The Buckeye Ranch Partners with Columbus Scholar House to Expand Access to Mental Health Supports for Former Foster Youth
COLUMBUS, OH (OCTOBER 22, 2026) – The Buckeye Ranch, an Ohio nonprofit dedicated to providing hope and healing for children and families through mental health, behavioral health, and child welfare services, today announced that it has partnered with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) and Community Properties of Ohio (CPO) to offer case management services and mental health interventions for youth who live at Columbus Scholar House for Former Foster Youth. Columbus Scholar House for Former Foster Youth is a 30-unit apartment community that offers affordable housing for youth who are attending secondary education. Columbus Scholar House provides youth, ages 18-24, who have transitioned out of the foster system with housing, education, and supportive services as they work toward earning their degree.
“Youth who age out of the foster care system often don’t have the same supports to help in their transition from childhood to becoming a young adult,” said Vickie Thompson-Sandy, President and CEO of The Buckeye Ranch. “We are honored to work with the Columbus Scholar House partners to provide wrap-around services that will aid in removing barriers that prevent these youth from achieving long-term stability, wellness, and educational success. Offering mental health resources to these young adults will further the foundation the Columbus Scholar House has already built.”
Only 8-12% of youth formerly in foster care earn a college degree by their mid- to late-20s compared to 49% in the general public. According to the National Foster Youth Institute, one out of every four youth in foster care become homeless within four years of aging out of foster care.
The Buckeye Ranch will provide case services for Columbus Scholar House for Former Foster Youth residents, including community resource connections, financial literacy, educational resources, primary care networks, personal health and wellness development, and life skills. The organization’s Intensive Family Support Program (IFSP) will be available for residents whose families need mental health support.
“Stable housing provides a foundation, but we know that housing alone is not enough to ensure young people thrive,” said Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority Vice President of Resident Initiatives Alex Romstedt. “The young adults at Columbus Scholar House are pursuing education and building independent lives while navigating a transition that can be especially challenging without a traditional support network. By bringing The Buckeye Ranch’s mental health expertise and individualized services directly to residents, we are strengthening the network of support around them and helping give each young person the opportunity to succeed in college, in their careers, and in the community.”
Columbus Scholar House for Former Foster Youth can house up to 30 residents at a time and provides those living there with supports, including:
· Academic performance
· Financial management
· Navigating the higher education system
· Goal setting and problem solving
· Accessing reliable and affordable childcare
· Transitioning from school to work
CMHA developed Scholar House in partnership with the City of Columbus, OCCH, Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA), Affordable Housing Trust of Columbus and Franklin County, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Woda Cooper Companies was the General Contractor and Moody Nolan was the architect for this community. Community Properties of Ohio (CPO) is the on-site property manager. Columbus Scholar Housing for Former Foster Youth opened in 2021.
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About The Buckeye Ranch
The Buckeye Ranch is a private, nonprofit provider that has been serving children and families in Ohio for 65 years. Opening in 1961 as a treatment center for 10 young men, it has now transitioned into a leading provider of behavioral health, mental health, education, and child welfare services for children and families. Each day, thousands of youth are in The Buckeye Ranch’s care, receiving services designed to help them become successful within their families, schools, and communities. With seven locations and over 700 dedicated team members, our four service lines - Child Welfare Services, Community and Education-Based Mental Health Services, Residential Treatment Services, and Integrated Care Services - operate 20 programs for youth and families across the state of Ohio. Since the beginning, The Buckeye Ranch’s mission has been to restore hope and provide healing for children and families. To learn more, visit www.BuckeyeRanch.org.
About Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA)
The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority helps people access affordable housing through collaborative partnerships, promotes neighborhood revitalization, and assists residents in accessing needed social services. CMHA has more than 7,000 mixed-income apartment homes and, through its Housing Choice Voucher and Project-Based Rental Assistance programs, serves more than 160,000 residents in Ohio and Washington, D.C. Learn more at cmhanet.com.
About Community Properties of Ohio (www.cpoms.org)
In 2003, OCCH established CPO Management to renovate and manage the redevelopment of the largest portfolio of scattered site project-based Section 8 rental housing in the nation. In partnership with a number of community organizations, and active support of federal, state, and local government, the $133 million, nine-phase redevelopment plan was successfully completed in 2009. CPO currently manages over 1,500 units of affordable housing in Columbus and throughout the state of Ohio, with a vision to build a national model of transformational affordable housing. Its three-fold mission is to provide quality affordable housing, link residents with services that can stabilize their housing, and champion resident and community advancement.