The Child and Family Health Collaborative of Ohio, a subsidiary of the Ohio Children’s Alliance, is pleased to announce its re-selection as the Ohio Bridges Program grantee.
Bridges is a voluntary statewide program serving young adults who have aged out of foster care. ODJFS and the Collaborative have partnered together on the program since its inauguration in 2018. Over the last nearly five years, the Collaborative, through its network of 21 service providers, has successfully connected over 3,600 young adults with safe/stable housing, educational and career opportunities, and resources to support their personal safety, mental health, and more.
“A few years ago, this program was just a concept, inspired by countless voices of foster youth and alumni,” said Mark Mecum, CEO for the Child and Family Health Collaborative of Ohio. “Today, we are engaging young people in every corner of Ohio. Young adults are setting goals, graduating from high school, enrolling in college, securing job training, and even landing competitive jobs. Their success – and the program’s success – is inspiring, and we look forward to more impactful years working with ODJFS.”
Participant data, highlighted in our most recent impact report, shows that Bridges is working, and that the program provides significant value add for those it serves. ODJFS and the Collaborative look forward to continuing this partnership to better the lives of former foster youth in Ohio. For more information about Bridges or to apply, visit https://bridgestosuccess.jfs.ohio.gov/.
