April 2025

With local child abuse cases declining, neglect cases up 9%: ‘See something. Say something’
Dayton Daily News, Sydney Dawes, April 11, 2025.

Dalen Myles and Montgomery County Commissioner Carolyn Rice wave during a National Child Abuse Prevention Month event on Wednesday at Haines Children's Center. Myles, a former foster youth, spoke about enduring abuse at home and how an observant adult helped him. Rice also spoke and urged people report suspected abuse. 

Montgomery County Children Services investigated 3,750 cases of child abuse and neglect last year, with reports of neglect up 9% compared to 2023 totals. Reports of abuse were down 10% compared to the previous year, according to Montgomery County Children Services data. Montgomery County officials are urging community members to be vigilant and report any concerning behavior.

For Dalen Myles, a phone call made by a caring adult changed his life. Myles, an 18-year-old months away from attending the University of Dayton to study cybersecurity, shared his experiences during a child abuse and neglect prevention event in Dayton on Wednesday.

April is nationally recognized as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month.

Myles said that as a child, his home wasn’t always a safe place. His father would constantly ridicule Myles. After one explosive event, Myles said he was afraid to even return home and didn’t know how to tell people about his experiences. “I stopped smiling as much,” he said. “And I started clenching at the sound of his voice.”

Myles wrote about the mistreatment he was experiencing in a journal — he said it was a way for him to “leave his own footprints.” More than 100 pages he penned showed names he was called, and other actions he experienced.

When adults at Myles’ school began noticing a change in Myles, he showed them his journal. “The thoughts I was scared to share with others were written in this notebook,” he said. “I had so much balled up that I didn’t know how to untangle.”

As of this week, Montgomery County Children Services has opened 822 neglect and abuse cases this year. The department receives an average of 500 to 1,000 calls or referrals monthly.

Jordan in the News

Dayton teen gets White House tour after being recognized for foster youth advocacy work
Russell Florence Jr., Dayton Daily News, March 9, 2026. 

Northmont High School graduate Jordan Deaton of Dayton was recognized Feb. 3 at the White House for his advocacy as a former foster youth.

Deaton joined leaders from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth who were invited to the White House by the Office of the First Lady and the Administration for Families and Children in recognition of First Lady Melania Trump’s Fostering the Future initiative, which is part of her Be Best program.

“It was amazing, awesome and an honor,” said Deaton, 19. “I was a little nervous but I had a lot of courage. My passion drove my fear away. I want the world to know my experience because it’s important to show my peers and those younger than me that the youth can make an impact. My advocacy drives me to do everything I do. I’m not shy about anything.”

Deaton’s foster care history involves his adoptive parents, Sara Beth Deaton and Rodney Deaton, being indicted last summer on a dozen charges in connection to alleged physical punishments they used on their six children in Montgomery County. The incidents started as early as 2012, when the children were between the ages of 1 and 7 years old, and continued for more than a decade, according to court records.

“They adopted me,” Deaton said. “I was in foster care before and then they adopted me and then I went back in, which is unique and (something) a lot of people don’t experience. I have a lot of experience — a lot of good and a lot of pain — but it’s not holding me back. There has been negativity that’s happened to me — the story of my parents — but look what I’ve overcome."

Heather Kirkland, Deaton’s friend and former foster parent, is proud of what he has accomplished in spite of his circumstances. In addition to graduating with honors from Northmont in 2025, he received the Samuel Halperin Youth Public Service Award from the Children’s Defense Fund of Ohio, was recognized as a 2025 PCSAO Leader of Tomorrow and rose to Chief Petty Officer in the Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, earning Distinguished Cadet honors.

“We are very proud of what Jordan has chosen to do with the path that he’s been given,” said Kirkland, who housed Deaton for nearly three years beginning in August 2023. “We’ve had a lot of kids in our home and not all of them choose this path. They leave and the world kind of eats them up. But Jordan has chosen a different path. He’s chosen to take what has been meant for harm to make it good and to help others, (particularly) other kids in similar situations. I think it’s admirable he chose that path (instead) of just dwelling in the past.”

In addition to serving as a member of the Ohio Youth Advisory Board, Deaton participates in Bridges, a program for young adults in Ohio who were in foster care and are now 18 to 21 years old. It is an outlet that helps participants leave foster care and start their adult life.

At the White House, Deaton was joined by DCY Assistant Director Jeff Van Deusen and his Bridges advocate Lisa Carlin. According to DCY, their visit including meetings with: Sarah Gesiriech, the First Lady’s policy director; Alex Adams, assistant secretary of ACF; and Cody Inman, deputy assistant secretary for management.

They were joined by other advocates “to discuss initiatives that will enhance foster youth’s access to services and help them transition effectively after foster care. Assistant Director Van Deusen also highlighted several programs implemented in Ohio that support the Fostering the Future initiative,” according to a press release.

The visit also included a private tour of the White House.

“Some of my favorite things were seeing all the different paintings of the presidents,” Deaton said. “Seeing the different rooms and what they were used for and why they were built was (also) cool.”

In a press statement Van Deusen praised Deaton for sharing his testimony and being a powerful advocate.

“It was an incredible honor to represent Ohio and the DeWine Administration at the White House and see firsthand the impact programs like Fostering the Future have on youth in foster care,” Van Deusen said. “Jordan’s story is a shining example of resilience and what’s possible when young people are supported, encouraged and (have) the tools to succeed.”

Deaton attends Sinclair Community College and would like to pursue a career in public service. He particularly hopes to be an inspiration for youth within the foster care system.

“We have a voice and we know how to articulate it,” he said. “We are victims but we won’t stay victims. We won’t stay down. We will change the world.”

Press Release about the Fostering School Success Act

Bipartisan Legislation on Foster Students Success Passes House Floor
March 4, 2026

State Rep. Dontavius L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) and Sharon Ray (R-Wadsworth) today celebrated the Ohio House’s favorable passage of bipartisan House Bill (HB) 25, the Fostering Student Success Act. HB 25 passed the Ohio House Workforce and Higher Education Committee with a vote of 13-0 last week and passed the House Floor today with a vote of 92-1.

