The 2024 State of the State

by: Sarah Hudacek, Coalition Manager

This week, Governor DeWine delivered his annual State of the State address, which, in a historic move, focused almost entirely on Ohio youth from birth through higher education. Many of the proposals the Governor introduced are promising steps towards making Ohio the best state to live and grow up. Ohio adults and older adults are vital parts of a healthy Ohio, as well. AOF continues to advocate for policies and investments that make Ohio not just the best state to live and grow up, but to later work, raise a family, retire, and age.

Here’s a run-down of the parts of Governor DeWine’s speech we’re watching most closely:

Child Care

Governor DeWine announced a new Childcare Choice Voucher Program that would serve families up to 200% of the federal poverty level and would cap co-pays at 9% of a family’s income. Publicly Funded Child Care initial eligibility in Ohio is currently limited to 145% FPL. The Voucher program would use American Rescue Plan dollars to temporarily expand child care support to more families through June 2025.

DeWine also announced $85 million in ARPA funding for Childcare Access Grants to improve and expand child care facilities. This competitive grant is open for applications now through April 26th and is intended to support programs with costs to either increase capacity through new or existing programs, complete repairs, or provide additional support to staff and families.

Child Well-Being

DeWine announced the creation of the Children’s Vision Strike Force to scale existing local models for comprehensive eye exams for children statewide.

DeWine touted successes in School-Based Health Clinics and urged school districts across the state to utilize existing resources to build additional school-based clinics, with the help of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and the Ohio Department of Health.

Maternal and Child Health

DeWine announced a new pilot program in 11 Ohio counties called Family Connects, which will make every new mother eligible to receive a nurse visit around 3 weeks postpartum. The Governor’s goal is to expand this program statewide next year.

Health and Safety

DeWine re-affirmed his desire for a ban on flavored cigarette and vaping products, this time through a statewide ban, rather than previous unsuccessful legislation to allow localities to implement bans on their own.

DeWine supported the initial recommendations of the Juvenile Justice Working Group, saying he will ask for funding in the future to place youth within the juvenile justice system in smaller facilities.

Read Governor DeWine’s full speech HERE.

Full State of the State Video | Speaker Stephens Response | Democrat Joint Response

Summer Food Service Program & Summer-EBT

by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern

One in seven children face hunger in Ohio. The nearly 400,000 Ohio youth who may not know where their next meal is coming from rely on public programs and charitable contributions to obtain the necessary food to thrive. Once again this summer, all Ohio children are eligible for participation in the Ohio Summer Food Service Program, Ohio’s edition of the federal Summer Food Service Program, while qualifying families may also be enrolled in the newly-created Summer-EBT program.

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a federally funded, state-run program designed to bridge the gap for children facing food insecurity during summer months when school in not in session. Data from the 2021-2022 academic year showed 57 percent of Ohio’s school-aged children, or about 912,000 students, were eligible for and participated in free and reduced-price lunch programs. Free and reduced lunch programs at school ensure children receive at least one nutritious meal each day, at little or no cost.

Despite the success of free and reduced lunch programs on mitigating food insecurity for children across the United States and offsetting costs for low-income parents, an obvious gap remains for students during the summer months, when school is not in session and students do not receive free/reduced price meals. SFSP in Ohio is available to all children ages 1 through 18, and does not require registration. In 2023, Ohio’s summer program sponsors operated more than 2,000 sites across the state, serving more than 5 million meals to Ohio children.

This year, Ohio’s SFSP is focused on expanding reach to rural communities across the state. To open a site, eligibility must be determined using school data, census data, or census block grouping. Using data prior to opening a site is intended to ensure the program is accessible to students who are in the greatest need for food assistance.

In addition to providing meals and snacks to Ohio children, the SFSP also serves as an opportunity for students to continue learning while school is not in session. Some sites offer summer activities or learning programs for children. Due to the nature of the program, sponsors operating sites throughout the state are eligible to be reimbursed for costs.

The USDA website includes a Summer Meals for Kids Site Finder, a tool parents can use to find directions, operating hours, and contact information for meal sites. The finder is set to go live in early May.

Apart from SFSP, in a new federal initiative, this summer marks the start of Summer-EBT for low-income Ohioans. Ohio families who meet income requirements will receive $40/month per child to help offset the loss of school meals during the summer months. The $40 monthly payments will come in the form of a $120 lump-sum loaded to an existing SNAP card or new EBT card mailed to households in the child’s name.

Ohio children whose families completed a free or reduced-price meal application during this academic year will automatically be enrolled in Summer-EBT, as will families already enrolled in SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF. Children who may be eligible but are not yet automatically enrolled include those who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch but have not completed an application. An application for Summer-EBT is expected to open around April 15. Nationally, it is estimated that the USDA will provide $2.5 billion in grocery benefits through the Summer-EBT program.

The Summer-EBT program represents a continuation of benefits families received during the COVID-19 pandemic through Pandemic-EBT. Research on Pandemic-EBT showed it to have far-reaching effects on child hunger, including a 33 percent reduction in food hardship, and between 2.7 to 3.9 million children lifted out of hunger. This summer and beyond, the Summer-EBT program holds the potential to significantly reduce the burden of hunger of Ohio’s children and their families.

Legislation We're Watching

by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern

As part of our effort to improve the health and human services landscape for all Ohioans, AOF is always tracking state legislative efforts related to our work. Below is an overview of some of the major pieces of legislation AOF is tracking, including links to bills, information about co-sponsors and movement, as well as descriptions regarding what each bill seeks to implement.

