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Columbus, Ohio : Today, Georgetown University Center for Children and Families released a report showing that more children under the age of 6 in Ohio are uninsured and are falling through the cracks in the state’s Medicaid program. Ohio stands out on nearly every measure trending in the wrong direction in the report, titled “ Nation’s Youngest Children Lose Health Coverage at an Alarming Rate . ” The rate of uninsured Ohio 0-6 year olds went from 3.6% in 2016 to 5% in 2018, reversing a longstanding positive trend. Ohio increased from 29,820 to 41,642 uninsured 0-6 year olds, a 39.6% change over the course of only two years. “This trend is deeply disturbing because we know children experience rapid brain development during the earliest years of life, before they start kindergarten,” said Shannon Jones, Executive Director of Groundwork Ohio. “We have a critical and narrow window of time to build a healthy foundation for development, intervene to address any delays and health conditions and prevent greater challenges later in life,” Jones continued. “Health coverage is a crucial first step in providing this preventive health care for Ohio’s youngest children.” While Ohio and the nation’s rate and number of uninsured young children increased significantly during this time period, Ohio’s rate of uninsured children is higher than the national rate (5% to 4.3%). Additionally, more than half of the nation’s uninsured children under 6 reside in seven states including Ohio, which is home to 4.1% of these young children. Historically, young children across the nation have been less likely to be uninsured compared to school-aged children. This is no longer true in Ohio where the 5% rate now exceeds the 4.7% rate for school- aged children. “Uninsured young children may go to the hospital in a crisis, but they aren’t regularly attending visits to the pediatrician’s office,” said Melissa Wervey Arnold, CEO Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics. “These well-child visits and other preventive care are the first and best opportunity we have to engage parents and caregivers as partners in their child’s health and well-being before school begins.” “With nearly half of Ohio’s children receiving health care coverage through Medicaid, we have to examine these trends from a Medicaid lens,” said Nick Lashutka, President and CEO of the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association. “We look forward to partnering with Governor DeWine on ways to enhance children’s health care coverage and access.” “Groundwork Ohio is committed to investigating the symptoms and causes of these startling trends and promoting targeted Medicaid policies and practices that encourage the enrollment of young children,” said Jones. “We have to hold all stakeholders including health plans accountable to our shared vision for young children in this state.” To learn more about the report findings and hear from national and state experts, including Shannon Jones, Executive Director of Groundwork Ohio, register here to join Georgetown University Center for Children and Families for a webinar today at 2:00pm. Radio actuality from Jones is available here . Jones is also available for media interviews. Georgetown University Center for Children and Families is an independent, nonpartisan policy and research center founded in 2005 with a mission to expand and improve high- quality, affordable coverage for America’s children and families. Groundwork Ohio is a committed, nonpartisan public-policy research and advocacy organization formed in 2004 that champions high-quality early learning and healthy development strategies from the prenatal period to age five, that lay a strong foundation for Ohio kids, families and communities. To learn more about Groundwork Ohio visit www.GroundworkOhio.org and follow us on Twitter @GroundworkOhio and Facebook, www.facebook.com/GroundworkOhio . ###

This week, the Groundwork staff was excited to welcome the newest addition to our team—Alex Fisher! Alex joins Groundwork as our newest Policy Associate to support the development and implementation of Groundwork’s policy agenda, priorities and strategies through effective communication, advocacy, research, and data analysis. Alex received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Akron in the Spring of 2019 while serving as Page for Ohio Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron). Alex’s passion for children extends beyond his professional career in his role as co-founder of S.E.E. Ourselves, a non-profit organization exposing children of color to higher education through S.T.E.M. programs in Central Ohio. We hope you'll join us in welcoming Alex to the Groundwork team! Early Educators Speak Up for Children​ Groundwork spent the past year traveling the state to present the findings included in our Race & Rural Equity Report . During these presentations, we asked early education professionals about equitable outcomes and what it means to the children they serve. Watch the video we created for you to hear first-hand from these early education professionals on how we can provide equitable outcomes for children. Watch the Video . Less Than Two Weeks Left to Apply for Groundwork's Early Childhood Leadership Fellowship!