| Volunteer Timesheet Who We Are
We represent the statewide chapter of Foster Care Alumni of America, a national organization which was established with the support of Casey Family Programs to connect alumni and transform the child welfare system.
Our chapter is comprised of a group of foster care
alumni and our
allies who live in Ohio.
If you ever lived in foster care, including staying with relatives, guardians, group homes and/or residential placements, you can join FCAA. If you did not experience foster care but believe in our mission, you can join, too!
Visit our BLOG to celebrate the dreams and aspirations of young people in and from foster care in our state.
Advocacy and Mentorship
LEVELS OF TRANSFORMATION: Through advocacy, people who grew up in the foster care system are able to translate their insights from first-hand experience into positive changes in the local, statewide and even national foster care system.
Foster care alumni can accomplish more together than we can alone. A collective voice is more difficult to silence. By sharing initiatives throughout the nation, we avoid having to re-create the wheel each time we want to change a particular child welfare policy.
During the week of Thanksgiving in 2007, former foster children from all over the nation told Congress about the need for federal financing reform.
LEVELS OF CONNECTION: Membership in Foster Care Alumni of America connects people in and from the foster care system with a lifelong community, linking them with national resources and mentorship opportunities.
Foster care alumni share the same parent: the state. During our time in foster care, while we moved from one place to another, we weren't always able to build long-term emotional connections.
Approximately 1,000 young people age out of the Ohio foster care system each year. They deserve to be supported on their journey to adulthood.
In the same way that older siblings might provide encouragement and guidance, older foster care alumni have much to share with our 'younger siblings,' including a passion to support their dreams and goals.
Meet Our Officers
Rather than being led by one president, our chapter is led by two chairs. This is because we believe that a collective voice is vitally important in all aspects of our organization.
All of our officers are former foster care children:
Communications Chair: Lisa Dickson is a writer, blogger and online journalist. Lisa serves as lead spokesperson for the chapter in terms of outreach and policy. She oversees chapter communications, including newsletters and website development.
Operations Chair: Gabriel Koshinsky's role includes assuring chapter compliance to national leadership. He is passionately involved in adoption reform.
Youth Outreach Coordinator: Amanda Dunlap's job is to recruit the alumni of tomorrow, enlisting youth insight in order to influence the Ohio chapter's priorities and strategies.
Allies and Partnering Organizations
We believe in a collective voice and collaboration between agencies.
Our allies include:
- Mark Kroner from Lighthouse Youth Services
- Doris Edelmann from Montgomery County Children Services
- Professor Alvin Mares of Ohio State University
- Pinkie Thomas from the Ohio Family Care Association
- Bryan Brown and Penny Wyman from the Ohio Association of Child Caring Agencies
- Bill Kuehn from Berea Children's Home and Family Services
- Cece Norwood of Nirvana Now
Our organizational members include:
- Montgomery County Children Services
- Public Children's Services Association of Ohio
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