Ohio Children's Alliance

Bridges, extended foster care program - The program is funded by federal and state grants. Bridges is a voluntary program available to young adults, ages 18, 19 or 20 who left foster care in Ohio and who are in school, working, participating in an employment program or have a medical condition that prevents them from going to school or work. The program provides guidance and support as they transition to adulthood. We support former foster youth as they build a bridge toward a brighter future.

Early Childhood Mental Health This initiative, funded by the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association and the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, supports three innovative early childhood programs (Therapeutic Child Care, Mental Health Bridge and Professional Education) that support young children enrolled in child care programs, and their families, by expanding access to quality mental health services. - Mental Health Bridge - a referral platform, developed to connect Ohio Child Care Centers, and parents of the children enrolled, with a statewide network of ECMH specialists who are available to provide in-home, office-based, and virtual mental health services to Ohio's young children. - Therapeutic Child Care (TCC) - expand access to evidence-based intensive services by providing grant dollars for new and expanded TCC centers.

Foster Home Recruitment - Partnering with ODJFS's It Takes Heart Ohio Campaign to increase awareness and the number of qualified kinship, foster care and adoptive families across the state.

Conferences and trainings to present best practices in trauma informed care, behavior management strategies, child and family services, Medicaid back office readiness, middle management and public policy issues.Advocacy services to ensure that Ohio's evolving public policies result in a system that is integrated, efficient, cost effective, and beneficial to those that matter most children and families. We work closely with state government officials, including leaders at ODJFS, OhioMHAS, Medicaid, the governor's office, general assembly, and officials at the county and federal levels.