“The Fostering School Success Act creates clear points of support inside every school system, so foster youth are not left to navigate instability on their own,” said Rep. Jarrells. “The Fostering School Success Act sends a simple message to foster youth across Ohio. You matter. Your education matters. And the adults in this system have a responsibility to show up for you consistently.”

The Fostering Student Success Act requires state agencies to support local foster care education liaisons and foster family navigators. The bipartisan legislation also requires that state agencies disseminate educational resources and any scholarship opportunities specifically for students placed in foster care to their agency’s website. As a result, HB 25 ensures every district and school designates a foster care education liaison and strengthens coordination between education, higher education, and child welfare agencies.

“House Bill 25 is designed to provide critical support to Ohio’s foster youth as they pursue higher education. It seeks to address the unique and often overwhelming challenges faced by students in foster care who frequently lack the familial support networks that many of their peers rely on to access and succeed in postsecondary education,” said Rep. Ray.

HB 25 now awaits further consideration by the Ohio Senate.

Fostering School Success Bill focuses on K-12 experiences of Ohio foster youth

Ohio House passes bill to improve public school experience for foster students
Kreemer, Avery, Dayton Daily News, March 5, 2026. 

The Ohio House passed a bill 92-1 on Wednesday meant to improve the K-12 experience for Ohio children placed in foster care.

The bill, House Bill 25, has enjoyed broad support from the start of its legislative journey, evidenced by its bipartisan sponsors, overwhelming public support in committee, a unanimous vote out of committee, and a landslide passage on the House floor.

But, it's also seen significant changes. It was originally intended to create a Foster-to-College scholarship fund, complete with a $15 million appropriation. That idea was scrapped for the time being, and instead, H.B. 25 was drafted with a focus on creating "education liaisons" and "foster family navigators" in every K-12 school building across the state. These roles can be filled by existing school staffers, who would receive role-specific training once a year, under the bill.

In committee testimony, bill sponsor Rep. Dontavius Jarrells, D-Columbus, described the education liaison as someone "whose job is to help a student enroll immediately, transfer records quickly, stay connected to their school of origin when possible, and receive support when a move is unavoidable."

Family navigators, Jarrells said, would provide foster students with another level of care.

"These are adults who know the students by name. They check in. They help with academics, with activities, and with planning for what comes after high school. They help students understand college options, career training, and workforce pathways. They make sure young people in foster care are not invisible in the systems meant to serve them," Jarrells said.

In sum, Jarrells argued, the law would enhance coordination between K-12 schools, higher education opportunities, and the child welfare agencies that ultimately oversee the well-being of foster children.

On the House floor Wednesday, Jarrells said this coordination will ultimately "save lives."

The bill received considerable bipartisan support. House Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, told this outlet that he believes the bill will create a more inclusive environment for foster children, a population in Ohio that, in some ways, has "completely different needs than most kids."

Rep. Tom Young, R-Washington Twp., who chairs the House Workforce and Higher Education Committee, told his colleagues on the House floor that passing H.B. 25 is a victory not only for foster students but also for the Ohio House itself.

The bill now heads to the Ohio Senate for further vetting.

Concerns Expressed By Ohio Parents, Part 2

 These Ohio parents want multiple child services agencies investigated

King, Danae. Columbus Dispatch, Feb. 19, 2026.  

A group of Ohio parents went to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's office on the morning of Feb. 18 in hopes of speaking with someone about various concerns they have about children's welfare.

"We are a group of parents who have connected over our shared experience of trying to navigate the child welfare system and the judicial entities involved, like family court," said Khaula Zafar, a mother of three who lives in Grove City.

Zafar and her husband, Faraan Qureshi, have been trying for three years to first find, and then make contact with the brother of their adopted son so the two can have a relationship. But she said they have been thwarted by child protective services at every step along the way.

"We have all experienced significant hardship, but have also encountered what may be criminal violations and indications of public corruption," Zafar said.

With her in the first-floor multipurpose room of the Rhodes Tower, where Yost's office is, were five other parents.

Deqa Haji and her husband, Said Abdullahi, have been trying for four years to get back custody of their son. He is a twin and was harmed during birth by medical professionals performing a C-section, Haji said. They are raising his twin and their two other children, but have not been able to get custody of him back from the foster parents.

"Our children are not case numbers," Haji said. "They deserve dignity, respect and justice. ... What we're seeking is systemic accountability."

Joining the group as well was Tina Savage, of Carlisle, in southwestern Ohio. She has been trying to get back custody of her 2-year-old grandson, whom she said she raised until he was 1-year-old.

Martha Matteson, of Marion, has been trying to gain full custody of her 7-year-old daughter for two years.

Talisha McKenzie, of Dayton, was also present and fought for the custody of her children for nearly two years before successfully getting them back. She came because she knows what happened to her – losing her children and fighting the system to get them back – is happening all the time to other parents, she said.

She believes it's a violation of due process. Federal child safety laws are also being violated, Zafar said.

All the parents have reached out to multiple state agencies for help or to ask who can help. But they each said they were sent to different agencies every time, eventually ending up at the one they started with and getting no help.

"Make it make sense," McKenzie said.

Savage said she's found that there is no accountability for county child protective service agencies – none of the parents have found someone who will hold agencies accountable.

Zafar has spent months trying to get answers and hold agencies accountable, so she gathered other parents she's met in similar situations to go to the Ohio Attorney General's help desk.

Advertised on the office's website is a toll-free number, daily hours and an address for a "help center" on the 14th floor of the Rhodes Tower.

"Why can't I go in?" Zafar asked, after the security desk asked her and the others to wait in the first-floor multipurpose room.

They arrived around 11 a.m. and waited as security guards called upstairs, though the families were continually denied an opportunity to speak to someone and told to wait in the room downstairs.

At one point, McKenzie alone was allowed upstairs to file a report and was told she could only live chat with someone via her phone, that the person there could not help her.

"What is the accessibility of our government that I can't go ask?" Zafar said. "We've all independently tried to report these concerns across many different entities throughout this state – many levels, local to state – and have not had any success gaining any accountability."

Around 3 p.m., someone from Yost's office went down to speak with those assembled, but the office would not offer further comment except to share their constituent services hotline.

