Parent and Youth Ambassadors Now Offering Support Across the State

(Four of Ohio's PYAs: front row, Stephanie Wade and Catherine Lachman; back row, Marcy Jett and Sheena Pasker)

Ohio's 12 Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies have a long-standing presence in their service delivery areas, offering support specific to child care. Now those CCR&Rs are building their continuum of support for families with the addition of Parent and Youth Ambassadors.

Parent and Youth Ambassadors (PYAs) are a unique peer support available for families with no specific eligibility requirements when requesting assistance. Examples of common requests for support range from navigating special education, resources for unhoused families, assistance with childcare, and assistance paying utilities.

PYAs were developed based on feedback received from families during the Department of Children and Youth (DCY)-led Listening Sessions. the PYAs have lived-experience in social services systems and will answer questions and help individuals and families quickly access the help they need.

PYAs are members of their local community or service delivery area and focus on building and growing their knowledge of local resources and DCY programs and services. This allows them to make connections in communities to best serve families. Through their partnership with DCY, PYAs are in an ideal position to serve as a “mouthpiece” for families, sharing issues or gaps in service within their service delivery area. Identifying needs or gaps may stem from interactions with families working through requests for support, hosting listening sessions, or even hosting Parent Cafes and/or parent support groups.

Anyone can make a request for support for themselves or on behalf of a family. To reach a DCY Parent and Youth Ambassador, call the DCY Family Customer Support Call Center (844) 234-KIDS (5437) or email Ambassadors@childrenandyouth.ohio.gov.

2024-2025 Open Office Hours with the Department of Children & Youth Preschool Special Education Team

The Department of Children and Youth preschool special education team invites educators, school personnel, early care and educational service providers to participate in an open office virtual meeting series for the 2024-2025 school year. The purpose of the meeting is for early care and education professionals to ask questions of the team related to the provision of preschool special education services and supports to children with disabilities ages three through five. Meetings are an hour in length and held on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Adjustments will be made in November and December due to the winter holidays.

The next meeting is Wednesday, October 23, 2024 (Note date correction.)

Additional dates are as follows:

• Wednesday, December 4, 2024 (no November meeting)
• Wednesday, January 22, 2025
• Wednesday, February 26, 2025
• Wednesday, March 26, 2025
• Wednesday, April 23, 2025
• Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Use this Microsoft Teams meeting link. 
Meeting ID: 246 927 275 475
Passcode: xmWfkU

Synergy Sessions Scheduled as Part of October's Head Start Awareness Month

The Ohio Head Start Association, Inc. (OHSAI) and Head Start Collaboration Office (HSCO) are hosting regional discussions with Head Start offices and their directors to advance early childhood education.

The Synergy Sessions will be opportunities for the local Head Start offices to have their voice heard and to boost collaboration statewide.

Head Start directors and their staffs are invited to join one of five regional meetings to connect with colleagues, gain valuable insights, and be part of a collective effort to shape the future of Head Start in Ohio.

Choose the session closest to you or the one that fits your schedule best. 

• Tuesday, October 15 –Southeast Lancaster-Fairfield 1:30 pm -3:30 pm Fairfield County Family, Adult & Children First Council, Conference Room B 831 College Ave Lancaster, Ohio 43130
• Wednesday, October 23 – Southwest Dayton 1:30 pm -3:30 pm Miami Valley Child Development Centers 215 Horace St Dayton, OH 45402  
• Tuesday, October 29 – Central Delaware 1:30 pm -3:30 pm Andrew House 39 West Winter St Delaware, Ohio 43015
• Friday, November 1 – Northeast Medina 10:30 am-12:30 pm Medina County District Library--Medina Branch 210 South Broadway Street Medina, OH 44256
• Tuesday, November 12 – Northwest Lima 10:30 am -12:30 pm West Ohio Community Action Partnership 540 S. Central Ave. Lima, Ohio 45804

Click here to register.

Dads, Fatherhood Practitioners, and Legislators Gather for 2024 Fatherhood Summit

Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) joined leaders of fatherhood programs from Ohio and across the nation, as well as state senators and representatives, to discuss all the ways dads can and should be uplifted to assure better outcomes for their kids.

The Ohio Commission on Fatherhood (OCF), in partnership with the Ohio Practitioners' Network for Fathers and Families (OPNFF) hosted, "Elevating Fathers' Voices - Let's Talk About It!" in Columbus last week. Over 300 individuals attended the Summit, which featured a panel of fathers/fatherhood practitioners who started off discussing what fatherhood means to them. 

DCY Assistant Director Jeff VanDeusen addressed the gathering on the second day and participated in the plenary discussion along with panelists (pictured left to right above) Dr. Mike Davis, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction; Socrates Tuch, Ronald Todd II, Ohio Department of Development; State Representative Adam Holmes; State Senator Michele Reynolds; (VanDeusen); State Representative Darnell Brewer; State Representative Riordan McClain; and Stacey Frohnapfel-Hasson, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. OCF Executive Director Kim Dent is at the podium. The panel was moderated by OCF Chair Scott Neely, (not pictured). The keynote address featured Former Cincinnati Bengals Lineman and Football Hall of Famer, Anthony Munoz.

More information can be found at the Summit Webpage, https://fatherhood.ohio.gov/ohio-fatherhood-summit. OCF is part of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth.