Ohio MENTOR Celebrates 35 Years of Changing Lives

In 2018, Ohio MENTOR celebrates its 35th anniversary of providing family-centered support to children at risk and their families. The Ohio MENTOR team recently commemorated the milestone by holding open house events at offices across the state and honoring Mentor foster parents for their contributions to the lives of the children they care for.

For more than three decades, Ohio MENTOR has empowered the families they support to live lives of stability and promise through their Therapeutic Foster Care and mental health services, which help them work through behavioral and emotional challenges in a positive way.

“We have been able to make a difference in the lives of so many over the past 35 years because of the passion our staff and Mentor foster parents have for serving others. We are committed to helping families overcome the challenges they are experiencing and set a hopeful path for their lives,” said Chip Bonsutto, Executive Director of Ohio MENTOR.

The theme for the anniversary was “Opening Hearts and Opening Homes for 35 Years,” a reference to Ohio MENTOR’s Therapeutic Foster Care program and to the Mentor foster parents who open their lives to children in need. Ohio MENTOR opened its doors as a Therapeutic Foster Care agency in 1983, and now the organization serves families across the state.

“It is a privilege to serve the children and families of Ohio and help them lead healthy, stable lives. We have much to celebrate over the past three decades and much to look forward to in the coming years,” said Bill Allen, Senior Vice President of Operations for The MENTOR Network’s Children & Family Services Operating Group.

Ohio MENTOR’s Therapeutic Foster Care program matches youth with dedicated foster parents, also known as Mentors. With the help of an expert clinical team, Mentors provide warm, loving homes where youth can heal following trauma and support them in choosing a positive path for their lives.

To learn more about the foster care programs provided by The MENTOR Network and Ohio MENTOR, including how to become a foster parent, visit www.makeadifferenceathome.com.