Foster Care Yellow Pages

Welcome to the Online Yellow Pages

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Every year, over 1000 young Ohioans leave the state foster care system without being adopted.

The following resources have been compiled by Lisa and A.Keller for the purpose of assisting young people preparing for and experience the transition to the adult world after "aging out" of foster care.

Child Care

Child Support

Clothing

Counseling

Disability

Domestic Violence

Drugs and Alcohol

Education

Employment

Family Planning

Food

Furniture

Housing

Legal

Libraries

Life Management Plan

Literacy

Medical

Money Management

Parenting

Sexual Orientation

Technical Schools

Transportation

Utility Assistance

Work Experience

www.uws.org/youthpages

Child Care

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Catholic Charities offers Early Learning and Head Start programs.

Child Care Resource Center is the child care resource and referral agency for Lorain, Erie, Huron, Sandusky and Seneca counties.

Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association

Child Support

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Association for Children for Enforcement of Support is dedicated to assisting disadvantaged children whose parents fail to meet their legal and moral child support and/or visitation obligations.

Clothing

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Birthright provides maternity and baby clothing, free of charge.

Charity Newsies wants to make sure that no child is kept out of school because of a lack of adequate clothing.

Dress for Success is a program that provides women with the professional attire that they need to succeed in the workplace. They have offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Warren-Youngtown.

Counseling

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Nirvana Now offers support groups for adult survivors of sexual abuse.

Ohio Advocates for Mental Health promotes recovery and independence for people who suffer from mental illness, including peer support groups.

Overeaters Anonymous offers a 12-step program of recovery from compulsive overeating.

Recovery from Sexual Assault can be facilitated by these organizations, listed by county.

Sex Addicts Anonymous offers a 12-step program of recovery from sexual addiction.

Disability

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American Council of the Blind is dedicated to improving the quality and the equality of life for persons who are blind or visually impaired

ADA-OHIO exists to educate Ohio residents about the American Disabilities Act.

Arc of Ohio provides advocacy, information and services for people of all ages with disabilities and their families.

Assistive Technology of Ohio helps Ohioans with disabilities to acquire assistive technology.

AXIS Center advocates for community inclusion for people with developmental disabilities.

Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation provides services leading to employment for people with physical, mental and emotional disabilities.

Central Ohio Special Education Regional Resource Center provides information on legislation and advocacy.

LEAP offers employment skills training and placement programs for persons with disabilities.

MOBILE provides information about transportion and housing, loans equipment and provides advocacy resources in the form of newsletters, books and videos.

MRDD has county boards to assist individuals ages 23 or younger and their families.

Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities offers one-on-one consultation, group presentations and training sessions and a bi-monthly newsletter.

Ohio Legal Rights Service provides protection and advocacy for people with disabilities.

Domestic Violence

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Action Ohio Coalition for Battered Women provides a resource and referral service for domestic violence victims and their families.

CHOICES offers a 24-hour hotline for information, support and referral resources, including temporary shelter, legal support and counseling.

Ohio Domestic Violence Network has referral list of shelter programs throughout Ohio.

Drugs and Alcohol

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Alcoholics Anonymous has both a Central Southeast and a Northeast region in Ohio.

Al-Anon provides hope and help for the family and friends of alcoholics.

Cocaine Anonymous is a group of men and women who are working together to lead mind-altering substance-free lives. They provide a hotline in several Ohio counties.

Narcotics Anonymous provides online informational pamphlets and a calendar of statewide meetings and events.

Nicotine Anonymous is a 12-step program for men and women helping each other live nicotine-free lives.

Education

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Finding a College
The following sites allow you to search colleges by state, major and tuition:
CollegeNET
College View
College Express

Paying for College or Vocational School
College Board Online has online calculators to determine the amount of financial aid that you will need, including scholarships and loans.

ETV funds are used to provide scholarships of up to $5,000 to 18-20 year olds, who have emancipated from foster care or were adopted with a finalization after their 16th birthday. This money can be used for tuition, books or qualified living expenses at college, vocational or technical training programs. To learn more, please contact the Orphan Foundation of America.

The FAFSA form must submitted online. This is one of the first steps that you should take. It's important to keep your pin number.

Mapping Your Future is a free one-stop-site that provides information about college, career and financial aid resources.

Ohio Board of Regents are available at 1-877-428-8246, Mon.-Fri., between 10am-6pm. They can help you with financial aid options and deadlines.

Grants and Loans
The Student financial aid guide explains the different types of financial aid.

Federal grants do not need to be repaid: Pell Grant, SEOG, Federal Work-Study.
Federal loans must be repaid after you finish school: Stafford, Perkins.

Scholarships
The National Voice of Foster Parents offers scholarships.

The Minority/Disadvantaged Scholarship Program has additional information about scholarships for which you might be eligible.

Learn more about the scholarship application process, in order to increase your chances of receiving this assistance.

Summer Programs
Summer Medical and Dental Education Program is a FREE (full tuition, housing, and meals) six-week summer academic enrichment program that offers freshman and sophomore college students intensive and personalized medical and dental school preparation

Test Preparation
4Tests.com offers free practice GED, SAT and ACT exams.