​ Beginning in 2020, early education and health professionals from across the state will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, engage with thought-leaders and policymakers to advance quality early learning and health, and take steps to create state-, local-, and community-level change for young children in Ohio. Fellows will engage in a hybrid curriculum designed to build upon leadership and communications skills, expand knowledge around the landscape of Ohio’s early childhood systems, and empower participants to take on leadership roles in their communities and the early education and health professions across the state. The Fellowship will incorporate in-person sessions, expert presentations, online learning experiences, and small group regional exercises designed to drive change in local communities. By the end of the year, Fellows will have gained the knowledge and tools needed to enhance their capacity to influence healthy development and early learning policies that will improve outcomes for Ohio’s youngest children and their families. Applications must be submitted by 5 PM on December 13, 2019. Apply Now . Connecting with Local Leaders This week, Groundwork released a new report titled Building Brains. Building Communities. The Case for Investing in Children, Prenatal to Age 3 during the County Commissioners Association of Ohio’s Annual Winter Conference and Trade Show. The report highlights how investments in high-quality early learning lead to a substantial return on public investment – an upwards of 13%! Not only does high-quality early learning lead to a high return on investment, but it also provides children with the support and education needed for children to reach their full potential. Investing in high-quality early learning begins with support from leaders at the local level. This report provides local leaders with a framework of how to begin dialogue around supporting high-quality early learning and healthy development for children. Access the Report . Groundwork Ohio Seeks to Improve Managed Care Procurement to Advance a Vision for Young Children​ Recently, Groundwork Policy Director and Legal Counsel Lynanne Gutierrez wrote a blog post for The Center for Children & Families at Georgetown University. The blog post explores how early childhood advocates in Ohio (and other states) have a unique opportunity to influence Medicaid managed care plans to put young children at the top of their priorities during Medicaid procurement. During the procurement period in Ohio, Groundwork has taken any and all requests to meet with plans currently operating or interested in doing business in Ohio to better understand their thinking as it concerns young children. What we found was that many plans are interested in prioritizing young children in their plans, but would like input from the early childhood community on how they can better serve children and families. Read the Blog Post . Ensuring Every Child is Counted On Monday, the Ohio Complete Count Commission released their recommendations to ensure that every Ohioan is counted in the U.S. Census on April 1, 2020. Across the nation, young children are one of the most hard-to-count populations during the Census. We are happy to report that the recommendations by the Ohio Complete Count Commission specifically calls out the dire need of making sure young children are counted in the upcoming census and how the state can work with local organizations to encourage families to participate in the Census. Without a complete count, many of the programs utilized by children and families will go underfunded. We are thankful for the recommendations outlined by the Ohio Complete Count Commission and hope that these recommendations get us one step closer to ensuring young children are counted in the Census! Read the Recommendations . Groundwork Ohio Responds Boldly to Administration for Children & Family's Request for Information​ Recently, the U.S. Administration for Children & Families (ACF) posted a Request for Information (RFI) on improving access to affordable, high-quality child care in the US. Groundwork's response to the RFI outlined why investing in high-quality early childhood education is beneficial for children, families, business, and society at large. To support this position, the response includes detailed recommendations and comments on increasing access to high-quality child care, improving child care regulations, investing in and supporting the child care workforce, developing better child care business models, and transforming the way child care is financed. Additionally, ACF released its annual report on whether or not states have met provisions related to prioritizing children from families with very low incomes, children with special needs, and children experiencing homelessness. You can find the ACF report by clicking here . Read Groundwork's Response .

