Junior League and witnesses renew plea for Foster-to‑College scholarship inclusion in state budget

Julia Marino, a postdoctoral scholar and member of the Junior League of Columbus, asked the House Finance Committee to reconsider including the Foster to College Scholarship Act in the state budget, saying the program would give foster youth tuition support after federal grants and could improve long-term outcomes.

Marino recalled a 10‑year‑old witness, Priya, who previously testified and whose hopes would be dashed if funding were not added. “When we tell her that this funding was omitted, she'll be really disappointed,” Marino said. She urged the committee to consider bipartisan and community support for the bill and noted that roughly 35 states already have similar provisions.

Marino described the bill as “last‑dollar tuition support after federal grants” and said mentoring and wraparound services accompany financial aid in other programs. She told Representative Ray and others that surveys of Ohio foster youth show a majority want to attend college but face financial barriers. She also cited testimony from people who aged out of care and later experienced homelessness.

Committee members responded with procedural and strategic questions. Representative Ray asked whether the program would help break cycles of poverty; Marino said it would and pointed to wraparound supports and mentorship as part of successful models. Representative Charles asked what foster youth would want lawmakers to know; Marino said young witnesses who testified expected lawmakers to follow through after public displays of support and that many foster youth would ask, “What's happening? I don't understand,” if promised help did not materialize.

Kathy Cowenbecker and other Junior League advocates joined Marino in urging swift action. Committee members noted the budget process can be complicated and that omission from the budget does not necessarily end prospects for the bill; Representative Schmidt encouraged continued advocacy and explained some bills require work outside the budget process.

Why it matters: Witnesses said the scholarship would remove a primary financial barrier to college for foster youth and could reduce downstream costs associated with homelessness and unemployment. Marino asked the committee to explain why the measure, which she said previously had strong bipartisan support, was not advanced in the budget.