A spokesperson for the Attorney General's office said they didn't know the parents were down there until someone else alerted them. As to why the parents were asked to wait on the first floor, the spokesperson referred The Dispatch to lobby security, noting that is not part of their office.

The constituent services representative from the Attorney General's office listened to their stories for nearly two hours, took down their information and shared his, Zafar said. At first, he tried to tell them it wasn't in his office's jurisdiction, but the parents kept persisting, Zafar said.

"It's just a whole mess," Zafar said. "They tried to run us around, but we know the laws."

Concerns Expressed By Ohio Parents, Part 1

Adoptive Ohio family claims agency blocking effort to reunite brothers
Hoffman, Anna. NBC4. Dec. 10, 2025.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A family is claiming discrimination by an Ohio agency after they were denied the opportunity to reunite biological brothers, one of whom is with a different foster family.

The family is Muslim, and they think that may be why they’ve not been able to move forward with the adoption of their adopted son’s biological brother. They say this has been devastating, and everything they are doing now is with the intention of their son knowing his biological family.

“All I can think about are my son’s losses, that’s all I can think about,” Khaula Zafar said.

Zafar and her husband, Faraan Qureshi, are licensed foster parents. They said they have taken in children of all ages and backgrounds.

Zafar and Qureshi’s son is now five years old. He was their foster child, and they adopted him when he was two, around the same time they learned through social media that he may have a biological brother.

“Our journey has very much been about reunification and family preservation,” Zafar said.

Ohio law says, “Agencies and courts need to make reasonable efforts to place siblings together or allow visitation.”

Zafar said that after repeated attempts to contact Franklin County Children’s Services about the brother, they eventually found out the brother was in the system, but with another family.

“We’re like, ‘OK, something happened,’” Zafar said. “Clearly, there were mistakes made.”

She said that at this time last year, FCCS contacted them and said it would be best to keep the siblings together. However, two hours later, she said they walked that back.

“The only reason given to us is that they are not required to keep the siblings together by law and that in their opinion, because our son is adopted, these children are not legally siblings and we are not kinship, and that was the decision the FCCS has stood by and the reasoning that they stood by for months,” Zafar said.

The family said they then tried to set up visits for the siblings. However, they said FCCS gave all power to the foster family rather than facilitating the visits themselves

“It’s our son’s biological brother that he is getting denied any connection with, right? Because we’re not getting any support from the organization,” Qureshi said.

They said there were red flags at the few meet-ups they were allowed to have, such as having counsel there to supervise. The family said they also found social media posts they said were alarming from the child’s foster family.

“The other problem is that these foster parents of this child is with have been very, very vocal about their intention, how they’re motivated by their faith, their Catholicism, their Christianity, their take in children, and to, to guide them, in a sense,” Qureshi said.

Zafar and Qureshi said the foster family became more and more difficult to get a hold of, canceling set-up visit times and, eventually, severing contact with Zafar and Qureshi.

Then, on Nov. 11, they received an email saying they were not chosen as a match for their son’s brother.

“We have a situation where a decision has been made that has clearly not been guided by the best interests of a child, where laws have not been followed in the ways that they should have been, and serious well-being concerns have not been taken into consideration,” Zafar said.

Three weeks later, FCCS sent them an email saying, “This decision was not made lightly,” and went on to list several key factors they based their decision on, which include the child being in the current foster home since birth and the current foster parent expressing interest to adopt.

Zafar and Qureshi believe both their son and his brother have Muslim ties.

“What is evident from something as simple as his name is that he has ties to a cultural community that is predominantly Muslim,” Zafar said. “I cannot say parents follow x-y-z religion, right, but based on what is evident, it is clear he has ties to the Muslim community.”

They said that based on their standing as foster parents and what is said in Ohio law, the only answer they can come up with for why their request was denied is due to discrimination.

“It’s hard to feel otherwise,” Qureshi said. “I don’t see. It’s like she said earlier, it’s either specifically our background or there’s a systemic issue or they’re just targeting anyone that’s not the standard. I don’t know.”

Franklin County Children’s Services said in a statement:

“The adoption team at Franklin County Children Services continues to monitor and review this case, prioritizing the best interests of this young boy and the permanent support, safety, and sense of belonging that can come when a child in the foster care system can be placed with a ‘forever family.’ We always strive to find placement opportunities where children can maintain a safe connection to the culture, background, and extended family. Ultimately, the courts will be asked to make the final determination.”

“It’s been so difficult, like, really, it’s this whole past year has taken a toll on us,” Zafar said.

The family hopes that by speaking out, they will be able to find legal help. They are concerned about a deadline to appeal and running out of time.

Bill proposed by Representatives Williams and Miller

Ohio bill would fill gaps in child abuse reporting systems
Bethea, Jesse. NBC4, Feb. 19, 2026. 

Two state lawmakers are proposing a bill to remedy gaps they see in the statewide system for responding to allegations of child abuse.

Ohio Reps. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) and Darnell Brewer (D-Cleveland) plan to introduce what they call Kei’Mani’s Law, named after Kei’Mani Latigue, a 13-year-old girl who was abducted and killed last year in Toledo. 

Following Kei’Mani’s death and the criminal charges filed against the girl’s father, Columbus activist and area commissioner Peaches Calhoun began looking for ways that state and local agencies could better address reports of child abuse and neglect. She found that too often, schools, welfare agencies and law enforcement are not sharing information.

“My thoughts were, what if we connect?” Calhoun said. “If it’s reported at school, the hospital and the police station should know about it, that way everybody is on the same accord, everybody is holding everybody responsible.” 

Calhoun took her thoughts to Williams, who, along with Brewer, developed Kei’Mani’s law, which will expand and strengthen information sharing between schools, child protection services and the courts. It would also require schools to designate a child protection liaison to be responsible for coordinating and managing reports of abuse among their students. 

“Schools are often the first place signs of abuse are noticed,” Brewer said. “This bill creates a clear point of contact, someone accountable for communication, coordination and follow-through.” 

Williams and Brewer said that reports of abuse were properly investigated leading up to Kei’Mani’s abduction and death, but it’s the system itself that needs to change. 

