Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced he is nominating Kara Wente as the new Ohio Department of Children and Youth director.
Prior to this nomination, Wente (pictured above) worked as the governor’s Children’s Initiative director since January 2023. Wente served as the chief operating officer of Future Ready Columbus before her hire.
According to DeWine’s press release, Wente has more than 20 years of devoted service to the state and a wealth of knowledge in helping Ohio’s most vulnerable children and families. While serving as the assistant director of Health and Human Services at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and as the deputy director at the Office of Family Assistance, Wente employed data as an accountability tool for systemic change.
According to DeWine, Wente shares his vision of supporting Ohio children and ensuring they live up to their full potential.
“Kara Wente has spent her career advocating for children, and I know she shares my vision of ensuring that all Ohio children have the opportunities they need to live up to their full potential and live their version of the American dream. For the first time ever, we will have an entire department whose employees are focused every single day on the health, well-being, and opportunities available to all of Ohio’s children. Together, we will help make Ohio the best state in the nation to start and raise a family,” DeWine said.
Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO) said it supports DeWine’s nomination.
“PCSAO is thrilled that Governor Mike DeWine nominated Kara Wente as the Director of the new Department of Children and Youth. Kara is a results-oriented leader who has years of experience in child-serving systems and is quite knowledgeable about the various children’s programs that this department will be overseeing. She is well-respected among many, including the county PCSAs. We look forward to working with Kara in her new role,” PCSAO said.
The Ohio Children’s Alliance also congratulated Wente on this “well-deserved opportunity.”
The operational budget for 2023–2024 included the creation of the Department of Children and Youth, which will concentrate on providing more than 2.5 million children and their families in Ohio with services effectively and efficiently.
The new Ohio Department of Children and Youth would incorporate programs from six other cabinet agencies: the Departments of Job and Family Services, Health, Developmental Disabilities, Education, Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Development. According to DeWine, Wente has been driving the Department of Children and Youth changeover process.
The programs for consolidation under the Ohio Department of Children and Youth include: Help Me Grown, Healthy Beginnings at Home, Infant Vitality Programs, Early Intervention, Strong Families Strong Communities, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Early Care and Education, Early Childhood Education, Kinship Permanency Incentive Program, Adoption Services, Infant Health Grants, Early Childhood Mental Health, Family and Children First, Children’s Trust Fund, Preschool Special Ed, Foster Care, Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, Child Welfare, and Family and Children Services.
The Ohio Department of Children and Youth will begin operations on January 1st, 2025.
A spokesperson at Governor DeWine’s office told The Ohio Star that now Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) will assign a committee to review the governor’s nominee. Once the committee clears the issue, the matter will go before the full Ohio Senate to confirm or not confirm.
The Ohio Star contacted Wente for comment but also did not receive a reply before press time.
Wente graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and holds a Master’s in education and allied professions from the University of Dayton.
– – –
Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star, The Star News Network, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Background Photo “Ohio Capitol” by Jsjessee. CC BY-SA 2.0.
