Help Raise Awareness Among Families of the Enhanced Child Tax Credit
The federal American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law earlier this year, includes a historic one-year expansion of the Child Tax Credit. Under the expansion, families no longer have to wait until they file their taxes next year to receive their payments. Instead, families with children are already getting a cash payment each month, with monthly payments ranging between $250 and $300 per child. Roughly 4 million or more children in low-income families are at risk of missing out on monthly Child Tax Credit payments this year. That's why it's crucial that government officials and agencies, community-based organizations, early childhood professionals, and advocates like you spread the word to help make eligible families aware of the tax credit.
Low-income families with children are eligible for the tax credit – including those who have not made enough money to be required to file taxes. Importantly, these payments do not count as income for any family, so low-income families won't lose their benefits if they sign up to get the Child Tax Credit. It's not too late to sign up for Child Tax Credit payments! You can use this social media toolkit to make sure families don’t miss out. Together with your support, we can reduce child poverty by helping parents enroll to receive the Child Tax Credit!
Bill in Ohio House Would Undermine Childhood Immunizations
This week, during National Immunization Awareness Month, the Ohio House Health Committee heard testimony on a bill that has the potential to reverse decades of immunity from life-threatening but vaccine-preventable diseases. Groundwork Ohio recently joined more than 100 organizations representing nearly 2 million Ohioans to speak out against the legislation, known as Ohio House Bill 248-11.
Routine childhood vaccinations are a safe and effective way to ensure children remain healthy and protected against serious diseases, like measles and whooping cough. However, HB 248-11 undermines recommended vaccines, which will result in lower immunization rates and more outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
We are urging policymakers to reject HB 248-11 to protect the health of Ohio’s children and families and avoid disastrous consequences for the future of our state. This legislation puts the health of all Ohioans, including infants and toddlers, at risk.
Engaging Parents and Families to Advance Health Equity
Elevating the voices of families with lived experiences into policy and program decisions is critical to improve child and family well-being and advance equity. That's why earlier this year Groundwork Ohio launched the Center for Family Voice, a "center for excellence" dedicated to authentically engaging Ohio parents and families in the policies and practices that impact the healthy development of their children.
On Tuesday, September 14 from 1:00-2:30 PM, join us for a webinar hosted by the Center for Health Care Strategies to hear more about promoting parent and family voices in policymaking. During the webinar, Groundwork Ohio President & CEO Shannon Jones will share how we came to develop the Center for Family Voice and provide an overview of what is on the horizon for working with Ohio’s parents and families through our new Center.
Health care, early childhood professionals and advocates, policymakers, state officials, family representatives, and other stakeholders are invited to join this 90-minute event.
New Policy Brief Outlines A Strategic Approach to Prevent ACEs in Ohio
Safe, stable environments and nurturing relationships are essential for children’s healthy growth and development. Infants and toddlers, however, are highly vulnerable to adversity and trauma during the earliest and most critical years of development. Exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences, also referred to as ACEs, can cause long-lasting negative effects on a child's mental health, physical health, and health behaviors.
As a new policy brief from the Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) shows, ACEs are common in Ohio. However, there are strategies that state policymakers and others can deploy to prevent ACEs and safeguard the well-being of Ohio children and families who have experienced adversity and trauma. HPIO's new policy brief outlines 12 key strategies for preventing ACEs in Ohio, including early childhood education programs and home visiting.
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