“This is an investment that will pay dividends for generations.”
— Rita Soronen, The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
Investing in Foster Youth Pays Off
Ohio’s Foster‑to‑College Scholarship Act (HB 25) transforms moral responsibility into fiscal common sense: every dollar we invest in tuition now prevents multiple dollars of future spending on prisons, shelters, and public assistance.
Cost–Benefit at a Glance
*National Foster Youth Institute: https://bit.ly/3SimBbE; *Chapin Hall Midwest Study: https://www.chapinhall.org/wp-content/uploads/Midwest-Eval-Outcomes-at-Age-26.pdf; †Texas State University waiver study: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105285
What the Legislative Service Commission Says
No costs beyond HB 25’s $15 million scholarship line‑item. The Commission reached the same fiscally neutral verdict on HB 164 (2023).
https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=24454
Annual Costs vs. Potential Savings
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & support per youth (HB 25) | ~$1,000-$10,000 / year | Calculated based on varied schools' cost of attendance. |
| Incarceration per inmate | $30,558 / year | https://bit.ly/3ETALNk |
| Shelter & jail costs for chronic homelessness | $14,480 / year | https://bit.ly/3RNoHQL |
| Lifetime public cost per unsupported youth | $300 K – $800 K | Common Sense Institute (CO) https://bit.ly/44oYbog |
Bottom line: Independent studies estimate $2 – $4 in taxpayer savings for every $1 invested in foster‑youth scholarships. Source: https://bit.ly/4m0DODZ