Search Results

Governor DeWine's 2022 State of the State Address: Affirming a Commitment to Ohio’s Youngest Children COLUMBUS, OH – Today, Governor Mike DeWine issued his 2022 State of the State Address, affirming that, “We have a moral obligation to make sure that every child has the chance to live up to their God-given potential.” Groundwork Ohio applauds Governor DeWine’s continued commitment to Ohio’s youngest children to support their healthy development, ensure they thrive, and that they are set up for long-term success. From the beginning of his administration, Governor DeWine has elevated Ohio’s infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children as a priority. The Governor and his administration are: Doubling Ohio’s investment in voluntary home visiting programs; Increasing eligibility levels and access to quality child care to empower Ohio’s families to take on full-time work; Making important investments in services to ensure fewer Ohio babies are born exposed to opiates; Working to remove toxic lead paint from homes so that children do not grow up with life-long brain damage; and Ensuring that more at-risk, pregnant moms will have a roof over their heads, because inadequate housing is a huge risk factor for infant and maternal mortality. The Governor has also made strong commitments to increasing Ohio’s focus on mental health, through strengthening the behavioral health workforce, expanding research and innovation, and increasing community capacity to offer better crisis response services and treatment and increased prevention efforts. “The vital truth is that it’s never too early to invest in our youngest children—but it can be too late. On the heels of an unprecedented pandemic that has had far-reaching, negative impacts on the health and well-being of Ohio’s youngest children and their families, it is more critical now than ever to lay a strong foundation for early childhood mental health,” said Shannon Jones, Groundwork Ohio’s President & CEO. “We look forward to working with Governor DeWine and his administration to ensure that our youngest and most vulnerable children don’t fall through the cracks.” # # # 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. Learn more about Groundwork Ohio at www.groundworkohio.org and connect with us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and YouTube .

By: Reem Aly, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer at Groundwork Ohio Follow Reem on Twitter and LinkedIn At Groundwork Ohio, our vision is to make Ohio the best place to be a young child so that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. This vision comes from an underlying understanding that the first few years of life can lay the groundwork for a child’s ability to thrive. When I think about this at its most basic and fundamental level, as both a professional and as a mother, it means we want our youngest children to be healthy and ready to learn . Not only does this set up our children for success later in life, but it puts Ohio on the path to become a healthier, more productive, and economically vibrant state. I know that Groundwork’s vision is shared by many of our partners, from Ohio's state policymakers and agencies, county commissioners, healthcare providers, early childhood educators to our families with young children. However, far too often, babies, toddlers and preschool age children are not top of mind. This is true when it comes to where we invest and it’s true when it comes to how we report data. Laying the groundwork for and prioritizing Ohio’s youngest children begins with data. I say this not as a data wonk (a title I’ll gladly own), but because it’s the avenue for tracking and measuring progress towards our shared vision. Data can serve as a starting place for dialogue, a call to action, and a way to shine light on our state’s strengths, challenges, and opportunities to improve. There is power in data and that power can and should be used to elevate the needs of our youngest children and hold us accountable to meeting their needs. In Ohio, there is no singular dashboard or scorecard that provides us with comprehensive and disaggregated data on young children and their families (prenatal to five). How can we ask our policymakers and leaders to make informed and equitable policy decisions and investments without solid data? For this reason, we are developing a first-of-its kind, comprehensive Early Childhood Dashboard to be released in 2023. Groundwork’s Early Childhood Dashboard will build on other national dashboards, such as Annie E. Casey Kids Count Data Center and the State of Babies Yearbook , but with a specific lens and focus on Ohio children ages 0-5 and their families, and providing data broken out by race and ethnicity, income level, and other factors. Moreover, as seen in the framework, the Dashboard will fully examine the factors and outcomes required to achieve equity and build a strong foundation for Ohio’s children. "Data can serve as a starting place for dialogue, a call to action, and a way to shine light on our state’s strengths, challenges, and opportunities to improve." -Reem Aly, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer at Groundwork Ohio Over the next year, we will be gathering feedback on the Early Childhood Dashboard Preview to inform development of the 2023 Dashboard . We will be meeting with families, community organizations, educators, providers, and other local, state, and national early childhood experts to brainstorm on what to include in the Dashboard and how to communicate the data. We are undertaking quite a journey at Groundwork — a journey I’m really excited to take part in and one that we hope will evoke meaningful and positive change for our youngest Ohioans. To explore Groundwork Ohio's Early Childhood Dashboard Preview and provide feedback, click here .