House Bill 2

Direct state funds for economic growth and community development (Capital Funds)

Sponsors: Representatives Al Cutrona and Terrence Upchurch

HB 2 was passed by the House on February 7, 2024, and introduced in the Senate on February 13. The legislation would give $1.65 billion in state capital spending and appropriate another $350 million from the One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund towards projects across Ohio. 

House Bill 7

Enact the Strong Foundations Act

Sponsors: Representatives Andrea White and Latyna Humphrey

HB 7 was introduced in the House on February 15, 2023, and reported to the Rules and Reference Committee on June 13, 2023, where it awaits further movement. HB 7 requires the Ohio Board of Nursing to establish a registry of certified doulas, while also establishing the Doula Advisory Board within the Board of Nursing. HB 7 also requires the Department of Medicaid cover doula services provided by a certified doula with a Medicaid provider agreement. The legislation covers a wide range of issues, including efforts to establish an informational pregnancy and postpartum mobile app, appropriations for maternal-focused housing initiatives, revisions and appropriations to Help Me Grow, continuous Medicaid enrollment for young children, early childhood mental health services, and more.

House Bill 183

Regards single-sex bathroom access in schools, universities

Sponsors: Representatives Beth Lear and Adam Bird

HB 183 requires public and chartered nonpublic schools, educational service centers (ESCs), and institutions of higher education to designate specified facilities for the exclusive use of students either assigned female at birth or assigned male at birth. The legislation was introduced in the House on May 23, 2023, and referred to the Higher Education Committee on June 7, 2023. During the fourth hearing on January 10, 2024, primary sponsor of the bill, Representative Adam Bird announced a slight change in the language of the bill.

House Bill 187

Modify procedures to conduct property tax sales-assessment study

Sponsors: Representatives Thomas Hall and Adam Bird

Passed by the House on October 11, 2023, and passed by the Senate on December 6, 2023, HB 187 temporarily increases the amount of all property tax homestead exemptions and expands eligibility for seniors and Ohioans with disabilities. Following passage by the House, the Ohio Senate unanimously passed an altered version of the legislation. The House has not yet voted on/agreed to the changes adopted by the Senate.

House Bill 257

Authorizes certain public bodies to meet virtually.

Sponsors: Representatives James Hoops and Thaddeus Claggett

Passed with overwhelming bipartisan support on November 29, 2023, HB 257 currently awaits movement in the Senate Government Oversight Committee. HB 257 allows public meetings to be held virtually once the public body has adopted certain policies, including means for the public to view virtual meetings. Public meetings can be held virtually only if all parties participating in the hearing consent, and meetings may not be virtual if it involves voting on a major nonroutine expenditure, significant hiring decision, or a vote on a tax issue or tax increase.

House Bill 263

Authorizes a property tax freeze for certain owner-occupied homes

Sponsors: Representatives Dani Isaacsohn and Thomas Hall

HB 263 was introduced in September 2023 and referred to the Ways and Means Committee, where multiple hearings have been held. If passed, the legislation would freeze property tax amounts for older Ohioans who own homes, ensuring individuals often on a fixed income do not pay a larger property tax bill year-over-year. On February 6, 2024, the Ways and Means Committee met and House Bill 263 was heard for a fourth time. During the committee hearing, Representative Hall introduced a substitute bill with four key amendments to the original legislation, lowering the age requirement, maximum allowable income, maximum allowable home value, and required length of residency prior to being eligible for participation.

House Bill 290

Authorizes the refundable thriving families tax credit

Sponsors: Representatives Casey Weinstein and Lauren McNally

Introduced in the House on October 3, 2023, and referred to the Ways and Means Committee on October 10, 2023. HB 290 would offer a refundable tax credit of $1,000 per year for children aged 0-5, and a credit of $500 per year for children 6-17. The legislation awaits further movement.

House Bill 352

Establishes Adverse Childhood Experiences Study Commission (ACES)

Sponsors: Representatives Rachel Baker and Sara Carruthers

HB 352 was introduced on December 4, 2023, and referred to the Behavioral Health Committee on December 6, 2023. The legislation establishes the study commission and requires the commission recommend legislative actions to address adverse childhood experiences. The study commission would consist of 21 members, most appointed to the governor as well as one member from each party in the House and Senate.

House Bill 386

Phase-out state income tax; repeal commercial activity tax

Sponsors: Representatives Adam Mathews and Brian Lampton

HB 386 was introduced on January 24, 2024 and referred to the Ways and Means Committee on February 6, 2024. The legislation would eliminate the state income tax on nonbusiness income over the next six years, and after 2029, would repeal the commercial activity tax. There is a companion bill in the Senate (SB 216).

House Bill 388

Regards enforcement of Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule

Sponsors: Representatives Rachel Baker and Andrea White

HB 388 was introduced on January 29, 2024, and referred to the Public Health Policy Committee on February 6, 2024. The legislation authorizes the Director of the Ohio Department of Health to enter into agreements with the EPA for administration/enforcement of the federal Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (RRP). RRP requires a certification process for firms completing projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, childcare facilities and pre-schools built before 1978. The certification process helps ensure lead-safe work practices are followed.

House Bill 408

Requires public schools to provide meals and related services

Sponsors: Representatives Darnell Brewer and Ismail Mohamed

HB 408 was introduced on February 12, 2024. The legislation requires school districts serve a student a meal, regardless of whether the student has the funds to pay for the meal. If passed, school districts would no longer be able to discard an already-served meal if the student is unable to provide payment for the meal, nor will districts be allowed to refuse to provide a meal or stigmatize the student in any way.