“Those professionals operated within the frameworks of the current law of the state of Ohio,” Williams said. “But as legislators, when a tragedy reveals gaps in communication or accountability, it is our responsibility to respond.”

The bill also permits child protective services to share information with criminal courts, something that Capital University Law Professor Jennifer Goldson said could raise due process concerns. According to Goldson, the idea that courts would be made aware every time an abuse, neglect, or dependency investigation is opened calls into question the rights of the person under investigation. 

“I don’t think a court should be getting involved in a children’s services investigation until a case is opened,” Goldson said. “Which doesn’t happen until children’s services investigates, finds substantiation of the claims and ultimately files a complaint.” 

Kei’Mani’s Law would require prompt entering of information into the Uniform Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS) and would expand access to SACWIS to child protection liaisons, courts and law enforcement, but would also require the security of that information. 

“While knowledge sharing is a critical aspect of this legislation, it is also important that those trusted with this information are trained and held to the highest standard,” Brewer said

Deeply grateful for the Junior League of Columbus and their advocacy and support

 

Ohio Reach has expanded to 57 schools and now supports nearly 400 students

As foster care challenges grow, Ohio Reach opens pathways to higher education
Javari Burnett, Spectrum News, Nov. 17, 2025.

What You Need To Know:

• Winstead is a recent Ohio Reach scholar 
• Ohio Reach is a statewide initiative that supports foster care connected students as they pursue higher education
• The program has expanded to 57 institutions and now supports nearly 400 students

CINCINNATI — When Brooke Winstead crossed the stage to receive her bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati, the moment marked more than a personal achievement. It was the culmination of a difficult journey that began when she entered Ohio’s foster care system at 16.

Winstead, now a recent graduate in urban studies, said she spent years navigating instability after losing her grandmother, who had been her primary caregiver.“I had to kind of grow up fast. Faster than some of my peers,” she said.

By 18, she had moved into an independent living program, and after aging out of foster care at 21, she experienced homelessness and struggled with depression.“Not having parents made me more of a hungry person to go after my goals,” she said. “I became more determined.”

Her path shifted when she connected with Ohio Reach, a statewide initiative that supports young adults with foster care experience as they pursue higher education. The program provides mentorship, financial support and guidance at colleges and universities with a post-secondary designation. Each school involved also designates a campus liaison. 

“It really signifies that they believe that foster care–connected students belong on their campus, that their histories are understood, and that their paths are very supported,” said Susan Ballard, programs director at the Ohio Children’s Alliance.

Ohio REACH has expanded to 57 institutions and now supports nearly 400 students, Ballard said.

With many former foster youth disproportionately facing housing instability and mental health needs, she said the network’s services can be pivotal.

“The retention rate of students being able to remain in higher education continues to trend upward,” she added.

The need for programs like Ohio Reach is underscored by national data: more than 300,000 children enter foster care in the United States every year, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Ohio alone sees more than 15,000 children in foster care annually. 

For Winstead, that support paid off. She was recently accepted into a master’s degree program with a full-ride scholarship and is preparing to earn a real estate certificate.

It’s progress she once doubted was possible. “I’m able to showcase that these opportunities can happen,” she said.

Unintended Consequences of a Proposed Ohio Bill

Child sex abuse prevention advocates worried about proposed Ohio parental notification bill
Morgan Trau, Ohio Capital Journal, Nov. 19, 2025. 

Ohio violence prevention advocates worry that teens who have been sexually abused would have to get parental consent to get emergency and temporary mental health services under proposed legislation.

Some of the most heinous crimes have the most vulnerable victims.

“I’ve responded to child sexual abuse victims at 2 a.m. in the hospital,” said Emily Gemar, with the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence. “I’ve held their hand throughout the night.”

Thousands of kids in Ohio are sexually abused per year, she said. State data shows the majority of all reported sexual assaults happened to children under 18.

But many cases go unreported, Gemar said.

“It takes some time to build trust with that counselor, that mental health provider, to allow for a setting where somebody feels like they can disclose what’s happened to them,” she said.

And she was thrilled when Gov. Mike DeWine expanded his crisis mental health program. When a child calls the 9-8-8 hotline, they get emergency access to support — free of charge.

The program also lets teens 14 and older get temporary help, including six weeks of counseling, without consent from a parent or guardian.

Gemar said that’s important in sex abuse cases.

“We know that anywhere from 35% to 93% of child victims, one, knew their perpetrator, and, two, that perpetrator was a parent or caregiver,” she said.

But grandfather and conservative activist John Stover said the program keeps families in the dark.

“There is no situation whereby a parent should not be notified that their 14-year-old is dealing with mental health issues,” Stover, who runs the organization Ohio Value Voters, said.

Some Republican state lawmakers agree with him.

Ohio House Bill 172, sponsored by state Rep. Johnathan Newman, R-Troy, would require parental approval for minors to get the temporary support. It repeals the current state law allowing for this care.

“We should all want to see students who suffer with mental health struggles receive the help they need,” Newman wrote in his testimony for the bill’s first hearing.

“This bill seeks to do that, maintaining that the students’ parents cannot be left out of the picture because the parents are the child’s authority and most important and essential part of the student’s recovery.”

His bill is meant to mirror language from the last General Assembly’s H.B. 8, legislation requiring schools to notify parents if the child identifies as LGBTQ+ or has a mental health issue.

“You cannot have two unique programs where parents are notified under one circumstance if it’s in the school, and they’re not notified if it’s another circumstance outside the school,” Stover said.

Stover said the bill wouldn’t stop abusers from being caught. He said mandatory reporting requirements would go into effect — mental health professionals would have to tell police, who would then investigate the parents.

“There is no argument there,” Stover said.

But Gemar warns cases don’t always work like that.

“If a 14-year-old is being raped by a parent, they would have to ask the parent who is raping them for consent to go see a clinician,” Gemar said.

“There could be punishment, there could be threats or more physical or sexual abuse that occurs because of that.”

If the bill becomes law, she said, that is a door closed for teens to be able to safely seek help.

The Ohio Domestic Violence Network is expected to testify against the legislation, along with Gemar, this week.

