Focus On Youth

Foster care our foster care program serves children of all families to provide safe, stable, nurturing homes for children who have been abused and neglected. Our continued support for the Youth and families whom we serve includes foster care, adoption, respite care, and defer detainment of Youth at risk of entry into the juvenile justice system. Over this fiscal year we have:1. Served 137 Youth in Focus on Youth foster homes.2. 82% of all discharges from the foster care program were positive, which includes adoption, reunification, independent living, or placement with kinship.3. Finalized 35 adoptions.4. Licensed twice as many foster homes during this fiscal year compared to the prior fiscal year.

Bridges we provide services to young adults who leave foster care on or after their 18th birthday, but are not yet 21 through bridges, an Ohio program that extends housing and other supportive services to eligible young adults. We assist them as they either continue their education or gain and maintain employment. Our bridges program also aids those with mental or medical conditions that can create barriers to success for these newly independent young adults. Over this fiscal year we have served 18 young adults by increasing their independence and transitioning to adulthood out of foster care.

Behavioral health our behavioral health program provides comprehensive mental health services to children ages 3-18 and their families. We specialize in an evidence-based play therapy approach to treatment that is developmentally appropriate to address the mental health needs of children and adolescents. Additionally, we have expertise in addressing trauma and working with children in foster care, adopted, kinship care, or involved in children's services. Over this fiscal year, 1. We have increased our impact by serving 222 children in our behavioral health program.2. Expanded the partnerships with our two afterschool programs, impacting 854 Youth. 3. Partnered with mental health bridge program to provide early childhood mental health consultants to state licensed daycares.

Wendy's wonderful kids through the wendy's wonderful kids program, our recruiters are dedicated to servicing the longest-waiting children in foster care, including teenagers, children with special needs and sibling groups. Each Youth within the program has their own dedicated recruiter who facilitates making connections and securing permanence through adoption. Over this fiscal year we have: 1. Boosted the number of wendy's wonderful kids recruiters by 50% because of the accomplishments made in the first full fiscal year.2. Served 58 Youth needing permanency from 6 Ohio counties.3. Adoptively matched 8 Youth with a family to begin the adoption process.