You're Invited: Join Ohio Families at Groundwork's Family Celebration! At Groundwork Ohio, we believe families, parents, and caregivers with young children deserve to be respected, valued, heard… and celebrated! Join Ohio families, early childhood professionals, advocates, community leaders, and policymakers outside the Ohio Statehouse on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 12:30PM EST for Groundwork Ohio’s Family Celebration —a kid-friendly celebration of families with infants, toddlers, and preschool age children. At our Family Celebration you’ll join hundreds of Ohioans from across the state to show your support for families with young children. You'll also cheer on members of our Family Action Network, who are coming to the Ohio Statehouse to share their stories with state legislators! Learn More & RSVP >> We're Hiring: Director of the Center for Family Voice at Groundwork Ohio Groundwork Ohio is seeking applicants to join our growing team as the Director of the Center for Family Voice! The Center for Family Voice at Groundwork Ohio is dedicated to authentically engaging Ohio parents and families with young children in the policies and practices that impact the healthy development of their children. The Director of the Center for Family Voice will oversee Center activities and drive the Center’s work to elevate the voices of families with young children in early childhood policy and advocacy to achieve programmatic, policy, and practice changes at local, regional, and state levels. Prospective applicants ready to collaborate with an awesome and highly effective team of professionals are encouraged to apply by Monday, April 4, 2022. Check out the job description for more information on this exciting new role and how to apply! View the Job Description >> Franklin County Leaders Announce Historic Investment in Child Care On Thursday, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners announced a historic new $22 million investment in quality child care , called Franklin County RISE . In partnership with Action for Children, the Commissioners are allocating funds from the federal American Rescue Plan to help families and child care providers by increasing access to affordable care, offering support to child care providers, and ensuring every child has access to quality early learning opportunities. Groundwork Ohio applauds the Franklin County Board of Commissioners for making this major investment in quality child care and our youngest children. Learn More >> Groundwork is also proud to partner with the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO) to support the CCAO/NACoRF PN-3 Learning Community. The Learning Community convenes county commissioners throughout Ohio – including Franklin County Commissioner Erica C. Crawley – to learn more about and lean into issues that affect infants and toddlers, including access to quality child care. We look forward to continuing to work with county commissioners across the state to support the healthy development of Ohio's youngest children! New Blog: The Power of Data in Laying the Groundwork for Ohio's Children This week, following the release of Groundwork's Early Childhood Dashboard Preview , we published the first in a blog series that will further explore the data and key takeaways of our Dashboard Preview . In the blog, Reem Aly, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer at Groundwork Ohio, shares why data is a crucial element in elevating the needs of Ohio's youngest children and holding policymakers and other leaders accountable to meeting their needs. Read the Blog >> Over the next year, Groundwork Ohio is gathering feedback on our Dashboard Preview to inform the development of our comprehensive, first-of-its-kind 2023 Dashboard . As part of this process, Groundwork is engaging early childhood experts, families, community organizations, providers, and other early childhood stakeholders like you. We want to hear from you! Groundwork Ohio invites you to explore our Early Childhood Dashboard Preview and share your feedback . Explore the Dashboard Preview >> Farewell and Congratulations to Groundwork Ohio's Melissa Bacon! This week we're saying farewell to Melissa Bacon, Groundwork Ohio's Policy & Advocacy Director. While we are sad to see Melissa go, we congratulate her on her new role at the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services! If you'd like to stay connected with Melissa, you can contact her on LinkedIn . If you have a Groundwork Ohio request and aren't sure whom to contact, you can email our team at info@groundworkohio.org . Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn >> Small Business Owners Support Increasing Access to Quality Child Care Child care has been a persistent challenge for small businesses, affecting both child care providers and small businesses in other sectors whose employees rely on child care to participate in the workforce. As a new report from the Bipartisan Policy Center and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices shows, small business owners are acutely aware that their employees need access to affordable, quality child care to be able to do their jobs—and they’d like to help them. According to a national survey of small business owners conducted by 10,000 Small Businesses Voices, more than half of small business owners said they or their employees faced child care challenges during the pandemic. The vast majority of small businesses owners surveyed—80%—said they support Congress taking action to increase access to affordable child care. Learn More >> Trauma in infancy can have a lingering effect throughout life Opinion: We say we love kids and families. Our policies prove the opposite. As America returns to work, child care remains a serious obstacle Opinion: We can longer afford to neglect child care providers and our littlest learners Ohio Study Makes Case for Online WIC Program Want to increase your impact?  Share this message with family, friends, and colleagues now!