Columbus, Ohio : Today, Groundwork Ohio announced the appointment of Alexander Fisher as its newest Policy Associate. “I am thrilled to be a part of the Groundwork team as we strive to advance strategies that support early learning and healthy development for young children in Ohio. I am excited to contribute to the incredible reputation and body of work of the organization as the leading advocate for Ohio’s youngest children and their families,” said Fisher. Alex received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Akron in the Spring of 2019 while serving as Page for Ohio Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron). Alex’s passion for children extends beyond his professional career in his role as co-founder of S.E.E. Ourselves, a non-profit organization exposing children of color to higher education through S.T.E.M. programs in Central Ohio. Alex joins Groundwork as the newest Policy Associate advancing Groundwork’s mission through policy development and advocacy. The addition of Alex to the Groundwork staff comes at a crucial time as awareness around quality early childhood education and development is rapidly growing across the state. “We are delighted to welcome Alex to our team," said Shannon Jones, Executive Director, Groundwork Ohio. "Alex will bring a fresh perspective to our work as we engage and mobilize diverse stakeholders behind policies that improve outcomes for young children and lay a strong foundation for economic prosperity in Ohio.” ### Groundwork Ohio is a committed, nonpartisan public-policy research and advocacy organization formed in 2004 that champions high-quality early learning and healthy development strategies from the prenatal period to age five, that lay a strong foundation for Ohio kids, families and communities. To learn more about Groundwork Ohio visit www.GroundworkOhio.org and follow us on Twitter @GroundworkOhio and Facebook, www.facebook.com/GroundworkOhio .

This week we released a new report titled Advancing Early Childhood Mental Health through Evidence-Based Home Visiting where we explore how evidenced-based home visiting can support and encourage healthy development for our littlest learners. In the first five years of a child’s life, more than one million neural connections are forming every second! These neural connections, the brain’s architecture, are formed through the interaction of baby and his or her environment through early enriching experiences. If a child is not provided with positive enriching experiences and environments, it can have a negative effect on their brain development and can follow them throughout the remainder of their lives. The report dives into how the state can promote positive experiences and early childhood mental health (ECMH) for children through evidence-based home visiting during a child's first few years. The state also needs to continue to explore how evidence-based home visiting aligns with a comprehensive early childhood system including child care, early intervention, preschool and the child welfare system. In addition to the report, Groundwork added a new page on our website dedicated to ECMH resources to include easily accessible reports, recorded webinars, and other resources relevant to ECMH. Visit Our New Page . It's Not Too Late to Apply for Groundwork's Early Childhood Leadership Fellowship! Beginning in 2020, early education and health professionals from across the state will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, engage with thought-leaders and policymakers to advance quality early learning and health, and take steps to create state-, local-, and community-level change for young children in Ohio. Fellows will engage in a hybrid curriculum designed to build upon leadership and communications skills, expand knowledge around the landscape of Ohio’s early childhood systems, and empower participants to take on leadership roles in their communities and the early education and health professions across the state. The Fellowship will incorporate in-person sessions, expert presentations, online learning experiences, and small group regional exercises designed to drive change in local communities. By the end of the year, Fellows will have gained the knowledge and tools needed to enhance their capacity to influence healthy development and early learning policies that will improve outcomes for Ohio’s youngest children and their families. Applications must be submitted by 5 PM on December 13, 2019. Apply Now .

Beginning in 2020, early education and health professionals from across the state will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, engage with thought-leaders and policymakers to advance quality early learning and health, and take steps to create state-, local-, and community-level change for young children in Ohio. Fellows will engage in a hybrid curriculum designed to build upon leadership and communications skills, expand knowledge around the landscape of Ohio’s early childhood systems, and empower participants to take on leadership roles in their communities and the early education and health professions across the state. The Fellowship will incorporate in-person sessions, expert presentations, online learning experiences, and small group regional exercises designed to drive change in local communities. By the end of the year, Fellows will have gained the knowledge and tools needed to enhance their capacity to influence healthy development and early learning policies that will improve outcomes for Ohio’s youngest children and their families. Applications must be submitted by 5 PM on December 13, 2019. Apply Now. Breaking Down Silos​ Last Friday, Groundwork Executive Director Shannon Jones was a featured speaker during the Putting People First: Solving the Social Determinants of Health as Partners community conversation at Sinclair Conference Center in Dayton, which brought together managed care plans, healthcare leaders, advocates, and community stakeholders. During the event, Shannon emphasized the importance of prioritizing upstream policies and how to be successful in moving the community forward. As a critical first step in this work, Shannon encouraged attendees to break down silos between programs and systems and to form partnerships with one another by exploring new and innovative ways to mitigate the various social determinants of health present in their community. Groundwork Signs on to Support More Funding for Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV)​ In October, Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL-7) introduced H.R.4768 - Home Visiting to Reduce Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Act. The bill aims to provide more mothers with access to home visiting in an effort to prevent maternal mortality and reduce maternal morbidity rates. If enacted in its current form, the legislation would double federal funding that is currently provided to MIECHV. Over 400 organizations, to include Groundwork and other Ohio stakeholders, signed onto a letter to express support for H.R. 4768 and delivered the letter to Congressman Davis last week. Read the Letter . The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Council on Foster Care, Kinship Care, and Adoption released a resource for early educators and providers to utilize when caring for children that have been adopted or have been in the foster care system. The report, Safe and Sound: Responding to the Experiences of Children Adopted or in Foster Care, explains that many children develop trauma from toxic stress during or before entering adoption or foster care. Unfortunately, for many children, the trauma may present itself in the classroom through negative behavior. Within the report, educators and providers are presented with a step-by-step guide to addressing this type of trauma within their classrooms. Read the Report .