House Bill 428

Establishes supplemental benefit for certain SNAP recipients

Sponsors: Representatives Daniel Troy and Jay Edwards

HB 428 was introduced on February 27, 2024. The legislation would provide an additional SNAP benefit for individuals 60 years of age or older and currently receiving a monthly nutrition benefit allotment of less than $50/month. If passed, HB 428 uses state funds to raise the floor to $50/month for older Ohioans receiving nutrition assistance.

Senate Bill 37

Regards driver’s license suspension law; financial responsibility

Sponsors: Senators Louis Blessing and Catherine Ingram

SB 37 was introduced on January 31, 2023, and referred to the Judiciary Committee on February 8, 2023. The legislation removes the possibility of suspending an individual’s driver’s license for drug offenses (aside from first degree felonies), failure to pay child support, and truancy. SB 37 would also reduce the lookback period allowed for suspension of driver’s license due to proof of financial responsibility penalties.

Senate Bill 83

Enact Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act

Sponsor: Senator Jerry Cirino

SB 83 was passed by the Ohio Senate on May 17, 2023. It was introduced in the House on May 22, 2023, and most recently re-referred to the House Rules and Reference Committee on January 3, 2024. SB 83 would prohibit in most instances any mandatory orientation or training courses regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Among other things, the legislation would also require all state institutions of higher educations to create a syllabus for each course and make the syllabus publicly-available on the university website.

Senate Bill 116

Revise Ohio’s Unemployment Compensation Law

Sponsors: Senators George Lang and Mark Romanchuk

SB 116 was introduced on April 26, 2023, and referred to the Insurance Committee on May 4, 2023. The legislation would raise the taxable wage base from $9,000 to $9,500 used to calculate employer contributions under Ohio’s Unemployment Compensation Law. SB 116 also eliminates dependency class caps for weekly unemployment benefits, makes the maximum weekly benefit amount up to 50 percent of the statewide average weekly wage, and reduces the maximum number of weeks an individual can receive unemployment benefits in a year from 26 weeks to 12-20 weeks.

Senate Bill 216

Phase-out state income tax; repeal commercial activity tax

Sponsors: Senators George Lang and Stephen Huffman

SB 216 was introduced on January 23, 2024, and referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee on January 24, 2024. The legislation would eliminate the state income tax on nonbusiness income over the next six years, and after 2029, would repeal the commercial activity tax. There is a companion bill in the House (HB 386).

OneOhio Recovery Foundation Regional Grants

by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern

The opioid epidemic continues to harm Ohioans and families across the state. In 2022, nearly 5,000 Ohioans died as a result of an unintentional drug overdose, with over 80 percent of deaths involving opioids. The OneOhio Recovery Foundation was created to use state funds received from settlements with pharmaceutical companies to invest in substance misuse prevention, treatment and recovery efforts, and increase access to critical resources for people who use drugs.

The OneOhio Recovery Foundation is a private, non-profit organization created by state and local leaders in Ohio. The Foundation is responsible for distributing 55 percent of the funds received from settlements between the state and pharmaceutical companies for their role in Ohio’s opioid epidemic. The other 45 percent of funds go directly to local governments and the state. While this year’s grant applications will result in no more than $51 million being distributed, the OneOhio Recovery Foundation is ultimately responsible for distributing about $860 million received from settlements with pharmaceutical companies.

On March 4, the 2024 Regional Grant Request for Proposal (RFP) was posted and registration opened in the OneOhio Grant Portal. Applications for the 2024 Regional Grant open on April 2, and must be submitted by May 3. In a statement regarding the release of their 2024 Regional Grant Cycle RFP, Alisha Nelson, Executive Director of OneOhio, stated, “After months of carefully developing this first-ever program, we look forward to seeing the innovative ideas presented to combat the epidemic in every corner of the state”.

OneOhio is led by Director Nelson and governed by a board of 29 experts and leaders representing 19 regions across the state.

Map of the 19 OneOhio Regions

Within the newly-released RFP, OneOhio notes, “Successful grants will promote the health and safety of Ohioans by implementing evidence-based, forward-looking strategies. Grant terms can be 12 months, 24 months or up to 36 months in total. Funding proposals cannot be used to supplant existing programs or services. Successful proposals will support new or expanded programs or enhancements to existing programs”.

The 19 regions are set to receive a predetermined about of funding for grant opportunities, which will then be allocated within the region. Each region has a Regional Grant Review Committee tasked with reviewing grant applications and making recommendations on which organizations receive funding awards. Applications are then reviewed by the OneOhio Expert Panel, Grant Oversight Committee, and Board of Directors to ensure compliance with all regulations. Following approval, organizations will enter into a Grant Agreement with OneOhio and begin receiving funds.

OneOhio Grant Application and Approval Process

Eligible recipients for grant funding from OneOhio must be

• Tax-exempt organizations under Section 501 (c)(3) or other relevant sections of the Internal Revenue Service Code, or

• Private, for-profit organizations offering services that meet the charitable purpose of the Foundation, or

• Any form of state or local government

The 2024 Regional Grant Cycle represents the first of a series of funding opportunities for organizations across the state. The OneOhio Recovery Foundation will continue to disperse funds over the next 15-20 years as money from settlements continues to reach the state.

The Insulin Reduction Act (House Bill 384)

by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern

Over one million Ohioans have diagnosed diabetes and rely upon prescription insulin for their everyday well-being. For people with diabetes, insulin is vital, and often costly. Nationally, the price of a 30-day supply of insulin increased by 184 percent between 2012 and 2021. Prices have declined slightly in recent years but still remain significant for individuals already paying more on healthcare. On average, people with diabetes spend 2.3 times more on medical expenses compared to those without diabetes.