Each month, Groundwork Ohio reads the latest and greatest resources on early education and health from a wide variety of sources. Below is a compilation of the most important articles we have read throughout March 2022. OH IO NEWS The Cincinnati Enquirer Pandemic isolation harmed kids' social skills. How one Cincinnati provider is helping Opinion: Investment in child care key to economic growth Cleveland Scene Ohio Study Makes Case for Online WIC Program The Columbus Dispatch Opinion: 'Reprehensible practice' sees foster children with disabilities displaced over money Franklin County investing $23 million to help families struggling to pay for child care Groundwork Ohio Love, Blessed, Resilient: Getting to Know Ohio Families with Young Children Groundwork Ohio Releases Preview of a First-of-Its-Kind Early Childhood Dashboard Ohioans Testify on the Importance of Quality in Child Care Settings Laying the Groundwork: The Power of Data Gov. DeWine's 2022 State of the State Address: Affirming a Commitment to Ohio’s Youngest Children The Lima News $650 to support child care centers in Ohio NBC 4 Franklin County investing $23 million in childcare initiative News 5 Cleveland Gov. DeWine announces $650 million for child care providers WDTN Miami Valley child care centers grateful for additional funding NATIONAL NEWS The 19th A historic child care investment saved centers from collapse. What happens when the money runs out? American Heart Association $20 million committed for research focused on health equity in maternal, infant CVD health Bloomberg Biden’s State of the Union Didn’t Capture the Expensive Reality of Child Care CBS News Child care costs keeping many women from returning to work CNN Child care worker shortage strands half a million families Fast Company This is how we fix the broken childcare system Forbes Early Learning Is Key To Global Competitiveness; We Must Invest Now Why The Lego Foundation Wants To Improve Early Education Worldwide Fortune America’s childcare crisis has real consequences for employers Congress is increasing childcare funding by nearly $585 million—but it won’t fix the ‘sweeping, systemic problems’ Parents who quit their jobs because they can’t find adequate child care face a 7% wage penalty Employers are improving their child care benefits, but it’s not nearly enough to stop the ongoing crisis The Hechinger Report Evictions, high rents and strict rules plague in-home child care Opinion: We can longer afford to neglect child care providers and our littlest learners The Hill Opinion: For a full recovery, the US must address its child care crisis NPR What the U.S. labor shortage means for child care in the U.S. Politico As Americans return to work, child care remains a serious obstacle USA Today Child care workers are going hungry: 'We have a dollar store in town and sadly fill up on cheap junk to survive' Vox Why the US doesn’t have universal child care (anymore) Maternity wards are shuttering across the US during the pandemic The Wall Street Journal Nearly Half a Million Families Are Hurt by the Child-Care Labor Shortage The Washington Post Opinion: We say we love kids and families. Our policies prove the opposite. Trauma in infancy can have a lingering effect throughout life Yahoo! News Inflation Is Of Particular Concern When It Comes To Child Care #ECE #WhatWeRead #March2022 #InTheNews

The Vote for Ohio Kids Leadership Forum is less than two weeks awayand we are counting down the days until 700 of Ohio's most passionate child advocates come together with one common goal: ensuring Ohio's next governor makes early education and healthcare a top priority. In addition to hearing Mr. Richard Cordray's and Attorney General Mike DeWine's plans for investing in kids, we'll hear from Maxine Clark, founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop, business leaders from across the state, and representatives from Ohio's elite children's hospitals--all dedicated to improving education and health outcomes for our youngest, most at-risk kids. Interested in elevating these issues? Check out our Vote for Ohio Kids media toolkit. Want to learn more about the event? Visit the Leadership Forum website. Yesterday, Groundwork Ohio Executive Director Shannon Jones continued her longtime work combating Ohio's high rates of infant mortality by presenting findings from our Ohio Early Childhood Race and Rural Equity Report to the Ohio Commission on Infant Mortality . Based on findings from the Health Policy Institute of Ohio's report on the Social Determinants of Infant Mortality and our work promoting race and rural equity in access to quality early childhood education, she encouraged the Commission to pursue new approaches in order to give Ohio's most vulnerable kids the best start possible. Thank you to the Commission Co-Chairs Senator Stephanie Kunze and Representative Sarah LaTourette for inviting us to share our work! Are you registered to vote on November 6th? Ohio voters must register 30 days prior to the election-- click to learn more about registering or updating your registration ! And remember to #Vote4OhioKids! Caring for Young Victims of the Opioid Crisis in Ohio Transitions and Alignment From Preschool to Kindergarten As 4-year-old preschool programs become the norm, Denver looks to reach 3-year-olds next Affordable Child Care and Early Learning for All Families: A National Public Opinion Study Pre-to-3: Film shows early-childhood as a 'grown-up issue' Columbus Foundation launches 'critical need' campaign focusing on at-risk children September 20-- Columbus No Small Matter Documentary Screening ( More info ) September 26--Health Policy Institute of Ohio's Webinar for Connections between education and health series ( Click to Register ) September 27--Vote for Ohio Kids Leadership Forum ( Click to Join Waiting List ) October 18--Dayton No Small Matter Documentary Screenings ( More info ) October--Voices for Ohio's Children 2018 Regional Forums ( Click to Register )

