Hidden in Plain Sight: The State of At-Risk Youth in Central Ohio

Across Columbus and Franklin County, too many young people are navigating crises that remain largely invisible to the broader community. Youth homelessness, mental health struggles, service gaps, and systemic inequities are shaping life outcomes for a generation — especially for youth of color and LGBTQIA+ young people. While these challenges are complex, they are not inevitable.

Join us as we unpack the findings of the forthcoming State of Youth Report, a new local analysis designed to bring sharper focus to the realities young Central Ohioans are facing and the systems meant to support them. Grounded in data, case studies, and community insight, the new report is a product of a research partnership between the Youth Providers Coalition and Illuminology, with social return on investment and impact measurement analysis led by the Voinovich School at Ohio University and Georgia Southern University.

With key local leaders, we’ll explore what the data reveals, where the most urgent gaps exist, and what it would take to make earlier, smarter, and more coordinated investments in Central Ohio’s youth.

Featuring Dr. Amanda Scott, Principal, Illuminology; Jennifer Sharma, CEO, Huckleberry House, with moderator Kara B. Wente, Director, The Ohio Department of Children and Youth. Additional panelists to be announced.