The Ohio Newsroom reports on Mohican Young Star Academy

A year into new ownership, violence still plagues Ohio’s largest youth treatment center
Kendall Crawford, The Ohio Newsroom, Nov. 18, 2025. 

Mohican Young Star Academy, a youth residential treatment facility an hour northeast of Columbus, Ohio, is surrounded by a state forest.

Several years ago, the state tried to shut down the Mohican Young Star Academy over frequent 911 calls, runaways and the use of restraints in the 110-bed Perrysville facility.

Those efforts failed. But even after a year of new ownership, problems persist at the rural facility, which houses children with behavioral and mental health problems.

Brittany Hailer investigated the rising violence at the facility and efforts to address it in her reporting for The Marshall Project in Cleveland.

She sat down for an interview with The Ohio Newsroom.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

On the nature of the Mohican Young Star Academy

“This is the largest licensed facility in the state of Ohio. We learned that kids are brought into these facilities through different avenues. It can be through the foster care system. It can be that a juvenile judge is sending them there as a part of treatment after they intersect with the justice system. But these are children with very high needs. Whether it's a behavioral need or a mental health need, they're often coming from a traumatic background of some kind, and they are getting placed in a facility like this in order to rehabilitate or address those behavioral and mental health issues.”

On what inspection reports and body camera footage revealed

“We found that the facility itself could not contain violence without police intervention. Children were hitting each other, hitting staff, hitting teachers, staff were also hitting children. On April 4th, we discovered the largest kind of outbreak of violence. I interviewed staff who had described prior instances where kids would get in arguments or get in scuffles or whatever, but nothing like this, where the entire campus had kind of erupted into something that they could no longer contain.”

“Kids were climbing over walls into other rooms. They were free to move across campus. They were picking up rocks and things. You have kids as young as maybe 11 and then kids as old as 18. Some of those older kids are six feet [tall]. Some have a criminal background, some are just there because there aren't foster families who are equipped to take a kid like that. And they're all in one place. And it seems like the folks who are running [the facility] are not able to contain it.”

On what local law enforcement say 

“When I had started reporting on this story, I noticed that the state had attempted to shut this facility down twice. And during that time, the Ashland County Sheriff also gave up jurisdiction and said, ‘We're not doing this anymore.’ So I called the Ashland County Sheriff, who is a different sheriff, Kurt Schneider, and he said, ‘Look, we don't have jurisdiction, but we're down there two, three times a week still. We're still exhausted, we're still looking for kids in the woods.’ He was the one who was like, 'Things have gotten worse. Things are worse under this new leadership.’”

“After I talked to him, then I got a phone call from the Loudonville police chief. Then I got a call from the fire chief. And each of them were saying, 'Look, we're running out there. We are the first responders and we are so worried about the kids. Not only are we exhausted, we have limited resources. Every time we get pulled into this massive forest, we're not protecting the town. And it's not just one little call. It's everyone having to go and try and contain and de-escalate the violence inside that the staff don't seem to have a handle on.'”

“From there, it snowballed into staff calling me, neighbors calling me, an entire community really coming together and saying, ‘What's going on in the woods? We're really worried.’”

On what additional oversight is needed

“The oversight part of it is complicated. Like many states, we have different institutions, different parts of government that are all connected to facilities like these. Each county in Ohio has a children services placement agency. We have two state agencies that have different responsibilities. And, even as a journalist, trying to sort out those different moving parts took me quite a long time.”

“I spoke with Scott Britton with the Public Children's Services Association of Ohio. And what he pointed out is that caseworkers are saying all the time that they've never seen this level of trauma in youth before. And that there aren't enough employees in Ohio to do this kind of work. And the training is an issue. So it's kind of like a multi-part thing. And it's not clear at what point do you shut a place down?”

On the facility’s response

“We tried so hard to get the facility to talk to us. I sent multiple letters. I called the nonprofit that the owners also run separately. I called their cell phones. I finally eventually got Marquel Brewer on the phone and he just told us ‘We're not gonna comment.’”

“I do want to point out though, in state records, [the facility] said that they may need to rethink the types of clients they admit. Noting that, if they did that though, it would force more children out of state and tremendously increase the cost to Medicaid and Ohio taxpayers.”

Toledo Blade reports on Mohican Young Star Academy

Juvenile court reconsiders placement at youth treatment center after recent reports of fighting
Alex Bracken, Toledo Blade, Nov. 21, 2025. 

Lucas County’s juvenile court is reconsidering its relationship with an Ashland County youth treatment center after being made aware of recent reporting that detailed fights inside the facility.

The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization focusing on criminal justice, detailed five clashes between children at Mohican Young Star Academy since November, 2024. The most severe of those incidents occurred in April, when a fight in a classroom began rippling across the campus, involved more than a dozen students, and injured students and teachers.

Ohio’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, reviewing footage of the incident, found 18 areas of noncompliance at the facility. Mohican Young Star Academy did not respond to a request for comment.

County commissioners unanimously approved the contract with Mohican at their meeting Tuesday, allowing up to $150,000 of an Ohio Department of Youth Services grant to be used for placements at the facility.

The juvenile court’s administrator, Said Orra, said via email on Thursday that the court had placed a youth at the facility two weeks prior, but that “we have just become aware today of recent issues with Mohican in recent news articles and are considering alternative placement options for that youth.”

While the facility is currently licensed to operate, the Ohio attorney general in 2021 sought to remove its owners after “investigators determined that there was present danger to the health and safety of the youth residing at Mohican.” It has since changed ownership, but recent incidents have revived concerns over management’s handling of fights.

Before approving the resolution, Commissioner Anita Lopez asked in what situations juvenile court judges utilize the facilities, and Commissioner Pete Gerken asked if there were any similar facilities in the county.

“I always worry about the separation. Troubled youth can’t be separated from their families entirely; there’s a travel barrier if you take them across the state or to the south,” Commissioner Pete Gerken said.

Emily Simpson, the juvenile court’s general counsel, presented the contract at the meeting and said that Mohican Young Star Academy offers intensive treatment options that are sometimes determined to be necessary.