We are excited to announce that Groundwork Ohio's Policy Director & Legal Counsel Lynanne Gutierrez welcomed her baby boy to the world on August 27, 2018! Gabriel John is happy, healthy, and excited to be an honorary member of the Groundwork team! Thanks to everyone who has shared their excitement and well-wishes over the past couple of weeks. We look forward to watching little Gabe grow and thrive! Are you ready to... Are you registered to vote on November 6th? Ohio voters must register 30 days prior to the election-- click to learn more about registering or updating your registration ! And remember to #Vote4OhioKids! Share Your Feedback Ohio Early Childhood Race and Rural Equity Report We want to hear YOUR feedback! What was your reaction to the Ohio Early Childhood Race and Rural Equity Report? Did certain metrics resonate with you? How are you using this report to engage your local community? Send us your feedback at www.groundworkohio.org/equityfeedback Columbus finds cash for 1,000 pre-kindergarten slots How To Prevent And Treat Childhood Trauma​ StartStrong: Transforming the System of Care to Reduce Infant Mortality How New ESSA Preschool Development Grants Will Help States Build a Foundation of Success for Our Littlest Learners Editorial: Infant mortality continues to climb, must be reversed September 20-- Columbus No Small Matter Documentary Screening ( More info ) September 27--Vote for Ohio Kids Leadership Forum ( Click to Join Waiting List ) October 18--Dayton No Small Matter Documentary Screenings ( More info ) October--Voices for Ohio's Children 2018 Regional Forums ( Click to Register )

You're Invited: Join Ohio Families at Groundwork's Family Celebration! Ohio families, parents, and caregivers with infants and young children deserve to be respected, valued, heard… and celebrated! Join us Wednesday, May 18, 2022 from 12:30PM ET to 2:00PM ET outside the Ohio Statehouse for Groundwork Ohio’s Family Celebration , a kid-friendly celebration of families with infants, toddlers, and young children. At the Family Celebration, you’ll join hundreds of Ohioans from across the state to show your support for parents, families, and caregivers to Ohio’s youngest children. You’ll also cheer on members of Groundwork Ohio’s Family Action Network, who will be at the Statehouse the morning of May 18th to share their stories with state legislators! Learn More & RSVP >> We need your help to spread the word! We want a huge showing of support for parents, families, and caregivers of Ohio’s youngest children. We ask that you: RSVP to and attend the Family Celebration Personally invite 5 of your friends, community members, and partners to RSVP to the Family Celebration Promote the Family Celebration on social media and to your networks by using our promotional toolkit Upcoming Deadline: Apply to be Our Director of the Center for Family Voice Groundwork Ohio is seeking applicants to join our team as the Director of the Center for Family Voice! The deadline to apply is Monday, April 4th. The Center for Family Voice at Groundwork Ohio is dedicated to authentically engaging Ohio parents and families with young children in the policies and practices that impact the healthy development of their children. The Director of the Center for Family Voice will oversee Center activities and drive the Center’s work to elevate the voices of families with young children in early childhood policy and advocacy to achieve programmatic, policy, and practice changes at local, regional, and state levels. Check out the job description for more information on this exciting new role and how to apply! View the Job Description >> Quality Child Care: An Investment in Families, Children, and the Economy Solving Ohio’s child care crisis is critical to families and young children. It’s also essential to the success of our small businesses and economy. This week, Groundwork Ohio President & CEO Shannon Jones co-authored an op-ed with Janetta King, Midwest Regional Director of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices, on the important role quality child care plays in supporting Ohio's workforce and small businesses. As Shannon and Janetta write in the Cincinnati Enquirer , small business owners and parents alike know that quality, affordable child care is key to addressing Ohio's workforce challenges. Policymakers at all levels of government must invest in high-quality child care so that Ohio’s families, small businesses and economy can thrive! Read the Op-Ed >> Ohio's Extension of Postpartum Health Coverage Takes Effect TODAY! We're pleased to share some exciting news: Starting today, Medicaid-eligible pregnant women in Ohio now have access to a full year of health care coverage postpartum! Last year, as part of Ohio's biennial state budget, state policymakers and Governor DeWine approved a provision that extends postpartum coverage for Medicaid-eligible pregnant women from 60 days to 12 months. The extended period aligns a mother's health coverage with that of her infant, ensuring both have access to continuous, uninterrupted care. During the state budget process, Groundwork Ohio called on policymakers to extend postpartum coverage for Medicaid-eligible women to 12 months. The extended coverage period will play a crucial role in addressing Ohio's infant and maternal mortality crisis, improving health outcomes for moms and babies. Learn More >> Share Your Feedback on Our Early Childhood Dashboard Preview Ensuring Ohio’s youngest children are healthy and ready to learn requires having data to evaluate progress. That's why Groundwork Ohio is developing a first-of-its kind Early Childhood Dashboard to more fully examine the factors and outcomes required to achieve equity and lay a strong foundation for young children. The Dashboard, which will be released in early 2023, will be a tool to track Ohio’s performance and to catalyze action for our youngest children. Last month, we released our Early Childhood Dashboard Preview outlining Ohio’s performance on 20 key early childhood metrics such as early learning access, kindergarten readiness, poverty, prenatal care, well-child visits, and more. The Dashboard Preview is a precursor to the comprehensive Dashboard we will be releasing next year. We want to hear from you! Groundwork Ohio is gathering feedback on our Dashboard Preview to inform development of the 2023 Dashboard . We invite you to explore our Dashboard Preview and share your reactions and feedback . Explore the Dashboard Preview >> What We're Reading: March 2022 >> Want to increase your impact?  Share this message with family, friends, and colleagues now!