Columbus, Ohio : Yesterday, Groundwork Ohio announced the launch of the Early Childhood Leadership Fellowship. The Fellowship was created to empower and uplift the voices of early education and health professionals to support investments and policies that improve outcomes for young children and families in Ohio. Beginning in 2020, Fellows from across the state will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, engage with thought-leaders and policymakers to advance quality early learning and health, and take steps to create state-, local-, and community-level change for young children in Ohio. Fellows will engage in a hybrid curriculum designed to build upon leadership and communications skills, expand knowledge around the landscape of Ohio’s early childhood systems, and empower participants to take on leadership roles in their communities and the early education and health professions across the state. After completion of the program, leaders will continue to foster relationships within their communities and with fellow alumni through Fellowship’s alumni network and ongoing programming with Groundwork. “Over the past several years we have engaged with early educators and early childhood healthcare providers across the state and have heard a consistent message: ‘We want to advocate for the children and families we serve, but we don’t know how,’” said Shannon Jones, Executive Director of Groundwork Ohio. “We are excited to help elevate the voices of these hardworking, passionate professionals who work with Ohio’s youngest and most vulnerable children every day and to further advance our efforts to improve outcomes for children, families, communities, and our state.” Groundwork is accepting applications through Friday, December 13th from early childhood professionals to include home- and center-based providers, home visitors, early childhood mental health providers, preschool educators, higher education professionals educating future early educators, and other early childhood professionals. To learn more about the program or to apply, please visit: www.groundworkohio.org/fellowship . Groundwork Ohio is a committed, nonpartisan public-policy research and advocacy organization formed in 2004 that champions high-quality early learning and healthy development strategies from the prenatal period to age five, that lay a strong foundation for Ohio kids, families and communities. To learn more about Groundwork Ohio visit www.GroundworkOhio.org and follow us on Twitter @GroundworkOhio and Facebook, www.facebook.com/GroundworkOhio . ###

Beginning in 2020, early education and health professionals from across the state will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, engage with thought-leaders and policymakers to advance quality early learning and health, and take steps to create state-, local-, and community-level change for young children in Ohio. Fellows will engage in a hybrid curriculum designed to build upon leadership and communications skills, expand knowledge around the landscape of Ohio’s early childhood systems, and empower participants to take on leadership roles in their communities and the early education and health professions across the state. The Fellowship will incorporate in-person sessions, expert presentations, online learning experiences, and small group regional exercises designed to drive change in local communities. By the end of the year, Fellows will have gained the knowledge and tools needed to enhance their capacity to influence healthy development and early learning policies that will improve outcomes for Ohio’s youngest children and their families. Applications must be submitted by 5 PM on December 13, 2019. Apply Now. Early Childhood Leadership Fellowship Program Details Applicant Qualifications Groundwork is currently seeking applications for the first Early Childhood Leadership Fellowship cohort from passionate early education and health professionals to include home-, school-, and center-based early educators, home visitors, early childhood mental health providers, higher education professionals in the early learning and health fields, and other early learning and health professionals. Not sure if you’re qualified? Email Us ! Time Commitment and Expectations The program will consist of four, mandatory in-person sessions in Columbus from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm on the following dates: Saturday, February 8, 2020 Wednesday, May 13, 2020 Saturday, August 8, 2020 Saturday, November 14, 2020 In addition to the sessions listed above, Fellows will be required to: Participate in a minimum of three (3) webinars. Mandatory webinars will be hosted during weekday evening hours. Fellows will have access to recorded versions of any webinars they are unable to attend live. Attend a meeting with their state legislator(s) in Columbus during the May 13th session; Host a site visit at their place of employment with their state legislator(s); and, Create an actionable plan with other Fellows in their region. Questions about the time commitment and expectations? Email Us ! Program Costs The total program tuition fee for selected Fellows is $1,500. Groundwork