“I just know that [Mohican] services specific needs, so you have to balance keeping [children] away from their families with getting the support that they need. I know that the treatment programs are generally between six and 12 months,” Ms. Simpson said.

According to its website, Mohican Young Star Academy provides 6-12 month residential programs for mental health treatment, juvenile sex offenders, and drug and alcohol treatment.

County administration deferred to Mr. Orra for more information about the contract immediately following the meeting and made a similar statement deferring to the court on Thursday.

The court places youth at Mohican Young Star Academy “if there are no local facilities available to meet the placement needs of the youth,” Mr. Orra said via email. 

Mr. Orra said the court was notified of the attorney general’s legal action in 2021 but said it has not had issues with the facility. The juvenile court previously contracted with the facility from 2016 to 2019, and its most recent one-year contract was approved Tuesday but effective since July.

The juvenile court manages the county’s 32-bed youth treatment center, the pretrial juvenile detention center, and a nonresidential community treatment center, according to its website. 

Jordan Deaton's artwork recognized and chosen

Northmont Board recognizes senior’s artwork
The Register-Herald, July 1, 2025.

ENGLEWOOD — At the June 23 meeting of the Northmont Board of Education at the Northmont Administrative Offices, 1150 W. National Rd., the spotlight was on senior Jordan Deaton, recipient of the 2025 Senior Art Award.

Each year, the board purchases one outstanding piece of student artwork to hang in the Northmont Administrative Offices—a tradition that dates back to 1979. This year, Jordan’s remarkable charcoal rendering of a lion was selected.

Board President Linda Blum praised the piece as “impressive and awesome,” noting its powerful detail and artistic quality. Jordan was joined by his foster parents and siblings as he received the honor.

Message from Montgomery County Commissioners

The Montgomery County Board of County Commissioners is proud to recognize two outstanding members of Children Services honored at this year’s Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO) conference in Columbus.

🏆 Jordan received the Leader of Tomorrow Award, the third straight year a Montgomery County youth has earned this statewide honor. Jordan graduated from high school with honors in just 21 months, rose to Chief Petty Officer in Naval JROTC and now advocates for foster youth as Vice President of the Montgomery County Youth Advisory Board.

🏆 Elizabeth Rainer was named Caseworker of the Year for her compassion and commitment to children and families, going above and beyond to ensure every child feels safe, valued and supported.

Congratulations to Jordan, Liz and the entire Children Services team for representing Montgomery County with excellence! 👏

Jordan Deaton, 2025 PCSAO Leader of Tomorrow

When Jordan entered foster care as a teenager, he faced significant challenges and instability. Refusing to be defined by his circumstances, Jordan has become a leader and a voice for change while serving as a protector and mentor for his three younger siblings.

Education quickly became Jordan’s anchor. Determined to chart his own future, he set the goal of finishing high school in less than two years. Through extraordinary discipline, he graduated with honors in just 21 months. At the same time, he found a second home in the Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, where he rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer, was recognized as a Distinguished Cadet, and helped his unit earn Distinguished Unit honors through volunteer service. He also received awards for academics, competed in drill meets, donated blood to help others, and even won a school art competition.

In addition to his own achievements, Jordan has worked tirelessly to uplift others. As Vice President of the Montgomery County Youth Advisory Board and an honorary member of the Ohio State Youth Advisory Board, he advocates for improvements to foster care policy. He represented his county at the National Independent Living Association and Daniel Memorial Conference, where he led workshops for youth from across the country. His advocacy is both bold and compassionate, driven by a belief that no young person should feel voiceless or forgotten.

Today, Jordan is recognized by his teachers, caseworkers, and community as someone who leads with humility, integrity, and heart. His journey shows how resilience can grow into leadership and how hardship can be transformed into hope.

Jeffery Chesser, Child Protection Support Advocate of the Year

LCCS worker named Child Protection Support Advocate of the Year
WTVG Staff, Oct. 3, 2025.

An employee with Lucas County Children Services received a statewide honor Friday for his work with teens going through the foster system. Jeffrey Chesser, an Independent Living Youth Advocate , was named Child Protection Support Advocate of the Year by the Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO).

Chesser received the award at the organization’s annual conference, held in Columbus. His duties at LCCS include supporting teens ages 14 to 18 who are likely to emancipate from foster care without family connections. 

Below are more details about this award, from PCSAO: 

The 2025 Support Advocate of the Year was presented to someone whose compassion has changed the lives of some of our most vulnerable youth: Jeffery Chesser of Lucas County Children Services.

An eight-year veteran of his agency, he stepped into a new role as an Independent Living Youth Advocate in 2022. In this role, he works with young people over the age of 14—youth who often face the reality that they may not return to their families and instead will transition into adulthood on their own. These are some of the most challenging cases—youth who carry deep trauma, who are rightfully angry, and who often lack the support systems they need. He does not shy away from the challenge, but embraces it with compassion, patience, and a fierce belief in every young person’s potential.

Our awardee comes in early, stays late, and even comes back from vacation when a youth needs him. He shows up at court hearings, school activities, award ceremonies, and therapy sessions—sometimes when the assigned caseworker cannot be there. He is the one driving youth across the state to attend Youth Advisory Board meetings so that their voices can be heard at the state level. And in doing all this, he ensures that no young person ever feels forgotten or overlooked.

But his advocacy is more than just showing up—it’s about changing lives in real, practical ways. When one young man was struggling in school, our honoree challenged him to raise his grades above a C average. He made the deal personal: if the youth succeeded, he would buy him the sneakers he’d been dreaming of. The youth rose to the challenge. That moment became more than new shoes—it became proof to the young man that someone believed in him.

In another example, when a youth with sensory challenges was nervous about attending the agency’s graduation celebration, our awardee went out of his way to walk him through the event in advance, easing his fears. On the day of the celebration, he gave the young person noise-canceling headphones—just in case. Because of his care and presence, the youth was able to stay, celebrate, and be honored alongside his peers.

Our awardee mentors teen fathers, teaching them the importance of being present in their children’s lives. He works with young men struggling with anger, often because of domestic violence in their homes, showing them by example that a man can be strong and also kind, patient, and gentle.