By: Lynanne Gutierrez, Chief Operating & Policy Officer at Groundwork Ohio Follow Lynanne on Twitter and LinkedIn As a working mom with an infant and a toddler, I can assure you that, in addition to my professional role at Groundwork, I think about the child care choice I have made for my two children Every. Single. Day. How can my family and other working families survive without quality child care? These are the questions that most often run through my head: Will my children’s classroom teachers leave…again…disrupting my children’s stability and routine? How are my children’s teachers, who make on average $10.67 an hour, managing and caring for their own families when they are not earning a self-sufficient wage? Will my children have access to professionals who are available and ready to meet their big emotions with love, acceptance, and the expertise to guide them? Will my children be ready to learn in a kindergarten classroom? And, even more recently… is my baby safe from COVID? The stories we have heard from across the state, in addition to the data we track in Groundwork’s Early Childhood Dashboard Preview , are a reminder that no parent is alone in these concerns. And for families living with low incomes, the ability to access quality early learning opportunities is even more difficult. These opportunities include publicly funded child care (PFCC), Head Start, Early Intervention, and publicly funded preschool including special education preschool. In the Dashboard Preview, we estimate more than half of Ohio children under the age of 5 living in families with low incomes (under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level) did not have access to quality early learning opportunities in 2019-2021. Source: Groundwork Ohio's Early Childhood Dashboard Preview All Ohio working parents, regardless of income, struggle to find affordable, quality child care and want the best for their children. The “best” is, at baseline, a program that will ensure the health and safety of our children and prepare them to be ready for school. Step Up to Quality (SUTQ) is the framework by which we ensure and increase access to quality publicly funded child care for families with low incomes in Ohio. SUTQ implements a reasonable progression of data-driven expectations, fosters continuous improvement, and increases a child’s opportunity to succeed in a kindergarten classroom. The Dashboard Preview spotlights that in 2021, 93% of Ohio children in PFCC were enrolled in quality programs. Nearly half were enrolled in high-quality programs. When public policy fails to support working families with low incomes in accessing quality early learning opportunities, it is a mark of failure for our state. Those low-income families are forced with the choice of leaving the workforce or patchworking together low-quality and often unsafe care for their children. Either choice results in outcomes that perpetuate poverty and harm the health and educational attainment of our future workforce – our children and grandchildren. We should not be forced to pit early learning access against quality and we should not burden families with impossible decisions. Ensuring every working family has the choice to access quality early learning opportunities for their children is a wise and successful public investment that supports Ohioans today and secures a strong future for Ohio’s workforce . To explore Groundwork Ohio's Early Childhood Dashboard Preview and provide feedback, click here .

