Groundwork Ohio Roadshow 2026: Scioto County
Groundwork Ohio’s Roadshow continued in Scioto County on September 21 with a full day focused on Early Intervention, pediatric health care, moms in recovery, and the local partnerships helping young children and families thrive.
From a morning roundtable with Early Intervention professionals to conversations with parents, health care providers, and community partners, the day offered a firsthand look at the barriers to accessing resources—and how local organizations are working together to address them.
As Groundwork Ohio travels to all 33 Ohio Senate districts, these conversations will help shape our policy priorities and ensure local experiences inform statewide solutions. Insights gathered throughout the Roadshow will be compiled into a report shared with policymakers to help inform future decisions affecting Ohio’s youngest children and families.
Supporting Families Through Early Intervention
The day began at the Scioto County Board of Developmental Disabilities for a roundtable with professionals working directly with young children and families. It marked the Roadshow’s first conversation focused specifically on Early Intervention, giving us an opportunity to dig deeper into how the system is working and where gaps remain.
Providers described the value of meeting children in their homes, which can help remove transportation barriers that make accessing outpatient therapy and other resources difficult. But participants said misconceptions can prevent parents from seeking help in the first place.
Some mistakenly believe Early Intervention is income-based or requires a physician referral. Providers also described inconsistent awareness among health care professionals, with referrals frequently coming from the same physicians rather than being routine across providers.
Transportation remains another significant challenge. Limited public transportation, restricted service areas and hours, and rides that must be scheduled in advance can make getting to appointments difficult, particularly outside Portsmouth.
Participants also pointed to limited internet and cell service, housing instability, lead exposure, and communication challenges. When Early Intervention referrals go through central intake, outreach primarily happens by phone. Providers said adding text and email options could help reach more parents and caregivers.
Scioto County’s location along the Ohio-Kentucky border adds another layer. A family may move only a short distance for more affordable housing but suddenly find themselves navigating different Medicaid, Early Intervention, Head Start, and other systems.
A Workforce Stretched Thin
Professionals serving young children are navigating challenges of their own.
The Scioto County Board of Developmental Disabilities recently lost four staff members it was unable to replace, while the number of children needing services did not decrease. Providers described the strain that puts on remaining staff and concerns about burnout and retention.
Local Partnerships Help Fill the Gaps
Despite these challenges, collaboration emerged as one of the strongest themes of the day.
Early Intervention professionals described relationships with Safe Babies, health care providers, child welfare, community organizations, and other partners that help connect children and parents with additional resources. Community organizations are also helping meet practical needs, including food, diapers, home modifications, and safety equipment.
Those relationships extend beyond traditional service settings. Early Intervention professionals discussed meeting children in community spaces, including Candyland Children’s Museum, where they can work with families in an environment designed for young children.
Hearing From Families at Candyland
Our next stop was Candyland Children’s Museum in downtown Portsmouth, a space where young children can learn, explore, and grow through play.
While there, we met with local parents whose children receive Early Intervention services. They shared how they became connected to the program, the difference it has made for their children, and their experiences navigating resources in Scioto County.
Hearing directly from parents added another perspective to the morning’s conversation—moving from the professionals providing Early Intervention to those experiencing it firsthand.
Collaboration in Action
The Roadshow continued at Southern Ohio Medical Center Pediatrics, where many of the partnerships discussed that morning came together in one place.
We were joined by partners from Southern Ohio Medical Center Pediatrics, Stepping Stones, Family Connects Ohio, Safe Babies, and the Scioto County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Together, they work across pediatric health care, Early Intervention, home visiting, recovery, child welfare, and other areas to connect parents and young children with resources.
That collaboration is particularly important because a family may first connect with a pediatrician, home visitor, recovery program, or Early Intervention professional, while needing assistance that reaches beyond any one organization.
The morning roundtable offered one example: Early Intervention professionals discussed building stronger connections with Stepping Stones to reach moms and young children who could benefit from the program. Later in the day, we visited one of Stepping Stones’ recovery housing sites for moms and their children to learn more about the experiences of mothers in recovery and how recovery, parenting, health, and child development can intersect.
Seeing Early Intervention in Action
The day concluded with an in-home Early Intervention visit, offering a firsthand look at what it means to bring developmental resources directly into a child’s everyday environment.
The home-based model allows professionals to work with the child as well as parents, caregivers, and others who are part of their daily life. Rather than relying solely on a clinical setting or specialized equipment, they can use everyday routines and items already in the home to help caregivers support their child’s development.
It brought the day full circle: we began by hearing about the barriers that can make reaching resources difficult and ended by seeing how Early Intervention brings them directly to children and parents.
Looking Ahead
Scioto County professionals described significant challenges, from workforce shortages and transportation barriers to housing instability, communication gaps, and a lack of awareness about available resources.
But throughout the day, we also saw the strength of local partnerships working across systems to reach families and young children earlier and help parents navigate the resources available to them.
As Groundwork Ohio continues traveling across the state, we’ll carry these experiences with us and use what we hear to help inform future policy, investment, and action for Ohio’s youngest children and their families.
Follow along on social media and visit our Roadshow 2026 page to see upcoming stops, read more Roadshow recaps, and stay connected as the Roadshow continues across Ohio.
Learn More
Explore Groundwork Ohio’s county fact sheets to learn more about the data behind this Roadshow stop.