And when crisis strikes, he does not turn away. One winter, when a youth with severe mental health needs ran away in sub-zero weather without adequate clothing, this worker could have said, “It’s not my case” or “It’s after hours.” Instead, he went searching for the young man himself—because his safety mattered more. Months later, during another crisis, he again dropped everything to be by that youth’s side, offering stability and care in a moment when it was needed most.

Today’s honoree doesn’t do this for recognition—he does it because he cares with his whole heart. As one colleague said, “What I appreciate most … is his consistent willingness to help others and prioritize their needs above his own. Whether it’s visiting youth in the hospital, supporting a colleague, or even picking up lunch for his entire unit, [he] demonstrates compassion and selflessness in everything he does.”

For his unwavering dedication, his mentorship, his compassion, and his refusal to give up on any young person, PCSAO recognized Jeffrey Chesser of Lucas County Children Services as PCSAO’s 2025 Child Protection Support Advocate of the Year.

Richland County foster youth receives a free car

Car dealer gifts car to emancipated foster youth who has been biking to work
Greg Kahl, WMFD, May 29, 2025. 

The last time we introduced you to Mary, an emancipated foster youth from Richland County, she was biking, walking, or hitching rides to work. A 40-minute commute in the wee hours of the morning. Her shift ran from 3:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m., and it wasn't on the safest road, State Route 13. 

Craig Underwood, a local businessman and owner of New Haven Auto Sales, decided to take action. On Wednesday, he gave her a car.

"Anybody who could go through what she went through and still persevere, you have to help those people," said Underwood. "It touched my heart, and I had the means to help, so I thought, why not me? I will just take care of it for her."

Mary received the car at Richland County Children Services surrounded by the caseworkers and staff who supported her through her journey in foster care. Mary previously told WMFD, "If you believe in a God or any higher purpose that helps too, that's what got me through; it was hard."

Upon receiving her car, in disbelief, Mary said, "Hold on, I got to pray real quick, thank you (with a sigh)."

"That said, I did the right thing and I helped a really deserving young lady," Underwood said. "I think the sky is the limit for her."

Michelle Miller, Executive Director of the Richland County Youth & Family Council, said these are the connections that emancipated foster youth need to springboard them into success.

"Many youth who are transitioning out of the foster care system don't have access to a vehicle because typically they leave at 18, and they don't have that parental support after 18," Miller said. "Having a business provide a vehicle for a youth who aged out of foster care is phenomenal. It helps set them up for success to eliminate their chances of becoming homeless, job insecure, or drug use." 

Mary was excited about the roll-down windows in the 2014 Jeep Patriot 4X4. She took us on her first test drive around the parking lot.

Mary Stephan, Mary's independent living caseworker, said she had to trick Mary into coming to the agency with a "let's go out for coffee" fib, and she is proud of Mary's determination and work ethic.

"And that is what these kids need, is community support, and those resources are valuable, so it will be a relationship she will probably have for a long time," Stephan said.

Richland County foster youth pedals toward her future

Foster youth's story of grit, strength, and hope inspires crowd at panel discussion
Logan Gray Kahl, WMFD, May 15, 2025. 

MANSFIELD, OH - As "traditional families" prepare for their students' graduation parties and for them to get ready to spread their wings and fly out of the nest, there are children right here in Richland County who have never had that experience with no nest to come back to, and that first jump is a leap of faith.

Mary remembers praying to God while in foster care. "If you believe in a God or any higher purpose, that helps too, that's what got me through, like, cause it was hard," explains Mary, now 20, of her foster care experience of being separated from her siblings.

The statistics are not promising.

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 25 per­cent of youth who had been in fos­ter care at age 17 and sur­veyed at age 21 said that they had been home­less at some point in the last two years. 

Mary, who was a foster youth emancipated from Richland County, Ohio, falls into that category. She told a crowd of people in Eisenhower Hall at The Ohio State University at Mansfield campus that she was homeless for a year on the streets of Cleveland.

The foster care system seeks to prepare teenagers with independent living skills, like how to cook, how to manage finances, and finding an apartment, but then crickets. After supporting and tracking the child's every move, the system ends.

The Richland County Youth and Family Council, in collaboration with Richland County Children Services, hosted a pivotal event titled "Aging Out of the Foster Care System... What Now?" on Friday, May 9, 2025, at The Ohio State University at Mansfield campus.

The forum touched on the challenges faced by youth transitioning out of the foster care system and explored ways the community can offer support for their successful transition into adulthood. By the end of the riveting stories from the panel guests, the moderator said it felt like more a call to action.

More of Mary's Story

Mary found her way back to Mansfield and reconnected with Mary Stephan, who was her independent living caseworker at Richland County Children Services and was referred to the Bridges program through the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services.

"Imagine they don't have the parents, you know, we are their parents, and once Bridges gets involved, we kind of step back, so we need community partners to get stuff alongside them and walk beside them and help them and be there, like be parents for them," explained Stephan having experienced a period in foster care herself.

Mary commutes to work on her bicycle every day, a 40-minute round trip. She said she has learned to support herself and love herself, that you can't always rely on everybody.

"I ride my bike to work. I don't have a car," Mary said. "I don't have none of that because my parents didn't help me out, they couldn't, they were too reliant on the government themselves, so me having to do it for myself, it's not only a little bit embarrassing but it's also inspiring because one day when I have kids - my kids aren't going to have to go through that. It's going to build character."

Michelle Miller, Executive Director of the Richland County Youth & Family Council, is a former foster youth who navigated the system firsthand. She was the first in her family to receive a college education. She now leads Richland County's efforts to provide collaborative services to youth and families.

"Every year, about 1,000 youth 'age out' of the foster care system in the state of Ohio. About 3 percent of those youth will be able to obtain a college degree, and 37 percent of those youth will end up incarcerated," Miller said.

There is no doubt that Mary is a 3 percenter. She is an aspiring artist and lyricist who plans to release her first project on August 20, 2025, when she turns 21. She told WMFD on that date, "the system" will no longer see her as a child. She wants to prove she is an accomplished young woman and a survivor. No doubt she will.