Ohio is working to secure funds to offer scholarships for Fellows that request financial assistance. We encourage ALL interested early education and health professionals to apply for this program. Applicants will have the opportunity to indicate whether they will need financial assistance for the program on the application. This will not impact the selection process. Questions about program tuition or other anticipated barriers to participation? Email Us ! Application Process To be considered for the program, simply fill out our application form—where you will need to complete all mandatory fields including applicant information, one essay question, and a completed Employee and Employer Statement of Commitment. All completed Statement of Commitment forms will need to be uploaded in the application form. If you are unable to provide a PDF version of the form, a high-quality picture will suffice. To download a Statement of Commitment form, please choose one of the following options: If you are not self-employed, please complete the Employee and Employer Statement of Commitment form . Both you and your employer must sign this form. If you are self-employed, please complete the Self-Employed Statement of Commitment form . Questions about the application process? Email Us !

Groundwork spent the past year traveling the state and listening to members of the early education workforce share their experience working with young children and their families. The overwhelming response was that early educators want to provide children and families the support they need to succeed, but often experience serious challenges in the field. But don't just take our word for it, watch the video we created for you to hear first-hand from these early educators! We know early educators are some of the best advocates for children and families. Educators interact with Ohio's young children day in and day out and understand the support their families need. Groundwork recognizes the important role these educators have in their communities and has developed a new program that will help bolster and uplift the voices of early educators around the state. Stay tuned early next week for a special announcement on this exciting new program for early educators!​ Watch the Video Now Wrapping Up Our Equity Roadshow in Cincinnati This week, the Groundwork team traveled to Cincinnati to attend A n Equitable Start for Children: The Power of Our Collective Work hosted by the United Way of Greater Cincinnati. The event brought together a diverse group of community partners from Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana to discuss how the region is working towards ensuring that every child gets a stronger start by providing access to high-quality early learning experiences. At the event, Groundwork Policy Director Lynanne Gutierrez participated on a panel with community leaders where the conversation was primarily focused on how equity should always be at the center of conversations when discussing child care. Thank you to the United Way of Greater Cincinnati for helping to elevate this important work! Let's make young children a top priority for the presidential candidates... As you may know, the 5th Democratic primary debate is next week on Wednesday, November 20th from 9 to 11 p.m. in Atlanta. Similar to the 4th debate, the moderators are asking viewers to submit questions they have for the candidates. So far in the primary, moderators have not asked a single question on issues facing young children. This is a chance for you to bring childhood issues to the forefront of the presidential election! Submit Your Question . Groundwork Releases Addendum to ODM's Request for Information The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) has been seeking feedback from stakeholders and individuals about their experience with managed care and ideas for improvement as they conduct managed care procurement. Previously, Groundwork submitted a response to ODM's Request for Information . As a follow-up to Groundwork's initial response to the Request for Information, we submitted an addendum to ODM to provide a framework for how Ohio’s managed care procurement and potential managed care changes could be leveraged to advance a quality agenda for Ohio’s youngest children. Read and share our comments to learn about how we can leverage Medicaid to advance healthy early childhood development. Read the Addendum . The National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) and BCDI-Cleveland want your feedback! Based on the feedback collected from engagement through stakeholder calls with community leaders in Ohio, NBCDI has developed policy recommendations that have been identified as the most significant for Black children and families. With your input, the State of the Black Child Report Card for Ohio will be used as an advocacy tool with policy recommendations designed to advance racial equity and support data points highlighting disparities in outcomes for Black children.This survey should take approximately 5-7 minutes to complete. If you have any questions, please email policy@nbcdi.org or visit www.nbcdi.org . Take Survey .

