Children Services Levy

Spoke as CEO of 4C for Children in support of the levy, emphasizing the growing complexity of care needs.

Spoke as a foster parent alongside Beach Acres, detailing caseworker caseloads and urging increased funding for recruitment, training, and support.

Shared traumatic personal history within the foster care system and challenges she faced while navigating family court.

Expressed deep frustration with child welfare practices, alleging wrongful removal of her child and questioning agency funding requests.

Discussed administrative challenges in foster placement, rising case complexity, and the necessity of adequate funding.

Shared a poignant case story of a family working through teenage struggles and terminal illness, illustrating the profound impact of JFS caseworkers.

Spoke on behalf of the Family Nurturing Center in support of renewing the children's services levy to fund parental visitation and family preservation.

Shared experiences as a foster parent and urged the commissioners to support the levy to give foster children options and stability.

Expressed strong opposition to increasing the levy, arguing that homeowners cannot afford higher property taxes and pointing to administrative waste.

Spoke as a foster mother of 20 years who adopted six children, urging investment in vulnerable children and supportive services.

Shared her positive experience with JFS and Beach Acres after her children were temporarily placed in care, expressing support for family reunification.

Highlighted foster care needs, increased case complexity, and the vital role of levy funds in supporting foster families.

Shared personal experience overcoming homelessness through Lighthouse Youth Services and urged levy renewal.

Supported the levy on behalf of Lighthouse Youth and Family Services, emphasizing early intervention and transitional housing needs.

Urged levy support and discussed the intersection of domestic violence and child welfare trauma.

Expressed strong support for the children's services levy, highlighting the YWCA's Safe Care program and family preservation services.

Spoke about his work as an ILP case manager with Lighthouse Youth and Family Services, emphasizing the life-changing impact of housing and life skills support for youth exiting foster care.

Foster parent contrasting timely mental health services in Hamilton County with deficient services elsewhere.

Lighthouse board member and former foster youth sharing her personal success story stemming from wraparound care.

New Path youth advocate supporting the levy and discussing the vital bridge between survival mode and independence for young adults.

Represented the juvenile court, noting a 61% increase in dependency filings and supporting the levy to prevent severe funding deficits in county general funds.

Shared experiences as a JFS worker supporting independent living youth aged 18 to 21, urging levy renewal to provide vital educational and career assistance.

Clinical director at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, highlighting skyrocketing behavioral health needs among foster youth and the critical role of levy-funded prevention.

Foster parent who shared success stories of children receiving educational and mental health support through county partnerships.

Lighthouse shelter case manager advocating for older teens and young adults navigating the gap between foster care and adulthood.

Pro Kids volunteer attorney representing abused and neglected children, urging the commission to fully fund the levy.

Researcher from Cincinnati Children's Hospital discussing substance use prevention programs funded through levy partnerships.

Longtime foster parent with Lighthouse since 1994, emphasizing the stability foster care provides to children.

Vice president of programming at Women Helping Women, discussing the connection between domestic violence prevention and child safety.

Beach Acres family empowerment manager discussing visitation and parent education programs that aid reunification.

Licensed foster parent urging the commission to provide a solid funding foundation for vulnerable children.

Harbor vocational services director discussing employment grants and wraparound support for youth.

Community artist and youth mentor ("Mr. B") advocating for continued levy funding for community programs.

Foster and adoptive parent discussing the vital support received from Hamilton County JFS and Necco.

Foster youth and UC Blue Ash student sharing how advisory boards and Lighthouse helped her succeed.

Spoke about direct care staff dedication and working through medical and life challenges.

Praised independent living program support for teaching financial literacy and budgeting skills.

Shared a young person's perspective on foster care transitions and appreciation for Gateway to Success.

Highlighted YWCA domestic violence intervention and safe care home visitation programs funded through JFS partnerships.

Introduced foster youth Alana Johnson and discussed youth advocacy work through New Path.

Shared experiences preparing to emancipate from JFS custody and the value of financial literacy programs.

Shared experiences as a therapeutic foster parent and caseworker advocacy during medical crises.

Expressed strong support for the levy on behalf of Lighthouse Youth and Family Services, emphasizing early intervention.

Spoke as a foster parent for 10 years about placement shortages and the need for foster family support.

Discussed specialized JFS programs including family treatment court and support for young parents.

Voiced opposition and called for accountability regarding JFS removal practices, citing an appellate court victory.

Expressed strong support for ProKids advocacy and children's safety net funding.

Urged the board to adopt a maximal funding amount for the levy, noting systemic strains.

Echoed ProKids support for the vital levy.

Spoke as a conservative taxpayer in favor of fully funding child protective services.

Expressed gratitude for the care and opportunities provided by Gateway to Success.

Shared personal positive experiences at Gateway to Success and supported the levy.

Described the nurturing environment and comprehensive support provided by Gateway to Success group homes.

Spoke as leader of American Legacy Theater about youth trauma, poverty, and behavioral support needs.

Shared 32 years of frontline experience dealing with child abuse, trauma, and successful interventions.

Described harrowing emergency response cases involving neglected and traumatized children.

Introduced JFS emergency response team workers who described high-stakes interventions.

Co-presented from Cincinnati Children's Hospital, emphasizing how adequate JFS staffing and resources streamline crisis response.

Expressed strong support as a Cincinnati Children's Hospital psychiatric emergency services supervisor, noting the rise in acute mental health crises.

Shared a personal and wrenching account of navigating childhood mental illness and pediatric psychiatric crises.

Supported the levy as an investment in children's futures while jokingly noting property tax concerns for seniors.

Spoke as an adoptive and foster parent about the vital, immediate support provided by JFS during emergency placements.

Shared dual perspectives as a family empowerment manager at Beach Acres and a long-time foster parent.

Shared personal experience growing up in foster care and how independent living services helped him achieve stability.

Expressed strong support for the levy on behalf of Lighthouse Youth Services, highlighting services for youth dealing with mental health issues.

Spoke on behalf of the Sheriff's Office in strong support of the 24/7 child abuse reporting and response partnership with 24/1 Kids.