By Marianne Austin The Beacon

One of the benefits of an independent living fair is discovering roles and companies you might not have considered. Coshocton County Job & Family Services hosted its second annual Independent Living Fair on June 27 at the

Coshocton Community Room on Chestnut Street for young adults age 14 and up in the custody of children’ s services.

Laura Martin, supervisor, and Anna Bordenkirker, an independent living associate who works with all the kids in county custody that are age 14 and above, got together last

year and talked about having an independent living fair.

“ This is our second annual one,” Martin said.“ It is part of independent living skills with kids that are mostly home visits, to learn about things that will help them in the future, like opening a bank account.”

Anna Fowler is an independent

living colleague with Coshocton County Job & Family Services.

“ We want to help the kids in the next steps of their lives, like learning how to do banking, if they want to get jobs, and when they emancipate, we have the bridges program,” she said.“ Bridges is an educational training voucher that

helps them pay for college or any type of extended education training after high school. Our biggest thing is to get them ready for the next steps in their lives and set them up for success. We currently have 21 in the independent living program age 14 up to the age they emancipate at age 21. Fourteen of them are here today.”

Jennifer Moore is the resource manager for the youth and family ombudsmen office.

“ We are giving out information about protecting the rights of youth in foster care to make sure everyone

is educated on foster equal rights,” she said.“ This includes personal rights, communication rights, legal rights, medical rights, religious rights and educational rights. We help them to self-advocate and empower them in knowing their rights by contacting http:// www. YouthOmbudsman. ohio. gov.”

“ These kids are from all over the state,” said Jed McCoy, director of Coshocton County Job & Family Services.“ They are our county kids, but we have them placed all over

See FAIR on 19