Finding the right support for your family can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to do it alone. Starting Point’s Parent & Youth Ambassadors (PYAs) are here to help families across Ohio connect with essential services, benefits, and resources.
PYAs are trusted guides who provide free, personalized support to families with children and youth from birth to 21 years old, offering assistance in ways that best fit each family’s needs. Whether you need help finding child care, housing assistance, food programs, or other services, our PYAs are ready to walk alongside you.
How PYAs Help
Parent & Youth Ambassadors are members of your local community with lived experience navigating social systems. They understand the challenges families face and are dedicated to helping you access the resources you need—quickly and without judgment. PYAs assist with:
Child Care – Finding quality programs and understanding assistance options
Housing Support – Connecting to rental assistance, shelters, and housing programs
Food Resources – Locating food pantries, WIC, and meal programs
Benefit Navigation – Guidance on applying for state assistance and other programs
Special Needs Support – Finding services for children with disabilities
Youth & Family Activities – Identifying programs to enrich your child’s growth and development
No eligibility requirements, no judgment—just support.
A Direct Connection to Help
PYAs provide a single point of contact for families, eliminating the frustration of navigating multiple agencies on your own. They respond to inquiries via phone, chat, or in-person meetings and work in partnership with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth to ensure families receive comprehensive support.
Each PYA serves a specific Service Delivery Area (SDA) in Ohio, with the program continuing to grow so that every region has a dedicated ambassador.
Get the Support You Need Today
If you or someone you know could benefit from PYA services, reach out today:
📍 Cuyahoga County Residents: Contact Tish Gomez at LaTishia.Gomez@Starting-Point.org or (216) 293-4947.
📍 Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula County Residents: Contact Kim Rosa at Kim.Rosa@Starting-Point.org or (440)299-3545.
With Parent & Youth Ambassadors, you’re never alone in finding the help your family needs. Let us walk this journey with you!
Meet Your PYA's
Tish Gomez: LaTishia Gomez (Tish) has lived and worked in Northeast Ohio for over 30 years, dedicating her career to the child care field. With firsthand experience navigating community resources, she is passionate about supporting families in need of assistance.
Kim Rosa: Kim Rosa has lived, worked, and volunteered in Northeast Ohio for most of her life. Kim understands the challenges families face. Having personally experienced periods of uncertainty and the difficulty of navigating support systems alone, she is grateful for the opportunity to serve as a Parent & Youth Ambassador (PYA). In this role, she is committed to making it easier for families to access the resources and support they need.
