The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has announced that it has partnered with the Ohio Alliance of YMCAs Foundation to provide free memberships for certified foster homes and approved kinship caregivers as well as Bridges participants and their children.
ODJFS reports that half the cost of the memberships is paid for by ODJFS. The other half will be covered by an Ohio YMCA grant for at least one year.
Eligibility Criteria - Foster Homes
Certified foster homes must provide the YMCA a copy of the family’s current JFS 01213, “Notice of Approval for Foster Home,” showing the family is currently certified as a foster home. They must also provide a letter from the family’s recommending foster care agency on that agency’s letterhead which must indicate the family is in good standing and either the family has had at least one foster care placement within the past 18 months, or the family is a newly certified foster home within the last six months.
Eligibility Criteria - Foster Homes
Kinship families must provide a letter from the agency that approved the family on the agency’s letterhead indicating the family is in good standing with the agency and that they have a current kinship child placed in the home.
Eligibility Criteria - Bridges Participants
Bridges participants must provide a copy of the participant’s Bridges Voluntary Participation Agreement showing the participant is enrolled in Bridges and a letter from the Bridges grantee on the grantee’s letterhead indicating the participant is currently enrolled in Bridges.