Access the full video. As we shared last week, the census plays a critical role in determining the allocation of billions of federal dollars that promote healthy growth and development during early childhood. Unfortunately, the undercounting of children under the age of five has been a pervasive issue in decennial censuses. In 2020, it is predicted that young children are at high risk of being undercounted yet again. This week the U.S. Census Bureau released a public service announcement (PSA) toolkit for partners and stakeholders to utilize when encouraging individuals and families to participate in the 2020 Census. The toolkit includes free guidelines, fact sheets, scripts, radio segments, and videos to share in 13 different languages. Access the toolkit here for resources to share with colleagues and families. If you haven't already, we also encourage you to reach out to members of Ohio's Complete Count Commission to share your concerns about the undercount of young children in Ohio. Don't know what to say? Use our template letter ! Ohio Policymakers Focused on the Impact of Lead on Young Children This week, the Ohio Children's Caucus hosted a panel discussion for legislators on the impact of lead on children's development and the ways in which the state can invest in efforts to improve lead screenings and abatement of properties where children are living and learning. Panelists included Gabriella Celeste (Ohio Lead-Free Kids Coalition), Ron Rees (Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development), and Gina Wilt (COHHIO). Governor Mike DeWine also hosted a roundtable discussion with Columbus Public Health Commissioner Mysheika Roberts on lead poisoning and ways communities can work to prevent children's exposure to lead. Among work highlighted in Columbus was community efforts to increase lead screenings in early learning facilities. Read more . Spots are filling up for the SCAN Advocacy Training in Columbus Have you noticed that only a few presidential candidates are talking about issues that affect children? As the competition heats up, so should the conversation about kids. Together we can make it clear that voters expect candidates, no matter their party, to support bold policies for children. Because, let’s face it: kids can’t vote and they need us to give them a voice on the campaign trail. So, how can we do that? Let’s learn how to be the most effective advocates we can be! You’re invited to a special advocacy training in Columbus on Tuesday, November 12 with Save the Children Action Network. The training will include: An overview of what Save the Children Action Network is up to in Ohio Skills to engage elected leaders State and federal policy updates from Groundwork Ohio Networking and dinner with others who are passionate about helping kids in Ohio and around the world Date: Tuesday, November 12 Time: 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. (dinner provided) Where: The Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association Address: 2760 Airport Drive, Suite 160, Columbus, OH 43219Spots are filling up for the SCAN Advocacy Training in Columbus We've Moved to a New Office! At the beginning of this week Groundwork moved to a new office in the Clintonville neighborhood of Columbus! We are excited to be in a new space that is more conducive to our collaborative work environment and growing staff. We hope you'll come visit us soon! Our new address: 4041 N. High St., Suite 204 Columbus, OH 43214 Note: For funding/financial purposes our fiscal sponsor's address is still the same.