Join Groundwork's Family Celebration at the Ohio Statehouse on May 18th! At Groundwork Ohio, we believe Ohio families, parents, and caregivers with young children deserve to be respected, valued, heard… and celebrated ! That’s why we’re inviting Ohio families, early childhood professionals, advocates, community leaders, and policymakers like YOU to join us Wednesday, May 18, 2022 from 12:30PM ET to 2:00PM ET on the West Lawn of the Ohio Statehouse for Groundwork's Family Celebration , a kid-friendly event celebrating families with infants, toddlers, and young children. Learn More & RSVP >> We need your help to spread the word! We want a huge showing of support for parents, families, and caregivers of Ohio’s youngest children. We ask that you: RSVP to and attend the Family Celebration Personally invite 5 of your friends, community members, and partners to RSVP to the Family Celebration Promote the Family Celebration on social media and to your networks by using our promotional toolkit New Blog: Quality Early Learning Out of Reach for Many Ohio Families This week, Groundwork Ohio published a blog by Lynanne Gutierrez, Groundwork's Chief Operating & Policy Officer. In the blog, Lynanne takes a deeper look at data from our new Early Childhood Dashboard Preview and reflects on what the data tell us about access to quality early learning opportunities in Ohio. As Lynanne shares in the blog, nearly all working parents, regardless of income, struggle to find affordable, quality child care. But for families living with low incomes, the ability to access quality early learning opportunities is even more difficult. Ensuring every working family has the choice to access quality early learning opportunities for their children is a wise and successful public investment that supports Ohioans today and secures a strong future for Ohio’s workforce. Read the Blog >> Ready, Set, Soar Ohio to Publish Blog Series on Black Maternal Health Week Mark your calendars: Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) is April 11-17, 2022! Founded and led by Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Black Maternal Health Week is a week of awareness and community building intended to deepen the national conversation about Black maternal health in the United States; amplify community-driven policy, research, and care solutions; center the voices of Black mothers, women, families, and stakeholders; and more. In celebration of Black Maternal Health Week, Ready, Set, Soar Ohio – a prenatal-to-3 coalition led by Groundwork Ohio – will be publishing a guest blog series throughout BMHW highlighting the incredible work of local organizations in Ohio that are committed to advancing health equity and improving outcomes for Black mothers and infants. Be sure to follow Ready, Set, Soar Ohio on Twitter and Facebook , and visit www.readysetsoaroh.org next week to read the blog series! Visit Ready, Set, Soar Ohio >> Groundwork Ohio's Reem Aly Named to Health Impact Ohio Board Join us in congratulating Reem Aly, Groundwork's Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, for being named to Health Impact Ohio's Board of Directors! As Dan Paoletti, President of the Board of Directors at Health Impact Ohio, stated in the announcement : “Health Impact Ohio is excited to welcome Reem Aly to the board and engage the unique perspective she brings around early childhood learning and health development, maternal and young child health, health value data, and healthcare policy, along with her project proven commitment to health equity." Congratulations, Reem! Read the Announcement >> You're Invited to OAEYC's 2022 Ohio Early Childhood Conference The Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children is excited to invite you to the 2022 Ohio Early Childhood Conference! The virtual conference will be held April 27-30 and will be available with unlimited on-demand access to sessions until May 31st. As always, Ohio Approved Credit will be available. During the conference, you'll connect with other early childhood professionals to share your challenges and discover solutions; learn from the nation's leading trainers, authors, and advocates on the business of family child care; and invest in your professional growth! This conference offers access to roughly 100 sessions covering a diverse range of topics, including a session led by Groundwork Ohio on advocacy and communications! You can learn more about the conferencing, including available sessions, by clicking here . Learn More >> Poverty Impedes Children’s Education Long Before They Enter The Classroom — Here’s How We Can Change That Opinion: The pandemic has shattered our regions child care system Ohio mother says access to healthcare coverage may have saved her life after suffering from postpartum heart failure COVID-19 pandemic takes toll on child care industry Want to increase your impact?  Share this message with family, friends, and colleagues now!

