Youth Navigator Network Fall Newsletter
Welcome to the Youth Navigator Network (YNN) Fall Newsletter! YNN and the Young Adult Advisory Council (YAAC) are working together to expand outreach efforts, helping to spread the word and connect with even more young people and community partners.
Welcome to the Youth Navigator Network (YNN) Fall Newsletter! YNN and the Young Adult Advisory Council (YAAC) are working together to expand outreach efforts, helping to spread the word and connect with even more young people and community partners.
We are also excited to share the release of Care to Conquer Episode 5 featuring Amanda Davis from Foster Success. Amanda serves as the Assistant Director of Education, and Foster Success oversees Ohio’s Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program. Amanda shares practical insights from both personal experience and professional expertise, offering valuable strategies for navigating various challenges. These conversations continue our commitment to elevating youth voices and real stories.
This issue also highlights recent and upcoming events, as well as a new branding update! Thanks for staying connected with us as we continue building stronger networks of support for foster youth and alumni across Ohio.
Program Updates
What's New with ynn?
Our New Look
We are excited to roll out our new look and feel in this month's newsletter. Our YNN program, services, and offerings are still exactly the same. Our new look reflects that YNN is a DCY program, managed by Kinnect. See our new YNN website here!
Connecting Ohio Counties to YNN Programs and Supports
In partnership with Kinnect to Family (KTF) and Ohio Kinship and Adoptive Navigator Program (OhioKAN), YNN met with county staff across Ohio to share information about the services and resources available to support young people. Staff learned about eligibility, how to connect young people with YNN, and explored the many ways Stability Supports (formerly Flexible Funds) can be used. From covering rent, to purchasing books for school, to providing tools needed for work—counties discovered how these supports can make a real difference. Staff also had the chance to experience YNN’s text line firsthand, sparking valuable conversation and interest.
Care to Conquer Podcast: Episode 5
Step into the powerful journey of Amanda Davis, from foster care to becoming a transformative force in child welfare. Her story highlights the critical gaps in support for foster youth pursuing higher education and the profound impact of missing that crucial "village" of support that many take for granted. Through candid discussions about housing insecurity, food struggles, and the heightened challenges brought by the pandemic, this episode reveals the complex barriers foster youth may face in their educational pursuits.
Amanda shares practical insights from both personal experience and professional expertise, offering valuable strategies for navigating these challenges. The conversation explores the evolving landscape of foster care support, including the distinction between public and private agencies and important legislative milestones. Amanda's dedication to creating positive change shines through as she discusses her work in developing support systems for older youth in care.
Ready to be inspired by a story of resilience and learn how you can make a difference in the foster care community? Listen to episode 5 of Care to Conquer—and make sure you are subscribed so you never miss a new episode!
YAAC Corner
Recent updates!
The Young Adult Advisory Council (YAAC) continues to play a key role in shaping the YNN program. Their voices help us build programs that are more thoughtful, supportive, and effective for young people with experience in foster care.
Most recently, YAAC has been instrumental in guiding YNN’s outreach efforts. They provided a wide range of ideas for connecting with young people where they already are—whether through the apps they use every day or at community centers where they gather. These insights are helping us expand our reach and connect more young people to the resources and supports available to them.
We are always looking to grow the YAAC with passionate and engaged members. If you know a young person with foster care experience who would be interested in sharing their voice and shaping this important work, we encourage you to nominate them to join the council.
Do you know a young person who should be part of the YAAC?
Events & Training
Find Out What we're up to!
YNN has a full schedule of activities and events lined up for the coming months. From connecting with young people and community partners to attending statewide meetings, we’re excited to keep learning, sharing resources, and strengthening our network together.
Here are a few highlights we would like to share:
OHIO Youth Advisory Board (YAB) Board Meeting
YNN team members will be attending the upcoming OHIO Youth Advisory Board (YAB) meeting on October 16. This gathering provides an important space for young people with lived experience in foster care to share their perspectives, priorities, and ideas for change.
YNN is committed to ensuring that our work remains youth-informed, and participating in forums like this helps us listen, learn, and continue shaping programs that reflect what young people say they need most. We are eager to carry forward the insights and voices shared by the leaders who participate.
For more details about the OHIO Youth Advisory Board and its work, visit the ACTION Ohio website!
Ohio Mobile Response and Stabilization Services Learning Community
In November, YNN will take part in the Ohio Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) Learning Community by leading an informational session. During this session, we will provide an overview of our program and services, highlighting the many ways YNN supports young people and connects them to resources that can make a difference.
This is a valuable opportunity to share our work with partners across the state, strengthen collaboration, and ensure more youth-serving professionals know about the supports YNN offers. We look forward to continuing to build these connections and expand awareness of the network.
Foster Hope Holiday Resource Fair
YNN is excited to take part in the 2nd Annual Foster Hope Holiday Fest at COSI in Columbus on Sunday, December 7, 2025. Since Christmas 2019, One Church has been on a mission to brighten the holiday season for Ohio’s foster teens—providing nearly $1.3 million in gift cards through the support of churches and businesses across the state.
Building on that momentum, the Foster Hope Holiday Fest is expanding this impact even further. Hosted at the #1 science museum in the country, this unique event combines holiday celebration with real-world empowerment.
Teens will engage with hands-on activities, access mental wellness resources, explore career pathways, enjoy free food and music, and take home exciting giveaways—all alongside a trusted adult. It’s more than a festive night; it’s a catalyst for hope and a step toward a brighter future
During the Resource Fair, YNN will be tabling and sharing information about our programs and services. This is a meaningful opportunity to connect directly with young people and their supporters, expand awareness of resources, and strengthen networks across Ohio. Register today, and we will see you there!
Ohio Reach Liaisons Meeting
In December, YNN will join the Ohio Reach Liaisons Meeting to provide an informational session about our program and services. This meeting brings together partners focused on supporting students with foster care experience, and we are excited to share how YNN can be a resource in that work.
Connect With Us
Follow & Spread the Word!
YNN is a Department of Children and Youth (DCY) program, managed by Kinnect. Help us spread the word by sharing our website and social posts, forwarding this newsletter, and telling your family and friends about our work!