Increase in Cost of Insulin Between 2012-2021

High insulin costs can have devastating health consequences, with some individuals forced to ration their supply. In one study of Americans with diabetes under the age of 65, nearly a third had rationed their insulin supply at least one time over the preceding year as a means of saving money. Individuals rationing their supply of insulin increase the risk of multiple health complications, including diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious, life-threatening complication that occurs when an individual’s body is not producing enough insulin. Diabetes is the eighth-leading cause of death in the state of Ohio, further emphasizing the need for proper treatment of the condition to mitigate the risk of life-threatening consequences.

Representatives Munira Abdullahi and Thomas Hall recently introduced House Bill 384, also known as the Insulin Reduction Act, which would cap out-of-pocket costs for insulin and diabetes-related devices. The proposed legislation caps insulin costs for Ohioans at $35 a month, and caps the cost of diabetes devices at $100 monthly.

Part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act passed at the federal level included a cap on the monthly cost of insulin for individuals enrolled in Medicare at $35 per month. This change represented a significant cost reduction for individuals enrolled in Medicare, but the Inflation Reduction Act did not reduce costs for individuals with diabetes who utilize private health insurance. House Bill 384 seeks to change this reality for Ohioans with diabetes, including everyone within the insulin price limit.

During a February 6th press conference discussing the Insulin Reduction Act, Representative Abdullahi noted “Comparatively, on the international scale, the cost of insulin in America is nearly 10 times the world average” while Representative Hall pointed out the origin of the introduced legislation stemmed from an encounter wherein the two lawmakers discovered the other was also a type-1 diabetic. Both Representatives Abdullahi and Hall touted the Insulin Reduction Act for the meaningful impact it will have on Ohioans with diabetes.

According to the American Diabetes Association, passage of the Insulin Reduction Act would make Ohio the 26th state in the country to cap insulin copays for individuals with diabetes. The below map indicates which states already have a cap on insulin co-payments. States with an existing cap are marked red. A complete list of state policies regarding insulin caps can be found here.

State Insulin Copay Caps

House Bill 384 has garnered bipartisan support, with over two dozen cosponsors. The legislation was assigned to the House Insurance Committee on February 6th, where it awaits further movement.

The Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio

by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern

HPIO Snapshot of Mental Health Challenges Among Ohio High School Students

Approximately five Ohioans die by suicide every day. This statistic headlined the February 9th release of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) data snapshot detailing key statistics surrounding the prevalence of suicide and mental illness in the state of Ohio. Suicide is the fifth leading cause of death among working-age Ohioans, and HPIO’s data snapshot shows mental health challenges are increasingly common among school-aged Ohioans.

In response to the concerning rise in prevalence of mental illness and suicide, Governor DeWine announced a two-year suicide prevention plan earlier this year aimed to increase awareness, data collection, and expand access to health care and support services for Ohioans impacted by suicide. The Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio (2024-2026) follows the first Ohio Suicide Prevention Plan (2020-2022). The first initiative presented the vision and guidance used by thousands of state and community groups to engage in suicide prevention efforts. Ohio now seeks to further the roadmap to mitigate the prevalence of suicide in the state. This newest edition of a suicide prevention plan is outlined by four strategic priorities and guided by numerous goals to ensure success in advancing the scope of suicide prevention in Ohio.

Strategic Priority 1: Community Systems

The first strategic priority within The Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio centers on building the needed capacity and infrastructure within local/state organizations and communities for effective prevention initiatives. Building this capacity requires strengthening public knowledge of suicide prevention and risk behaviors and reducing stigma surrounding topics of mental health and suicide. Strategic priority 1 also involves expansion/sustaining of suicide prevention coalition capacity, as well as increased efforts to have safe storage of lethal means (firearms, medications, etc.).

Strategic Priority 2: Prevention & Early Intervention

The Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio strategic priority 2 supports the capacity of organizations to implement prevention initiatives and looks to improve coordination across multiple sectors and settings. The two main goals within this strategic priority are increasing the integration of suicide prevention into the workplace and educational systems, and integrating suicide prevention best practices for high-risk populations. Within the overall framework of this suicide prevention plan is a focus on groups disproportionately impacted by suicide, including males, young adults, veterans, people living in rural and Appalachian regions, LGBTQ+ Ohioans, and Ohioans with disabilities.

Strategic Priority 3: Quality Treatment & Postvention

The third strategic priority emphasizes improved access to high-quality suicide care and support services, in alignment with the Zero Suicide framework. The Zero Suicide framework is a model for improving suicide care through seven elements of safe and effective suicide care.

Goals of Strategic Priority 3

1.     Increase screening and risk assessment

2.     Improve care transitions and coordination

3.     Improve access to effective treatment and care

4.     Improve access to postvention services

5.     Align healthcare payment and payor policies with evidence-informed practices

6.     Strengthen Ohio’s Suicide Mortality Review Board process

Strategic Priority 4: Data & Evaluation

The fourth and final strategic priority of The Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio will build data/evaluation capacity among both private and public partners at the local and state levels. This priority includes improvement of data collection and reporting, and increasing data collection related to risk and protective factors. Data collection includes efforts to monitor existing suicide prevention programs and services, as well as exploration of new approaches to suicide prevention.