This morning, Groundwork Ohio Executive Director Shannon Jones and PRE4CLE Executive Director Katie Kelly will appear on WKYC's We the People to talk about the Vote for Ohio Kids campaign! We are excited that both candidates have committed to participating in the Vote for Ohio Kids Leadership Forum on September 27th and we are working hard to continue elevating awareness about the importance of investing in quality early education and healthcare in Ohio. Are you looking for ways to stay engaged with the Vote for Ohio Kids campaign? Help elevate our message on social media by tweeting at the candidates and sharing resources to help educate your followers on the early childhood education and healthcare issues our next governor will need to address. Click on any of the sample messages below to share on Twitter or copy and paste to share on Facebook! Quality early education & healthcare are a NECESSITY for all Ohio families. It’s time for our next governor to step up and provide the quality resources our youngest Ohioans need to reach their full potential. @MikeDeWine @RichCordray @Vote4OhioKids https://ctt.ec/t5cgC+ Publicly funded child care for 0-4 year olds in Ohio provides a critical opportunity to affect at-risk kids during the most important period of development, in addition to a necessary support for working families. Learn more: http://ow.ly/KzUY30lwWQ3 @MikeDeWine @RichCordray Ohio's state-funded preschool programs provide essential development of social, emotional, and cognitive skills for kids as they prepare to enter kindergarten. Learn more about why our next governor should invest in quality preschool: http://ow.ly/alfS30lwX3J @vote4ohiokids Voluntary, evidence-based home visiting programs allow motivated parents to learn how to succeed in their new role & provide children a healthy start with their first and most important teachers—parents. Learn more: http://ow.ly/bhj030lwX8W @MikeDeWine @RichCordray @vote4ohiokids Access to essential healthcare services for all Ohio kids helps to ensure they grow up as healthy, productive adults. Learn more about ensuring quality healthcare for kids in Ohio: http://ow.ly/tUx030lwXis @MikeDeWine @RichCordray @vote4ohiokids Click here for more sample tweets! Updated Equity Website It's now easier to access and utilize Groundwork's Ohio Early Childhood Race & Rural Equity Report! Our Ohio Early Childhood Race & Rural Equity webpage was updated this week to make it easier for you to utilize the report and its accompanying resources! Check out www.groundworkohio.org/equity to access the full report, statewide and local summaries, informational videos, press coverage, and social media resources. NEW FEATURE: We want to hear YOUR feedback! What was your reaction to the Ohio Early Childhood Race and Rural Equity Report? Did certain metrics resonate with you? How are you using this report to engage your local community? Send us your feedback at www.groundworkohio.org/equityfeedback Profile in Education Equity: Ohio State Senator Peggy Lehner​ With roughly one-fifth of students showing mental health concerns, schools are taking more steps to help them cope Early-childhood development offers a brighter future to entire nations Research finds naps plus sleep may enhance emotional memory in early childhood

Groundwork Ohio Announces Inaugural Family Action Network, a Powerful Statewide Coalition of Ohio Families with Young Children Official May 18th Launch Event Will Bring Ohio Families to the Statehouse to Share Their Stories with Legislators COLUMBUS, OH – Today, Groundwork Ohio announced the launch of its inaugural Family Action Network , a powerful and diverse statewide coalition of Ohio families with infants, toddlers, and young children who will engage with policymakers on the issues that matter most to them and their families. The Family Action Network will officially launch at an event at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. During the morning of the May 18th launch event, more than 100 members of Groundwork’s Family Action Network – including parents, grandparents, foster parents, kinship caregivers, their young children, and community partners – will gather in the Capitol Atrium to celebrate the power of their collective voices and share their stories with state legislators. The inaugural members of Groundwork’s Family Action Network come from every region of the state – including rural, suburban, and urban areas – and represent more than 35 state house districts and more than 25 state senate districts. Forty percent of the families in the Family Action Network are families of color. “Parents and families are the experts of their own experiences and know what their children need to thrive,” said Shannon Jones, the President and CEO of Groundwork Ohio . “Too often, however, our youngest children are not a priority in the state legislature. Groundwork Ohio is committed to investing in the leadership of families and we look forward to bringing our Family Action Network to the Statehouse to share their stories with policymakers. We want families to know: It’s your family, your story, and your Statehouse.” During the afternoon of May 18th, Groundwork Ohio is also hosting a public Family Celebration on the Statehouse West Plaza, where hundreds of Ohio families, early childhood professionals, advocates, community leaders, and policymakers are invited to gather and show their support for Ohio families with young children. The Family Celebration will be a kid-friendly event featuring entertainment, a photobooth, special guest speakers, and more. Members of the public can RSVP for the Family Celebration at www.groundworkohio.org/celebration . Additional details for the Family Action Network launch event and Family Celebration will be sent in the coming weeks. Members of the press should RSVP by emailing Chelsea Kiene at ckiene@groundworkohio.org . To learn more about Groundwork Ohio’s Family Action Network, please visit www.groundworkohio.org/familyaction # # # 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. Learn more about Groundwork Ohio at www.groundworkohio.org and connect with us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and YouTube .