NAEYC, in collaboration with The Education Trust, released a new report, Increasing Qualifications, Centering Equity: Experiences and Advice from Early Childhood Educators of Color, which explores the responses, reactions, and recommendations from 50 early childhood educators of color, located in New Jersey, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, around the structures, supports, and funding needed to support early childhood educators in attaining a high-quality degree, without deepening existing divisions along racial, geographic, socioeconomic, and linguistic lines. Access the report here. Child Care Aware’s Annual Report is out: The U.S. and the High Price of Child Care: An Examination of a Broken System! The report highlights the unaffordability of child care as a societal concern, not just a parental or family issue. As laid out in this report, we view child care as an ecosystem with interrelated elements, each contributing to the prices parents pay and the prices facilities charge to run a child care program. Each section of the report discusses an element of this ecosystem, how it struggles and how it can help build a better child care system in the US. Access the report . On Monday, CAP released the report “Investing in Infant and Toddler Child Care to Strengthen Working Families.” This report highlights new data on the child care system and how it impacts families differently depending on their race, gender, ethnicity and economic status. The report explains how the best child care policies actually promote equity and would lead to greater economic stability and security. Access the report . Making Sure Ohio Kids Count in the 2020 Census The census plays a critical role in determining the allocation of billions of federal dollars that promote healthy growth and development during early childhood, including $795 million at stake in the Child Care Development Fund, Head Start and Early Head Start, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. The magnitude of resources at stake is increased dramatically as we consider the long-term impact of census counts on state funding over the coming decade. Unfortunately, the undercounting of children under the age of five has been a pervasive issue in decennial censuses. An estimated 1 million young children were undercounted nationally as a result of the census conducted in 2010. In 2020, it is predicted that communities with large, young child populations are at high risk of being undercounted yet again. To make matters worse, children in low-income households, children of color and Appalachian children stand to be disproportionately undercounted, while also having the most to lose as vital programs face census-related reductions in funding. Governor DeWine’s Ohio Census 2020 Complete Count Commission includes statewide leaders who will be working to identify strategies and networks within local communities to help ensure that everyone is counted. The commission is tasked to complete a report and develop a list of recommendations to the Office of the Governor on how Ohio can ensure the most accurate and complete count for the upcoming 2020 Census. Upon completion of their report, the commission will also provide their recommendations to the state legislature. If you haven't already, we encourage you to reach out to members of the Commission from your community to share your concerns about the undercount of young children in Ohio. Don't know what to say? Use our template letter !

The census plays a critical role in determining the allocation of billions of federal dollars that promote healthy growth and development during early childhood, including $795 million at stake in the Child Care Development Fund, Head Start and Early Head Start, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. The magnitude of resources at stake is increased dramatically as we consider the long-term impact of census counts on state funding over the coming decade. Unfortunately, the undercounting of children under the age of five has been a pervasive issue in decennial censuses. An estimated 1 million young children were undercounted nationally as a result of the census conducted in 2010. In 2020, it is predicted that communities with large, young child populations are at high risk of being undercounted yet again. To make matters worse, children in low-income households, children of color and Appalachian children stand to be disproportionately undercounted, while also having the most to lose as vital programs face census-related reductions in funding. Governor DeWine’s Ohio Census 2020 Complete Count Commission includes statewide leaders who will be working to identify strategies and networks within local communities to help ensure that everyone is counted. The commission is tasked to complete a report and develop a list of recommendations to the Office of the Governor on how Ohio can ensure the most accurate and complete count for the upcoming 2020 Census. Upon completion of their report, the commission will also provide their recommendations to the state legislature. If you haven't already, we encourage you to reach out to members of the Commission from your community to share your concerns about the undercount of young children in Ohio. Don't know what to say? Use our template letter! This week, the Groundwork team joined more than 200 state, national, and investor allies to share, learn, and connect at the Alliance for Early Success 2019 Partner Summit. The staff heard from speakers like Dr. Eldar Shafir and Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, engaged in meaningful discussions with advocates from across the nation, and left with new knowledge and connections to help us work toward ensuring all Ohio kids have an equal chance to learn, grow, and succeed. Join the Groundwork Team... We're Hiring! Interested in joining our awesome team? Groundwork is seeking a full-time Policy Associate to support our statewide effort to ensure that every child has the best chance for lifelong success. Check out the full job description here . Please submit a resume and cover letter for consideration to lwolf@groundworkohio.org. Additional writing sample and professional references may be requested after an initial review of the application. All applicants will get written notification via email of whether or not they will be invited to an interview. Upcoming Event: An Equitable