Strolling with Purpose: Speaking Up for Ohio’s Littlest Voices

By Deanna Szente, Family Action Advocate 

My Unforgettable Journey to Capitol Hill with Strolling Thunder 2025 

Before being selected to represent Ohio at Strolling Thunder 2025, my advocacy journey began right here at home — writing testimony for policymakers and sharing my family’s story through a Medicaid interview. These early steps helped me realize the power of my voice and how sharing lived experiences can influence change. That experience with statewide advocacy paved the way for an even bigger opportunity: joining families from across the country to advocate for babies and toddlers on Capitol Hill. 

This May, I had the incredible honor of representing the state of Ohio in Washington, D.C. as part of Strolling Thunder 2025, a powerful advocacy event organized by ZERO to THREE’s Think Babies campaign. Every year, families from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. travel to Capitol Hill with one united message: It’s time to think babies. And this year, my family and I were part of that movement. 

Strolling Thunder isn’t just a rally — it’s a call to action for lawmakers to prioritize the needs of infants, toddlers, and their families. It was a privilege to meet with the offices of Senators Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted, and Representative Bob Latta to discuss the critical importance of supporting babies' and children’s mental health — particularly during those formative first three years. 

Why I Was There 

I’m the proud mom of three wonderful children: Romeo (5), Ravyn (4), and Ryin (2). Our youngest, Ryin, was diagnosed in January with severe autism and is nonverbal. Our daily lives revolve around appointments and therapies — at least five per week — including pivotal, occupational, and speech therapy, all while still waiting for services like ABA therapy and genetic testing. Navigating this system is exhausting, and the reality is that consistent employment becomes nearly impossible without the structural support of policies like paid family and medical leave or expanded Medicaid. 

Our family's story is just one of many, but it reflects a larger truth: Families of young children — especially those with complex needs — are struggling, and we need our policymakers to respond. 

What We Advocated For 

During our meetings, we shared Ryin’s journey and emphasized that the first three years of a child’s life are a period of intense brain development and foundational growth. Without early support, we risk missing the most important window to support children’s emotional, mental, and physical health. 

We urged our congressional representatives to support: 

• Access to high-quality, affordable child care 

• A national paid family and medical leave program 

• Investments in Early Head Start 

• Expanded infant and early childhood mental health services 

• Child welfare system transformation 

• A permanent expanded Child Tax Credit for family stability 

We also highlighted the essential work of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Substance Abuse and the Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which play a critical role in early mental health care — starting at birth. These agencies work hand-in-hand with Medicaid to proactively support families and prevent deeper crises down the road. 

About ZERO TO THREE 

ZERO to THREE is a nonpartisan, research-driven organization working across federal, state, and local levels to improve the lives of babies and toddlers. Through their Think Babies initiative, they empower parents, advocate for transformative policies, and ensure that every baby has a strong start. 

They are champions of: 

• Infant and early childhood mental health 

• Policy reform and advocacy 

• Child welfare transformation 

• Equitable access to healthcare and family supports 

No other organization so effectively brings together research, policy, and lived experience to push for change. 

Why This Matters 

Our voices matter — and so do the stories we carry. It was an honor to join other passionate families from around the country who shared their stories and rallied on Capitol Hill. We weren't just advocating for our own children — we were standing up for every baby in America. 

Being selected by ZERO to THREE to represent Ohio was a dream come true, and sharing this experience with my own children was incredibly powerful. I hope it showed them — and others — that your story has power, and your voice can drive change. 

If you’d like to learn more about ZERO to THREE and how you can support policies that prioritize babies and toddlers, visit www.zerotothree.org. 

Together, let’s continue to think babies — because our future depends on it.