By: Commissioner Erica C. Crawley Commissioner Erica C. Crawley Investing in our children is not only an investment in their future, but in the future of the entire region. The research is clear, and the bottom line is that children who start behind, usually stay behind. We know that in Franklin County, only 40 percent of kindergarteners come to the classroom ready to learn. This leads to outcomes that negatively impact a child’s life well into adulthood and thus harm the vitality of our region overall. The pandemic only worsened these disparities for our children, their educators, and child care providers. The Franklin County Board of Commissioners has always been a strong proponent of early childhood education. Between 2015-2020, the Board provided $4 million, as well as free training, to ensure our county’s child care providers could meet Ohio’s quality standard mandate and continue to provide publicly funded child care to the children who need it most. Our commitment has only strengthened during the pandemic, which is why the Board of Commissioners is taking strong action to invest in early child care. We want central Ohio to be a region of hope, where children for generations to come are set up to thrive. Introducing Franklin County RISE Franklin County RISE is a historic investment by the Franklin County Board of Commissioners of over $22 million dollars! This funding will directly combat the pandemic-related strain on our early learning system, which was already stretched to the brink before 2020. In Franklin County alone, 173 providers have closed. Further, half of providers in central Ohio that are open report not being able to cover expenses, and 17 percent are unsure if they can remain open for another three months. As mentioned, prior to March 2020, only 40 percent of Franklin County’s children were ready for kindergarten, and the rate is even lower for children of color (26 percent) and for children living in poverty (28 percent). Nearly all progress in closing those achievement gaps has been halted due to the pandemic, and without action, disparities in our community will only increase. This crisis also impacts our community’s economic development, as more and more parents, especially mothers, leave the workforce to care for their children. For these reasons, Franklin County RISE is providing significant, holistic investments in our child care system that will support Franklin County families, child care centers, and early learning educators. RISE Child Care Scholarships for Families We know that too many children do not receive a quality early childhood education because of the high personal cost and Ohio’s low eligibility standards for publicly funded child care (PFCC). Due to this glaring gap, Franklin County is investing a total of $11.4 million for RISE Family Scholarships over two years, in addition to the City of Columbus’ $2.5 million investment. The fund provides scholarships of up to $10,000 annually for 750 children in the first year, and 500 children in the second year. Designed to help families with incomes between 142-300% of the federal poverty line, these scholarships combat the benefits cliff and make quality child care more accessible. Additionally, our Franklin County Department of Jobs and Family Services funds several workforce programs to help our residents gain new skills. Participants in these programs will also be eligible for RISE Child Care Scholarships, to ensure that child care is not a barrier to participation in the workforce. RISE Incentive Awards for Providers Our child care providers are the workforce behind the workforce. They ensure that our children receive a quality education and a safe space to learn and thrive. Franklin County is investing $10.9 million over two years for six types of incentive awards for providers . Providers can receive multiple awards, which is explained below: Publicly Funded Child Care Incentives Licensed providers entering a new PFCC agreements with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) will receive a $1,000 award Licensed providers maintaining PFCC agreements and enrolling children through the program are eligible for up to $2,000 in incentives annually Step Up To Quality Incentives (SUTQ) Centers and licensed Family Child Care (FCC) homes earning a star-rating can receive awards of $2,500 and $1,000, respectively Centers and licensed Family Child Care (FCC) homes maintaining a star-rating can receive awards of $2,500 and $1,000, respectively Centers and licensed Family Child Care (FCC) homes increasing a star-rating to 3, 4, or 5 can receive awards of $10,000 and $5,000, respectively Non-traditional Care Incentives Centers and licensed FCC homes enrolling children during non-traditional hours are eligible for up to $5,000 incentives annually. These hours include 6 p.m.-6 a.m. on weekdays and on weekends RISE Teacher Supports Supporting the child care workforce is essential to supporting our children, and the wages of our early educators are insufficient. These caregivers are among the lowest paid professionals with average wages ranging from $11.39/hour for assistant teachers to $12.22/hour for lead teachers. With salaries falling far below the living wage for a single adult without children, educators are at a serious risk for experiencing a housing cost burden. Therefore, Franklin County will invest $500,000 of emergency rental assistance to assist early childhood educators. Franklin County RISE shows our county’s commitment to the youngest members of our society, who are both our current foundation and future hope. By taking care of the most vulnerable, we can ensure a stronger and healthier community for generations. Although we are proud of this investment, we know our work is far from over. For example, I recently sponsored a resolution at the National Association of Counties (NACo) urging the federal government to pass robust legislation and increase funding to stabilize the child care industry and workforce. While the Franklin County Board of Commissioners advocates for changes at the national and state level, we know that intervention can’t wait, and we will continue to act quickly. Franklin County is exploring opening a child care center downtown for Franklin County employees and the surrounding community, and we will continue to explore creative ways to uplift our children, families, and community. Franklin County RISE is funded by the Franklin County Board of Commissioners and the City of Columbus, and administered by Action for Children, Central Ohio’s Resource and Referral Association. Please visit Rise.FranklinCountyOhio.gov for program details. Franklin County Commissioner Erica C. Crawley is a mother, advocate, and veteran. She is the first Franklin County Black woman Commissioner and is a U.S. Navy Veteran. She is also a proud first-generation college graduate, holds a J.D. from Capital University Law School and M.P.A from Walden University. Before her service as a Franklin County Commissioner, Crawley served in the Ohio House of Representatives representing the 26th District. There, she worked on maternal health, infant mortality, birth to five initiatives, housing and food insecurity, and veterans’ issues. She also served as the Ranking Member on the House Finance Committee, among other legislative committees. She was previously appointed to the Governor’s Commission on Infant Mortality, the Commission on Minority Health, the State Controlling Board, the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, and is a founding member of Ohio’s Black Maternal Health Caucus. Prior to her service in elected office, Commissioner Crawley worked on behalf of children and families as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children (CASA), and in positions with the YWCA Head Start/Early Start Program and the Black Child Development Institute.