Suicide and mental health challenges continue to plague many Ohioans on a daily basis. The first Ohio Suicide Prevention Plan yielded promising results in increasing engagement with Ohioans and improving suicide prevention initiatives across the state. The Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio seeks to expand upon the efforts of its preceding initiative and increase prevention efforts, improve treatment quality, and monitor the success of suicide prevention programs, all in an effort to minimize the prevalence of suicide and mental health challenges among Ohioans.

Talking Taxes: House Bills 263 and 344

by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern

Over the past few months, the Ohio House of Representatives has discussed passage of multiple bills regarding property taxes paid by Ohioans. House Bill 263 and House Bill 344 are two pieces of legislation seeking to change how much Ohioans pay in property taxes in certain situations, with House Bill 263 targeting older adults and House Bill 344 the elimination of replacement levies.

State Representatives Hall and Isaacsohn introduced House Bill 263 last September. If passed, the legislation would freeze property tax amounts for older Ohioans who own homes, ensuring individuals often on a fixed income do not pay a larger property tax bill year-over-year. House Bill 263 is currently in the Ways and Means committee, with 25 cosponsors and widespread bipartisan support. On February 6, 2024, the Ways and Means committee met and House Bill 263 was heard for a fourth time. During the committee hearing, Representative Hall introduced a substitute bill with four key amendments to the original legislation.

Amendments to House Bill 263

• Lowers the maximum allowable income from $70,000 to $50,000 per year

• Lowers the minimum age requirement from 70 to 65

• Lowers the maximum allowable home value from $1 million to $500,000

• Lowers the required length of residency from 10 years to two years

Both Representatives Hall and Isaacsohn noted that the changes made were in response to feedback received from Ohioans across the state, and the changes in requirements, particularly lowering the age requirement by five years, will greatly increase the number of older Ohioans able to participate in the property tax freeze, as will reducing the number of years an individual needs to live in their home prior to becoming eligible for the freeze. Following a period of questioning among lawmakers, the substitute bill was accepted by the Ways and Means committee without objection.

In a different initiative, State Representatives Mathews and Hall introduced House Bill 344, legislation that would eliminate replacement property tax levies in Ohio. Replacement levies differ from renewal levies, as the former allows the jurisdiction to benefit from increased property values between the time the levy was originally passed and when it is replaced. In simpler terms, the use of replacement levies results in homeowners paying a larger bill if their property value has increased since the levy was first passed. Replacement levies are not tax rate increases but are intended to account for growth in the value of properties over time. They are used throughout the state to fund townships, schools, libraries, and more.

Proponents of the legislation view its passage as key to eliminating confusion among voters regarding a levy’s effect on their tax bill, while those against House Bill 344 have expressed concern over taking away one of the few methods jurisdictions have to pay for vital community resources. Currently, House Bill 344 has been introduced and referred to the House Ways and Means committee, where four hearings have now been held in regards to the legislation. During the February 6 House Ways and Means committee hearing, Representative Hall introduced a short amendment to House Bill 344 that was passed without objection, and the public was given the opportunity to testify on the legislation. The elimination of replacement levies represents one of multiple different controversial initiatives by legislators targeting crucial sources of revenue for the state and local communities. In recent weeks, legislators in the House and Senate introduced legislation that would eliminate state income tax for Ohioans over the course of the next decade.

Breakdown of Revenue Sources for State & Local Governments

Passage of House Bill 344 or legislation eliminating the state income tax both present challenges to the future ability of state and local governments in Ohio to fund public services. During the House Ways and Means committee hearing on February 6, State Representative Lear expressed concerns levied by local leaders about the implications of House Bill 344 on not being able to keep up with expanded service needs for rapidly-growing communities in Ohio. As shown in the chart above, property taxes represent significant funding for state and local governments, especially at the local level. For the vast majority of local communities across the country, property taxes represent the single largest source of revenue. Increasingly, the uncertain future of tax revenue in Ohio has been used as a potential barrier to passing legislation. During earlier discussion surrounding House Bill 263, State Representative Troy noted the likely cost of implementation of House Bill 263 as a concern in light of efforts to eliminate the state income tax.

Though neither House Bill 263 nor House Bill 344 have been brought before the entire General Assembly as of yet, both are important to watch for the future of property taxation in Ohio, both from the perspective of the taxpayer and local governments. More broadly, the next few months hold the potential to be critical to understanding the long-term outlook for the funding of health and human services across the state.

OhioRISE: An Update

by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern

OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence) is a state program created as part of Ohio Medicaid’s effort to launch a new era of Medicaid for Ohioans, focused on specialized care for youth with complex needs. OhioRISE was created in recognition of the need for specialized services targeted at Ohio children and youth. OhioRISE was designed for multi-system youth, that is, kids and families involved with multiple systems in pursuit of receiving care, with an eventual goal of providing care coordination and oversight to all aspects of the child’s care.

The OhioRISE initiative is working towards offering six unique programs for youth with complex behavioral health needs. New services will include intensive and moderate care coordination (ICC/MCC), intensive home-based treatment (IHBT), psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTF), mobile response and stabilization services (MRSS), behavioral health respite, and primary flex funds. These new services will be provided in addition to existing community behavioral health services and other outpatient and inpatient hospital behavioral health services. More information about each service provided through OhioRISE can be found here.

This past November, Ohio’s first PRTF opened in Grove City, equipped to serve 12 youth at any given time. Over the next three years, OhioRISE anticipates the opening of 11 additional PRTFs located throughout the state.

