ABC's and 123's:

No two days look the same as a Parent and Youth Ambassador (PYA) — and that’s part of what makes this work so important. We might be meeting with community partners, responding to new referrals, or following up with clients we’ve worked with before. Our role is always changing based on what families need at that moment. 

We work with a large and growing number of clients in the seven-county region, but we’re very intentional about making sure no one feels like just another number. We take the time to build real connections. 

That might look like texting back and forth, having a phone call, or emailing — whatever works best for the client. We listen first, and then we figure out how to help. Because of that trust, clients often open up about challenges they may not have shared with anyone else. Some come to us not even knowing what support they need. Others feel like they’ve already tried everything. Either way, we work alongside them to figure out next steps and connect them to the right resources. Many people come back to us when new challenges come up because they trust us. We’ve been told things like, “I’ve never had someone care this much,” or “Thank you for treating me like a person.” Those moments remind us how much this work matters. 

In addition to working directly with clients, we spend a lot of time building connections in the community. We attend meetings, events, and trainings to learn about resources and build relationships with organizations. Because of that, we have direct contacts in many places, which helps our clients get connected to services more quickly. We also lead support groups and listening sessions based on what we hear from families. If we notice a common struggle, we create a space to address it. We are working on expanding programming through Ready to Rent classes, which help individuals build the skills and confidence needed to secure housing. 

Across our work, we support a wide range of situations. When a young adult caring for younger siblings needed help keeping their household together, we connected them to employment resources, rental support, and essential household items so the siblings could stay together. Another client, a single mom dealing with a high-risk pregnancy, was facing eviction. We worked with her to maintain housing long enough to find a safer, more stable option while also helping her build confidence to advocate for herself. We also helped a family who had been living in a hotel. Shelter options were limited because the parent worked third shift. Through our connections, we helped them find a safe place to stay while allowing the parent to keep their job. Within a few months, that family moved into permanent housing and is now doing well. We’ve helped a survivor of human trafficking secure housing for her family and begin rebuilding her life — furnishing her home and helping her get a laptop so she can go back to school. These are just a few examples.

We’ve also helped individuals find employment, secure housing, maintain utilities, and access basic needs like food, clothing, and diapers. We’ve connected families to parenting programs, higher education opportunities, and new schools. We’ve helped families navigate hotel and shelter situations and worked alongside parents to build the confidence and skills to advocate for themselves.

We also support families through some of the more complex systems they encounter. We’ve helped parents better understand custody processes and communicate with Job and Family Services. We’ve helped parents understand their rights in school situations, including IEPs and McKinney-Vento (protections for students experiencing housing instability). And we’ve supported clients in pushing back when they’ve been denied benefits or didn’t understand the process — because knowing your rights is the first step to using them.

A pilot partnership with Legal Aid showed us exactly what’s possible when legal support is accessible early. That year, clients could reach legal help the same day they needed it, preventing evictions, protecting housing, and resolving school issues before they escalated. Since budget cuts ended the program, we’ve continued supporting clients through these challenges, but the difference is stark: we’re now helping people recover from situations that, with timely legal access, may never have reached a crisis point.

That experience is one example of what becomes possible with the right resources. Some solutions are straightforward. Others take creativity — and sometimes, the right connection at the right moment. 

We often describe ourselves as ‘deep divers.’ If one path doesn’t work, we look for another.

If there isn’t a program available, we try to find a different way to support the situation. Our goal is always to help families move toward stability, even if the path isn’t a simple one. We don’t walk away. We continue to support, problem-solve, and look for options. 

As we continue to help our clients, ongoing support makes it possible for us to reach more families, respond more quickly, and continue building the relationships and partnerships that make a real difference. The need for this work doesn’t pause, and having the resources to meet it allows us to keep helping families when they need it most. At the end of the day, we show up for people at their hardest moments — not to judge where they’ve been, but to walk with them toward something better. Some people are one conversation, one door, one outstretched hand away from a different life. We are that hand. We are that door. 

Like this blog? Donate now to support Ashley and Megan’s work with families!

---

AUTHORS: Megan Davis and Ashley Holmes, Parent and Youth Ambassadors at Action for Children

The Parent & Youth Ambassador Program is an initiative of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth and is locally supported by Action for Children.

Action for Children is the local child care resource and referral agency for central Ohio, and is committed to assuring quality early learning experiences for all children. Our services focus on transforming the lives of children by supporting the everyday heroes who most influence our children’s early growth; caregivers, educators, parents, and guardians. Learn More.