History
Advocates for Ohio’s Future began in 2003 as the Emergency Campaign to Protect Ohio’s Future, a coalition of health and human service organizations seeking to protect Ohio’s most vulnerable citizens through a responsible state budget that adequately funded vital services. Its focus has been and continues to be a legislative advocacy campaign to meet basic human needs.
As a diverse coalition, we have made our mark by standing in solidarity so that no one human service provider is pitted against another. Through this commitment to a broader vision of health and human services, the coalition celebrated many successes since its founding:
- “The Penny Is Important” campaign in 2004 to increase the state sales tax by one cent to support health and human services;
- Creation of a dedicated revenue source for the Housing Trust Fund in 2004;
- Defeat of the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights in 2004 that would have set debilitating spending caps on vital services for children and other vulnerable populations; and
- Increased funding for PASSPORT in several budget cycles – a program that provides in-home care for frail elderly at a cost much lower than nursing home care, keeping older Ohioans in their homes and self-sufficient.
In 2010, the Campaign to Protect Ohio’s Future became Advocates for Ohio’s Future to better reflect our long-term commitment to maintaining vital health, human services, and early care & education for vulnerable populations at a time when so many Ohioans are struggling because of the recession.
Join us by signing on as an individual or having your organization endorse Advocates for Ohio’s Future.