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Bridges

Provides guidance and support in the transition into adulthood in the areas of housing, education, employment, and well-being.

Eligibility:

• Completed high school or GED
• Must be age 21 or under
• Must have left the Ohio foster care system at 18, 19, or 20 years old
• Enrolled in college or vocational school
• Participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers, to employment
• Employed at least 80 hours a month
• Be prepared to provide proof of the above criteria, such as pay stubs or a class schedule

Contact Information:

• Phone Number:  614-490-4357
• Email: ne.region@cfhcohio.org

Free Application for Federal Student Aid 

Can provide financial aid for college from the government (Pell Grants, Subsidized loans, work study, etc.) based on income and assets on a first-come, first-served basis.

Eligibility:

• Must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree or
• certificate program at college
• Must have a Social Security Number

What to expect:

• You will be asked to create an FSA ID account
• You can manually input tax information or allow the FAFSA to receive it directly from the IRS
• The federal student code for ����Թ� State’s main campus is 003051
• The Student Aid Index (SA) will show eligibility
• Financial aid will be dispersed to your college

Contact Information: 

• Justin Cornelius (����Թ� State Financial Aid Coordinator)
• Phone Number: 330-672-0506
• Email: jcorne17@kent.edu

Supplemental Nutrition Program 

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, helps people with low income buy healthy food. This program is designed to supplement grocery budgets to increase buying power, raise nutritional levels, and safeguard the health and well-being of individuals and families in the State of Ohio. The program’s goal is to ensure everyone, regardless of income, can afford nutritious meals.

Eligibility:

• Must be enrolled half or full-time at a college or university
• Must have under $2,250 in current checking and savings accounts combined
• Have a physical or mental disability
• Work at least 20 hours a week
• Participate in a work study program
• Care for a child under the age of 6
• Are you a single parent enrolled full-time in college and taking care of a child under 12
• Are assigned to, placed in, or self-placed in a college or other institution of higher education through:
• A SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) program

Contact Information: 

• Phone: 330-297-3750
• Location: Portage County Job and Family Services 449 South Meridian Street
• Ravenna, OH 44266

Medicaid 

Ohio Medicaid improves wellness and health outcomes by providing health care coverage for eligible individuals, including children, pregnant women, adults, aged individuals, and individuals with disabilities.

Eligibility:

• Age 18-26
• Been in foster care on or after your 18th birthday

Contact Information:

• Phone: 330-297-3750
• Location: Portage County Job and Family Services 449 South Meridian Street
• Ravenna, OH 44266

Educational and Training Voucher 

Offers up to $5,000 a year for school-related expenses (tuition, room and board, books, etc.) for young people who have aged out of foster care or who were adopted after age 16. 

Eligibility:

• Must have aged out of foster care or been adopted after age 16
• Must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA each semester
• Be prepared to submit an academic transcript showing grades and GPA each semester
• Must be enrolled full-time in a degree, certificate, or other accredited program at a college, university, or vocational school 

Contact Information:

• Phone Number: 219-426-2166
• Jacod Wilson at ohetv@fosteredservices.org 

Find Help

An online portal that finds free or reduced resources such as food, housing, financial assistance, health care, and more based on location. 

Eligibility:

• None to use findhelp.org. However, eligibility requirements may exist and differ between specific resources. 

211 United Way

Provides 24/7 referrals for categories such as food pantries, temporary housing, medical clinics, clothing, and many more. 

Eligibility:

• Must need assistance with basic needs and/or other services.  

Contact Information: 

Referrals to services can be offered by phone call or on the website

• Phone Number: Dial 2-1-1 or call 330-376-6660

Young Adult Services

Young Adult Services can provide services to promote self-sufficiency for young adults aged out of foster care. 

Eligibility:

• Age 18, 19, or 20 adult who aged out of foster care. 

Contact Information: 

• Contact your local Independent Living Coordinator
• Portage County: Scott Lazzara , Phone Number: 330-297-3748
• Email: Scott.Lazzara@jfs.ohio.gov 
• Summit County: Sara Woolridge, Phone Number: 330-379-1877
• Email: Sara.Woolridge@summitkids.org 

Ohio Youth Advisory Board 

Ohio Youth Advisory Board allows for youth to connect with others who share the experience of foster care.

Eligibility:

• Must be between the ages of 14-24

Contact Information: 

• Phone Number: Contact Doris (937) 572-7632
• Email: lisa@fosteractionohio.com 
• Location: Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association 2469 Stelzer Road, Columbus, OH 43219