Eligibility Requirements for Participation in OhioRISE

• Individual must be eligible for Ohio Medicaid (either managed care or fee-for-service)

• Must be age 0-20

• Individual requires significant behavioral health treatment needs, measured using the Ohio Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment

• Children may also be eligible for participation in OhioRISE if an urgent health condition arises.

As of December 2023, more than 28,000 Ohio children and youth are enrolled in OhioRISE. OhioRISE releases a monthly newsletter containing important information regarding future projects and current work. The most recent OhioRISE Together newsletter can be found here. For direct help/information, contact your local care management entity (CME).

AOF's 2024 Eligibility Resources Available Now!

AOF is excited to release updated public benefits eligibility resources for advocates:

• 2024 Public Benefits Eligibility Guide: Dive into eligibility for Ohio Works First, SNAP, Publicly Funded Child Care, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

• 2024 Medicaid Eligibility Guide: Break down five eligibility pathways into Ohio Medicaid coverage.

Ohio's New SOAR Study

by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern

Mental illness, substance use disorder, suicide and accidental overdoses all remain serious barriers to the overall well-being of Ohioans in 2024. CDC data ranks Ohio 5th in the nation in aggregate drug overdose deaths and 7th in death rate. Additional research by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows the prevalence of depression/anxiety and suicide rates in Ohio are slightly higher than the national average, and have risen over recent years. Overall, an average of 19 Ohioans each day die from an accidental overdose or suicide. Governor DeWine has made tackling the issues of mental health and substance use key aspects of his administration’s objectives, and a monumental announcement last week demonstrates the state’s long-term commitment to bettering the behavioral health landscape throughout the state.

On January 19th, Governor DeWine and The Ohio State University announced the launch of a new study researching risk and resiliency factors behind mental health and substance use disorder among Ohioans. The SOAR (State of Ohio Adversity and Resilience) study begins with $20 million in funding from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and is being touted as the first study in the nation that will examine a statewide, multigenerational population in pursuit of improved outcomes regarding mental health and substance use.

The SOAR Study team is being led by Dr. K. Luan Phan, the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Ohio State. When asked about the study, Dr. Phan said “SOAR is our effort to do for addiction, mental illness and mental health, what the Framingham Heart Study researchers did for heart disease and heart health.” The Framingham Heart Study was first launched in the late 1940s and is credited with uncovering many major heart disease risk factors.

The SOAR study is set to begin with two main projects completed simultaneously, the SOAR Wellness Discovery Survey and the SOAR Brain Health Study. The SOAR Wellness Discovery Survey is set to engage with as many as 15,000 Ohioans across the state to understand the breadth of mental health and substance use. Through the survey, researchers hope to identify risk factors as well as strengths and skills individuals use to overcome adversity. The SOAR Brain Health Study centers on depth, and will examine the biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to mental illness, substance use disorder, drug overdose, and suicide among Ohioans.

Due to its complex and encompassing nature, the SOAR study is expected to last at least a decade, if not longer. Though it is being led by researchers at The Ohio State University, universities across the state are working in collaboration with OSU to achieve the most comprehensive results possible. The end goal of SOAR is the creation of a roadmap to improve mental health and save lives. The official SOAR website can be found here.

Map of Universities Working in Collaboration on SOAR

Who We Are: AOF 101

by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern

Advocates for Ohio’s Future (AOF) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit coalition of health and human services advocacy, provider, and research organizations. Our main goal is to bring health and human services organizations together to be in coalition, sharing knowledge and advocating for progress in policy. In pursuit of our main goal, AOF maintains the following policy platform; healthy children and families, quality communities, and pathways to prosperity for all. AOF’s work focuses on policy change at the state-level to support and empower Ohioans and their families.

AOF began in 2003 as the Emergency Campaign to Protect Ohio’s Future, a coalition of health and human service organizations set on protecting Ohio’s most vulnerable citizens through a state budget that invests in vital services. Founded by legendary advocates John Corlett, Marcia Egbert, and Gayle Channing Tenenbaum, the Campaign to Protect Ohio’s Future was renamed Advocate’s for Ohio’s Future in 2010 as a reflection of our long-term commitment to maintaining vital public services throughout the state of Ohio.

Currently, 30 member organizations serve on the AOF Steering Committee, which meets once every month. The Steering Committee is the driving force for what AOF seeks to accomplish in our commitment to bettering the health and human services landscape in Ohio. The priorities of our Steering Committee members are critical to determining the legislation wherein AOF provides public testimony. Our past submissions of public testimony can be found here.

In addition to our Steering Committee, Advocates for Ohio’s Future hosts monthly meetings with our Public Policy Committee, nutrition workgroup, and our brand-new benefits cliff workgroup. Each meeting includes advocates from across the state and is an opportunity to raise awareness regarding current events and set an agenda for advocacy in each specific policy area.

AOF is grateful for the work and leadership of our Co-Chairs, Susan Jagers (Ohio Poverty Law Center) and Nick Bates (Hunger Network in Ohio), as well as our Executive Committee: Teresa Lampl (The Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers), Darold Johnson (Ohio Federation of Teachers), Joree Novotny (Ohio Association of Foodbanks), Gina Wilt (Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio), and Tara Britton (The Center for Community Solutions).

AOF is looking forward to a busy year ahead advocating for improved health and human services throughout the state. As the March primary elections quickly approach, AOF will work on voter education to ensure Ohioans are aware of registration deadlines, ID requirements, and more.

As we approach the 2025 state budget, AOF is making preparations to host the 2024 Budget Training Academy this summer and fall. The Budget Training Academy provides an opportunity to share insight with advocates on Ohio’s biennial budgeting process and how to ensure health and human services remain at the forefront of the budget. AOF also hosted a series of budget webinars throughout the last budgeting process, and are looking forward to doing so again next year.

