Finding the right support for your family can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Action for Children’s Parent & Youth Ambassadors (PYAs) are here to help families in central Ohio connect with essential services, benefits, and resources.
Outside of central Ohio? Use the Ohio Department of Children and Youth website to locate a PYA in your county.
Action for Children’s PYAs are trusted, local guides serving Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, and Union counties with free, personalized assistance to individuals and households no matter the need. Whether you need help finding child care, securing housing, applying for benefits, or accessing programs that enrich your child’s life, our ambassadors walk beside you every step of the way.
Each Parent & Youth Ambassador brings lived experience navigating Ohio’s social service and special needs systems. They understand the frustration, confusion, or anxiety families can feel — and they know how to help you move forward.
Parent & Youth Ambassadors can help you with:
Child Care – Finding quality programs and explaining assistance options
Housing Support – Connecting you to rental help, shelters, and housing programs
Food Resources – Locating food pantries, WIC, and meal programs
Benefit Navigation – Guidance with applications for state assistance and local programs
Special Needs Support – Finding services for children with disabilities
Youth & Family Activities – Identifying opportunities for growth, enrichment, and connection
Specialized, One-on-One Help – We’re here for your family’s needs. No judgment. Just support.
Action for Children’s PYAs serve a specific Service Delivery Area (SDA) in Ohio – we’re experts on resources available to you in central Ohio.
PYAs help you make connections, build confidence, and find your own path to solutions.
One point of contact means no more calling multiple agencies or repeating your story over and over.
Any individual or household in Ohio can receive free system navigation support from a Parent & Youth Ambassador.
PYA services are completely free!
Yes. Providers can request PYA support for an individual or family in need.
When you reach out to Action for Children, you’ll find someone who’s relatable, trustworthy, and ready to walk alongside you.
To reach a PYA directly, call 614-385-1345 or complete a Connect Form.
The Parent & Youth Ambassador Program is an initiative of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth and is locally supported by Action for Children.