Start for Children The United Way of Greater Cincinnati knows that although most children are given the same starting point in life, ultimately their lived experiences determine their opportunity to succeed. United Way Success By 6®, with partners like you, helps to bridge the gap to ensure that every child gets a stronger start to a successful future. Join United Way on November 12 at Xavier University to: Broaden your understanding of how inequities show up in early childhood with a panel featuring local and state (OH & KY) experts Learn more about the future direction of United Way Success By 6® and how our work must change together to ensure an equitable start for children Make connections and be inspired by the collective power of your partnership with United Way Success By 6® Breakfast and free parking provided. Questions? Contact Carol.Hilliard@uwgc.org. The Groundwork staff hopes to see you there! Register Now The Administration for Children and Families Wants YOUR Input This week, the Administration for Children and Families posted a request for information on improving access to affordable, high-quality child care in the US. We encourage you to share your experience, expertise, and knowledge of the challenges in your communities to help inform future action by ACF and work toward improving our child care system for Ohio's children and families. Improving Access to Affordable, High-Quality Child Care As part of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) commitment to supporting working families and promoting the healthy development and well-being of children, ACF is seeking input from the public and interested stakeholders on strategies to improve access to high quality, affordable child care in the U.S. Child care is one of the biggest expenses a family faces and can be a barrier to work. The average cost of center-based infant child care in 28 states is more than college tuition. At the same time, child care settings are a place of learning and education for children from the time they are infants and toddlers through their school-age years. Access to high-quality learning opportunities lays the foundation for children’s development and, ultimately, their success in school and in life. Unfortunately, many families do not have access to the affordable, high-quality child care their children need. This Request for Information seeks public comment on: Identifying emerging and innovative practices to improve access to high-quality child care Identifying regulatory and other policies that unnecessarily drive up the cost of care or limit parents’ choice of different child care options Identifying ways to improve funding of child care and other related early education programs to support quality and create a more streamlined, equitable, and sustainable financing framework for future generations. Information collected through this request may be used by ACF in the development of future rulemaking and technical assistance, formation of legislative proposals and research agendas, and/or strategic planning. Comments can be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal here by December 2, 2019. Two Weeks Left to Apply for the Groundwork Advisory Committee Groundwork Ohio is seeking applications for our 2020-2021 Advisory Committee. Members of the Advisory Committee are trusted to provide insights on the needs of young children and families in Ohio and advance Groundwork’s mission to champion high-quality early learning and healthy development strategies. We are committed to ensuring committee membership reflects the diversity of race, geography, gender, age, experience, expertise, and more that exists within Ohio’s child-serving systems. Members of the Groundwork Ohio Advisory Committee: Provide valuable field input and expertise to help inform Groundwork’s understanding of policy implications Serve as a resource for Groundwork research projects and advocacy efforts based on field and systems experience in the early childhood sector Support Groundwork by promoting engagement opportunities, attending events, and facilitating connections with other child advocates Participate in quarterly in-person meetings Contribute organizational time and resources to Groundwork and support efforts to advance our mission. We hope you will consider applying to serve on the Advisory Committee and share your valuable insights with our team! Applications are due by November 1, 2019. Apply now.

Columbus, Ohio : Today, Groundwork Ohio announced the appointment of Executive Director Shannon Jones to the Ohio Commission on Infant Mortality by Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina). The Commission was created in 2014 with the goal of improving Ohio’s infant mortality rate and ensuring more babies reach their first birthday. “I am grateful for the senate’s confidence in my experience in this space and my commitment to reducing infant mortality in our state,” said Jones. “Throughout my career, this issue has been incredibly important to me and I am appreciative of this opportunity to continue dedicating my time and energy toward addressing it. I look forward to working with co-chairs Senator Stephanie Kunze and Representative Sara Carruthers and other members of the Commission to advance strategies that support the healthy birth, growth, and development of Ohio’s infants.” During her time serving in the General Assembly, Shannon’s most significant legislative effort led to a statewide bipartisan mandate to improve Ohio’s abysmal infant mortality epidemic. This work catapulted the crisis into the public consciousness and, along with several statewide policy changes and awareness efforts, established the Commission on Infant Mortality. Shannon served as co-chairwoman on the first Commission, which culminated in a comprehensive law implementing the Commission’s substantive recommendations around evidence-based practices and the social determinants of health. Groundwork Ohio is a committed, nonpartisan public-policy research and advocacy organization formed in 2004 that advances quality early learning and healthy development as the most transformative strategy to increase the life-long success of Ohio’s children and lay a strong foundation for economic prosperity in Ohio. To learn more about Groundwork Ohio visit www.GroundworkOhio.org and follow us on Twitter @GroundworkOhio and Facebook, www.facebook.com/GroundworkOhio . ###