In addition to our election information and budget awareness objectives, providing solutions to the benefits cliff is an area central to our advocacy plans in the upcoming year. AOF began meeting with a group of advocates last year regarding the benefits cliff. Our goal in 2024 is to advocate for legislative and administrative solutions to the benefit cliff, with a focus on the 2025 state budget. More information on this work will be announced soon.

Each week, AOF releases a newsletter containing updates on the world of Ohio advocacy, links to critical resources and AOF blog posts, and information about upcoming member events. If you would like to be added to our email list, please click here. You can also follow us @Advocates4OH on Facebook and Twitter/X.

Chronic Absenteeism in Ohio

by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern

The State of Ohio is facing ongoing issues regarding school attendance in its K-12 public schools. Numbers released as part of the 2022-2023 Ohio School Report Card showed more than one-in-four students enrolled in Ohio’s public schools were considered chronically absent. Chronic absenteeism is defined in Ohio as missing 10% or more of total school hours during the academic year. One recently introduced piece of legislation, House Bill 348, seeks to address chronic absenteeism among K-12 students through a pilot program providing cash payments directly to students for high rates of attendance and academic achievement.

U.S. Department of Education Analysis of Chronic Absenteeism

Poor public-school attendance rates are not an issue unique to Ohio, but rather a more national trend of millions of school-aged children regularly missing class. In recent years, research on chronic absenteeism has yielded verifiable proof of logical conclusions; students who are chronically absent have worse GPAs and beginning in the sixth grade, are more likely to dropout. The U.S. Department of Education released a report using 2015-2016 data, finding differences in rates of absenteeism based upon gender, race, and age.

Maintaining high attendance rates is critical to the success of Ohio’s public schools, and House Bill 348 is one proposed measure intended to increase the number of students attending school on a regular basis. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Representatives Seitz and Isaacsohn, would establish a pilot program providing direct cash payments to students who meet attendance or grade objectives. The proposed pilot program includes different options for payments, including bi-weekly, quarterly, and yearly payments to students. Should the legislation pass, districts would have the opportunity to apply for the pilot program, and at least one urban and one rural district would be chosen to participate. Applying districts must be in the highest quartile in the state for chronic absenteeism. The pilot program would operate with a control group and test group in each district, allowing lawmakers to examine the effects of cash incentives on attendance and academic performance for students.

Currently, Ohio has taken measures towards meeting better attendance rates in K-12 public schools, including the Chronic Absenteeism Improvement Indicator. The Chronic Absenteeism Improvement Indicator is a tool for school districts throughout the state to identify trends in their attendance rates and set benchmarks for the upcoming academic years. Student attendance remains an important aspect of the annual Ohio School Report Cards, and online resources are available for schools and districts seeking to improve their attendance benchmarks. Whether House Bill 348 becomes law or Ohio decides to take another approach, chronic absenteeism remains a threat to the success of Ohio’s public schools and a limiting factor for the future well-being of school-aged children.

The Fight Over Flavored Tobacco

by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern

Beginning January 1st, the City of Columbus implemented a ban on the sale of all flavored tobacco and nicotine products, a move cited by public health proponents as a positive but criticized by others as an instance of government imposing on individual freedom of choice. All products with any added flavoring are no longer allowed to be sold in Columbus, as well as nearby suburbs Bexley, Grandview Heights and Worthington.  

Conflicting Views

The controversy surrounding the ban on flavored tobacco and nicotine products started in late 2022 when the Columbus City Council approved the ban beginning in 2024. Soon after, state lawmakers countered the action by introducing House Bill 513. The legislation prohibits local governments from initiating regulations around tobacco, entrusting all authority on the issue to the state. Though House Bill 513 was quickly passed by the House and Senate in December 2022, Governor DeWine vetoed it in January 2023, citing the known health risks of tobacco use in a statement.

Lawmakers again attempted to include the legislation in a portion of the state’s biennial budget, a maneuver DeWine vetoed once more. Recently, lawmakers in the Ohio House of Representatives voted to override Governor DeWine’s veto, shifting attention to the Ohio Senate. As of January 11th, the Ohio Senate has not taken any action towards overriding DeWine’s veto, meaning the ban on flavored tobacco remains, at least for the time being. Should the Ohio Senate take a vote and receive the required three-fifths majority vote, Columbus and other cities throughout the state will no longer have the legal authority to impose a ban on flavored tobacco products.

Those opposed to House Bill 513 have cited it as an example of infringement on home rule, the constitutional right cities in Ohio have to establish laws so long as they do not interfere with state law. Proponents of House Bill 513, including Ohio House Speaker Stephens, argue the state should be making the decisions on tobacco regulation.

Evidence on the Issue

Proponents of the ban on flavored tobacco and nicotine products view the initiative as a critical step in the right direction towards mitigating the prevalence of tobacco use in society, particularly among children and young adults. Evidence does support the concept that young people are drawn to using flavored tobacco products, suggesting a ban may decrease the number of individuals using tobacco. In 2023, over 90 percent of high school students who used e-cigarettes reported using flavored products.

On the economic front, local businesses reliant on the sale of flavored tobacco are anticipating significant revenue losses in the coming months. One owner of a smoke shop said he expects a 65 percent decrease in sales as a direct result of the ban.

Local and statewide bans on flavored tobacco products have become more commonplace throughout the country in recent years. Emerging evidence from Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, California, and Minnesota shows an overall decline in tobacco sales following the ban on flavored products.

