By Rita Price, The Columbus Dispatch, and staff
COLUMBUS – Hundreds of Ohio’s most traumatized and vulnerable teens should soon have the chance to tap into a few more years of support before they have to make it on their own.
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Gov. John Kasich signed a bill into law on Monday that extends foster-care eligibility to age 21, adding Ohio to the growing number of states that have decided teens shouldn’t automatically age out of the system when they turn 18.
More than 1,000 Ohio foster youths exit foster care each year after their 18th birthdays, with many quickly falling into poverty and homelessness, early parenthood and legal trouble.
“There’s a lot of dismal statistics,” said Worthington resident Jamole Callahan, who spent six years in foster care. “But we can help improve outcomes for these youths who are aging out. I’m elated.”
The Ohio Association of Child Caring Agencies and other advocates worked for three years to secure the change, which gives foster youths the option of deciding whether they want additional guidance and assistance as they transition to adulthood. It also applies to teens who are adopted after age 16.
The law takes effect in 90 days and provides $550,000 for Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to gather recommendations and develop a plan. Implementation is expected in about 18 months, with funding to be determined in the next budget.
First-year costs for the state, not including federal foster money, are estimated at about $9.7 million.
The bill and was introduced in February 2015 by Reps. Dorothy Pelanda (R-Marysville) and Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City). It passed the House in December and the Senate in May.