Focus on Youth
Focus on Youth exists to help children who have suffered abuse and neglect, experienced trauma, or struggled with behavior issues.
The need for foster care is as great as its rewards. Yet, too often, kids in care shuffled from home to home. We believe the solution is better prepared and supported foster families. That’s why we not only work to prepare families for the challenges that may come fully but walk with them through the journey, support them when it gets tough, and celebrate with them in every victory (and there are many!). This is what has set us apart for over 25 years.
We find, fully train, and support foster care families to provide safe, stable, nurturing homes for these children who have been abused and neglected. We then support them with quality resources, expertise, and encouragement.
The need is growing. We’re not looking for perfect people, only people willing to love and keep children safe. You don’t have to be a child expert or possess special skills. But if you’re wondering, here are a few qualities that make good foster parents:
Good, strong parenting skills
Commitment
Warmth and patience
A love of people
Sense of humor
Empathy
Flexibility
Our Mission
Improve the lives of children by providing strengths-based foster care, adoption, and mental health services that promote the permanency, safety, and well-being of youth.
Our Vision
Focus on Youth is the chosen provider of quality foster care, adoption, and mental health services to children and families and helping professionals.
Our Trauma-Informed Care Vision
Focus on Youth is a trauma-informed care provider known for empowering our community to embrace resilience and hope, knowing that healing is possible.
Services and information
- Kinship / Relative Care
- Traditional Foster Care
- Specialized / Therapeutic Care
- Emergency Foster Care
- Respite Foster Care
- Adoption
Requirements to become a foster parent
After deciding to foster, make sure your household members are on board with what will be a life-changing decision to foster. Then, educate yourself about Ohio's requirements for foster parents. Applicants who want to foster or adopt in Ohio must:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Live in a safe and stable home
- Meet home safety requirements
- Clear a background check with fingerprinting
- Provide at least three character references
- Provide ample space for a foster child in their house or apartment
- Attend foster parent orientation
- Take part in required hours of foster parent training
- Maintain financially stability
- Prove good health
- Complete the Home Study process
To apply or ensure you meet the prerequisites, there are two primary Ohio state resources. Contact the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) or a local Public Children's Service Agency (PCSAs).
If you are ready to learn more, contact a local child-placing agency to schedule foster parent information orientation. At orientation, aspiring foster parents learn more about foster parenting responsibilities, navigating the foster system, and the foster application process. If you have questions, orientation is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and meet other potential foster families.
Administrative paperwork can take some time to complete, but having everything prepared will ensure it goes smoothly. It will help the process move along if you gather financial documents ahead of time. These include tax filings and paystubs, which you will need to show as proof of financial stability.
Foster parents in Ohio must also attend 24 hours of pre-service foster parent training. This training teaches foster families about the trauma experienced by all foster children. It also covers how to provide general and specialized care to foster children.
Ratings and Reviews
Average user rating
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Dec 23, 2019
My son goes their for Theraphy and his doing sooo much better with help of mrs. admiral thank you
Jan 11, 2019
Awesome loving organization
Nov 16, 2018
Excellent Organization !!