"No matter what happened to me, I'm always going to love life. The challenges are definitely what I strive for," Mary.

Chasing Hope House in Stark County

Chasing Hope House aims to help youth aging out of foster care in Stark County
Grace Springer, Canton Repository, August 13, 2025.

Mikala Reynolds spent five months of her junior year at McKinley High School living at the YWCA women's shelter in downtown Canton.

Reynolds, who worked at McDonald's, had lived with family members prior to becoming homeless. She lived with an aunt in Canton and then with her sister in Miami, Ohio. But soon after moving in, her sister became pregnant. Reynolds couldn't stay. So, she returned to Canton.

"The system failed me," Reynolds said. "After that, I was homeless. It was really bad. I was house hopping, going to friend's houses, trying to figure out where to live. I was taken by one of my friend's moms to the homeless shelter."

Recently, Reynolds moved to an apartment in Canton with a housing voucher from the YWCA. In part, she was helped by Chasing Hope House, a nonprofit that started in July 2024. Its founder and executive director, Chais Ross-Medal, has big plans for helping more teens like Reynolds.

Chasing Hope House is in the process of getting its independent living license from the Ohio Department of Children & Youth. Ross-Medal said it will be the first facility of its kind in the state.

The program will accept teens aging out of foster care or facing housing instability and will be staffed 24 hours a day by mentors. The goal is for youth 16 to 18 to start preparing for their futures and learning to be independent.

But that doesn't mean there won't be time for regular teen things, like prom, high school football games and senior pictures, said LaMonica Jackson-Young, director of operations. "A lot of them are missing out on those things," she said. "We want to assist them in being teenagers while adding to basic life skills."

About 1,000 kids exit foster care at 18 or older each year in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Children & Youth.

Chasing Hope House Executive Director Chais Ross-Medal talks about plans for the nonprofit.

Ross-Medal grew up around foster kids. Her aunt, Ida Ross-Freeman, was a longtime community activist and respite parent. Ross-Freeman was trusted by the kids she cared for and created lasting relationships.

"In the end of her life, a lot of kids were still coming to her," Ross-Medal said. "She was 76, so it was sad. She wanted to still help, but she couldn't."

Her mom was also in the foster care system and was emancipated at 16. "I come from a foster kid," Ross-Medal said. "So, I kind of have a passion for it from the beginning."

Since then, Ross-Medal has become a foster parent and has spent time learning the system. Ross-Medal got her cosmetology license in 2011 and has worked in the health insurance industry for the past 10 years. Alongside her professional career, she's also a commercial model with Pro-Model & Talent Management (PMTM).

She believes the nonprofit will help fill a gap in the community. "I've seen a need," she said. "There is a need for teenagers, for stability, for life skills, for mentorship and just for shelter."

Independent living residential program to start in 2026

Chasing Hope House is already providing supportive services to teens in the community. Staff at McKinley High School have connected them to youth in need. The nonprofit will continue to offer non-residential services such as mentorship and life skills support to youth 14 to 19. The residential independent living program will build on that foundation for teens 16 to 18 aging out of foster care.

"We want it to be an intimate and supportive community," Ross-Medal said.

The independent living program is expected to start with a pilot program utilizing apartments in downtown Canton at Crossroads United Methodist Church owned by nonprofit Canton For All People. Chasing Hope House is also working with Canton For All People to build three duplexes in the Shorb neighborhood. 

The nonprofit is still looking for a larger building to house youth. Chasing Hope House is in the final stage of the state licensing process. The final steps are confirming policies and procedures and getting the building. Independent living settings provide life skills and a semi-supervised approach which differentiates them from other residential care facilities, according to a spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Children & Youth.

The residential program is expected to start in January 2026 or earlier, as soon as the license is approved.

Chasing Hope House is also in the process of getting its state license for a drop-in shelter for youth 14 to 17 facing homelessness or in crisis situations. Its anticipated opening is fall 2026 and the shelter will serve youth not in state custody.

So far, the nonprofit received a grant from the Ohio Department of Children & Youth for a program to support young moms and dads 14 to 20 and funding from Republic Services.

'Our youth need those supports.'

Stark County youth in the foster care system are often placed in foster homes and group homes outside the county, as far as Toledo, Dayton and Cincinnati. That makes it more difficult for them to establish a routine and visit with family members.

Sarah Goins, supervisor at Stark County Children Services, said there is a need for more options for youth, particularly close to home.

"There are some really good programs that are geared towards preparing them for adulthood, working on those independent living skills, giving them opportunities to get jobs. ... (We) don't have enough of it, and we don't have anything here in our community," she said. "Our youth need those supports."

The county starts to provide independent living services at age 14 for youth in foster care. That program focuses on providing opportunities and helping them plan for their future.

The Bridges program is also available for youth after they emancipate until they turn 21. That provides ongoing monthly support, including financial help.

The county helps connect youth to housing options and provides some funding to start. There are also Section 8 housing vouchers available to youth aging out of foster care.

But housing continues to be the biggest need.

"We need housing resources," Goins said. "We know in our community that we're struggling with affordable housing, and imagine how much more difficult that is for someone who is 18 and just starting out."

Youth also need consistent support and help in maintaining their homes.

"They need flexibility. They need second chances and sometimes third chances," Goins said. "And they need time. A lot of our young people need more time to have experiences and practice adulthood, but they're already in it."

Goins said she looks forward to Chasing Hope House opening its residential living program. "It'll be helpful for us to have a resource and good people in the community that we can trust that are going to look out for our youth," she said.

Mikala Reynolds moves to new home, prepares for future

Now that she's settled into her new home, Reynolds is looking forward to her senior year and what comes after. "I'm ready to get that high school diploma," she said.

She just got her temporary permit and is learning to drive.

Reynolds is planning to go to college to study business. She loves to braid hair and dreams of owning a small chain of salons in the future. "I always just wanted to make people look good," she said. And she attends church every Sunday at 365 Alive Ministries.

Chasing Hope House has continued to help her along the way.

"Even though I don't have parents in my life, I can always go to Chais and Moni about something," Reynolds said. "I cherish that. I've never had nobody in my life that's actually going to stay by my side and be here for me."