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Advocates urge House Finance Committee to restore Foster‑to‑College scholarship omitted from budget
Summary
Members of the Junior League of Columbus and witnesses told the House Finance Committee the Foster‑to‑College Scholarship Act was left out of the budget and urged lawmakers to include the measure or pursue other ways to support foster youth’s college access.
Julia Marino of the Junior League of Columbus testified to the House Finance Committee that the Foster‑to‑College Scholarship Act was omitted from the proposed state budget and asked committee members to reconsider including it in the House bill.
“My name is Julia Marino, and I'm a postdoctoral scholar at The Ohio State University in National Security Studies,” Marino said. Speaking on behalf of the Junior League of Columbus, Marino asked the committee to restore funding she said would provide last‑dollar tuition support for foster youth after federal grants are applied.
Marino described testimony earlier in the session from a 10‑year‑old named Priya who had told lawmakers the scholarship “would allow her to go to college to become a nurse.” Marino said the bill has broad support and noted, “My understanding is that 85 house members voted yes on it last year.” She and other advocates urged lawmakers to consider the program’s potential to reduce homelessness and long‑term costs associated with poor outcomes among former foster youth.
Representative Ray asked whether Marino believed the program would help break the cycle of poverty; Marino said yes, citing research and the experiences of foster youth and referencing wraparound supports and mentorship included in proposals. Representative Sean Charles asked what foster youth would want lawmakers to know; Marino said the youth she had met felt listened to by legislators and would be disappointed if the promise of support did not materialize.
Committee members responding to the testimony encouraged advocates not to abandon work on the proposal if it did not make the budget, noting separate paths such as standalone legislation and continued advocacy. Marino and witnesses asked for clarity about next steps and how community organizations could continue supporting foster youth if the bill was not advanced in the budget.
The Foster‑to‑College proposal was discussed as a separate item from the committee’s omnibus amendment and the committee did not take a formal vote on the scholarship language during this meeting.
