Ohio: Department of Higher Education Foster Youth

About this resource

Ohio Reach and Bridges: Helping Former Foster Youth with School and Life

Ohio Reach is a group of people—like teachers, workers, and former foster youth—who work together to help youth who were in foster care go to college and do well. They give support and tools to colleges, child welfare groups, and students to help them succeed in school.

Ohio Reach is run by a group called the Ohio Children’s Alliance in partnership with the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Colleges across Ohio have people called Campus Liaisons who are part of this team and help students who were in foster care.

Bridges: Building Brighter Futures

Bridges is a program for young adults who left foster care in Ohio when they were 18, 19, or 20 years old. If they are working, in school, in a job program, or have a medical reason why they can’t work or go to school, they can join Bridges.

Bridges helps young people with things like:

• Going to school (GED, vocational school, community college, or university)

• Getting job training

• Learning life skills

• Reaching their goals

A Bridges worker will help guide and support you as you grow into an independent adult.