Educational Testing Service has a directory of practice tests for entrance exams includingthe SAT, GRE and GMAT.

Ohio Literacy Network provides television programs to help you prepare for the GED test.

PBS Literacy Link provides free online practice tests and learning module.

Study Guide Zone provides online study guides for the ASVAB and Nurse Entrance exam.

Employment

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The first step is writing your resume and cover letter.

America's Job Bank is the largest job site in America.

Ohio Job Fairs are available in each county.

Ohio’s Statewide Job Matching System allows you to create, edit and store your resume online.

Ohio Workforce Investment Act (WIA) has information on their site about job fairs, resume writing, and programs available in each Ohio county.

Teens4Hire helps teens 14 or older find full-time, part-time, summer, seasonal,volunteer or vocational work. If you are over the age of 14, you can apply for a working permit.

Family Planning

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Advocates for Youth

Birthright

Center for Life and Hope

Planned Parenthood

La Leche League

WIC

Food

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Children’s Hunger Alliance

Faith Mission

FOODLINK connects callers with anmergency three-day supply of food. Call 614-221-6766 (Ext. 150) or email managerfl@firstlink.org

Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks

Furniture

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Goodwill

Housing

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A state can use up to 30% of its Chafee allocation to provide room and board for young people between the ages of 18-21 who have emancipated from the foster care system. And, they cannot require the young person to remain in foster care until age 21 in order to receive those services.

However, while some states demonstrate accountability on a statewide level, Ohio's funds are spent differently in each of its 88 counties, with minimal oversight. Not surprisingly, many young people fall through the cracks and experience homelessness after aging out of foster care.

Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio

Habitat for Humanity

Homes on the Hill

Homeless Families Foundation

Section 8

Volunteers of America

YEP is a statewide council of homeless youth, ages 12- 21. YEP leaders Nick and Angela empower young people, by increasing opportunities for them to take control of their situations while building self-esteem and improving their quality of life through advocacy, leadership and education.

YWCA

www.ohiohome.org

Legal

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Find Legal Aid in your Ohio county. Ohio Legal Services offers legal assistance to low-income Ohioans. They also have a Southeastern division.

Crime Victim Services are available through the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, in order to help crime victims on their road to recovery.

Equal Justice Foundation provides legal representation in civil matters to disadvantaged individuals and groups throughout the state of Ohio. The Ohio Civil Rights Commission is available to you if you need to file a charge of discrimination.

Libraries

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Remember that public libraries are free, and open to everyone. They can help to connect you with the information that you need.

Life Management Plan

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http://fosteringindependence.blogspot.com/

Literacy

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Adult Basic Literacy and Education (ABLE)

Ohio Literacy Network

Medical

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Ohio Medicaid
A new provision in state law will extend Medicaid coverage to young people who have aged out of foster care until their 21st birthdays.

Affording Medical Care
Adult Immunization Coalition of Central Ohio provides flu shots to individuals with no insurance or limited coverage who meet financial guidelines.
Ohio Association of Free Clinics offers quality health care and fills prescriptions through patient assistance programs, purchased medications and samples.
Ohio Health Department
Ohio Optometric Association
Project LOVE provides affordable vaccinations for low-income adults and their children.

Affording Prescriptions
Everyone’s RX
Needy Meds
Prescription Hope

Military

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Army

Marines

Navy

Selective Service

Money Management

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Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central Ohio

Parenting

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Action for Children

Adriel

Child Development Council

Early Childhood Resource Network

Parents Without Partners

Prevent Child Abuse Ohio

Ready Set Learn

Sexual Orientation

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American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio

Information and support includes pamphlets and statistics.

LGBTQ Youth is a web site for and by gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning young people.

PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, and their families and friends.

Technical Schools

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Transportation

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Bus

Greyhound

Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles

Utility Assistance

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The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program designed to help eligible low-income Ohioans meet the high costs of home heating.

Women

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Amethyst

Dress for Success

Work Experience

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Americorps VISTA volunteers serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency. The goal is to create or expand programs to bring individuals and communities out of poverty. Full-time members of AmeriCorps VISTA receive modest living allowance, health care, and other benefits. If they complete their service, they will receive $4,725 to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back qualified student loans.

City Year engages young people ages 17-24 in 10 months of full-time service for children and communities across the country. Participants are trained in leadership skills. They serve as tutors, mentors, and role models in the United States and South Africa. City Year provides a uniform, a cell phone, health insurance, a weekly stipend and child care coverage.

Goodwill

Job Corps is a great way to complete an education, learn a marketable trade, make friends and graduate with a good job in hand. Each Job Corps center is unique, but they all feature campus-like settings with dormitories where students live.

Peace Corps provides volunteers with a living allowance that enables them to live in a manner similar to the local people in their community. The Peace Corps also provides complete medical and dental care and covers the cost of transportation to and from the country of service. When participants return from their 27 months of service, they receive just over $6,000 toward their transition to life back home. This money can be used for securing housing.