For now, focus remains on whether the Ohio Senate will override Governor DeWine’s veto – which can occur any time before December 31, 2024 – or if the ban on flavored tobacco in Columbus and other cities remains.

Announcing AOF's 2024 Steering Committee

AOF is excited to announce our 2024 Steering Committee! It is AOF’s honor and privilege to be in coalition with these 30 incredible organizations and the work they do. Thank you to our members for their leadership and support!

AOF Co-Chairs

• Nick Bates, Hunger Network in Ohio

• Susan Jagers, Ohio Poverty Law Center

AOF Executive Committee

• Teresa Lampl, Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Service Providers

• Joree Novotny, Ohio Association of Foodbanks

• Darold Johnson, Ohio Federation of Teachers

• Gina Wilt, Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio

• Tara Britton, The Center for Community Solutions

AOF Steering Committee

• Randy Leite, Appalachian Children Coalition

• Kelly Vyzral, Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio

• Scott Neely, Children’s Hunger Alliance

• Megan Riddlebarger, Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development

• Jordan Ballinger, Disability Rights Ohio

• Siobhan Boyd-Nelson, Equality Ohio

• Lynanne Gutierrez, Groundwork Ohio

• Michael Corey, Human Service Chamber of Franklin County

• Zach DeCamp, Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition

• Beth Kowalczyk, Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging

• Kelly Carey, Ohio Association of Community Health Centers

• Prince Ohilebo Garuba, Ohio Association of Goodwill Industries

• Kate Rossman, Ohio Children’s Alliance

• Amy Roehrenbeck, Ohio CSEA Directors’ Association

• Beth Race, Ohio Family & Children First Coordinators Association

• Laura Abu-Absi, Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association

• Christine Touvelle, Ohio Provider Resource Association

• Dustin McKee, Ohio Psychological Association

• Jeremy Morris, Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council

• Rebecca Kusner, Ohio Workforce Coalition

• Hannah Halbert, Policy Matters Ohio

• Scott Britton, Public Children Services Association of Ohio

• Charlotte Rudolph, Universal Health Care Action Network-Ohio

2023 AOF Year-in-Review

by: Andy Jesson and Sarah Hudacek

Advocates for Ohio’s Future (AOF) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of over 500 state and local health and human services policy, advocacy and provider organizations that strive to strengthen families and communities through public funding for health, human services, and early care and education. We work to empower and support nonprofit organizations in the critical work they do, especially as it relates to lifting up the most vulnerable among us.

2023 Budget & Policy Priorities

In February, AOF announced three specific areas of focus for advocacy during this General Assembly, centered on COVID-era benefits, Medicaid, and the benefits cliff. Our first goal was to ensure coverage protections and strengthen supportive services as enhanced COVID-era benefits and program flexibilities expire. AOF focused on helping lead the work of the Ohio COVID Recovery Coalition, helping increase preparedness for the loss of health coverage and nutrition supports.

Our second goal was to maintain and expand Medicaid eligibility so all Ohioans get the health care and coverage they need. AOF worked with our partner organizations to expand Medicaid eligibility, allow for continuous coverage for children up to six years old, and ensure Ohioans seeking health care and mental health and addiction services have sufficient access.

Our third goal was to convene a dedicated coalition of AOF partners, community organizations and business leaders to develop comprehensive strategies to address the benefits cliff and strengthen work and family supports across public programs. In collaboration with partner organizations, AOF pursued increases in Ohio’s Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC), an increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for older adults without earned income, and a shift to the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) by making it fully refundable.

Although not all of our policy goals were achieved, AOF will continue to work towards the goals above in 2024.

Rally for Ohio’s Future

This past June, AOF and our members spearheaded the Rally For Ohio’s Future, an event held on the lawn of the Ohio Statehouse. Amid damaging spending cuts proposed in the Ohio Senate version of the State Operating Budget, the event showed unified support for key initiatives supporting public schools, childcare, healthcare, housing, food insecurity, and older Ohioans. Buses were offered from foodbanks across the state, and we were excited by the nearly 200 advocates who attended the rally.

Budget Advocacy

In addition to the Rally, AOF also testified before the House Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Senate Health Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and submitted written testimony to the Senate Medicaid Committee. We wrote a letter to budget conferees urging the restoration of many House-inserted investments in the budget and the removal of harmful provisions added by the Senate. We also sent a letter to Governor DeWine requesting a line-item veto.

In June, AOF hosted a press conference featuring seven of our members discussing the harmful provisions included in the Senate budget and advocating for changes to better support Ohioans.

AOF also had record engagement online and on social media platforms during the 2023 budget process. In June alone, nearly 4,000 people visited AOF’s website, interactions on Twitter were in the tens of thousands, and newsletter engagement skyrocketed. We also hosted eight budget webinars over the 6-month budget process, with over 700 attendees in total.

Food Insecurity

AOF partnered with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks in 2023 to begin the State of Hunger legislative education series. State of Hunger events give legislators and staff the opportunity to learn about the current state of food insecurity in Ohio, resources available to assist constituents facing food insecurity, and a review of recent nutrition-related policies enacted at the state and federal levels. In collaboration with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, AOF hosted two State of Hunger events in 2023 and plans to continue hosting the events on a semi-annual basis.

COVID Cliff Advocacy

Throughout the year, AOF focused on raising awareness about the end of temporary pandemic-era flexibilities and program expansions to Medicaid and SNAP. We organized over three dozen meetings with legislators, hosted a webinar about the COVID cliff, created two public webpages with important SNAP and Medicaid information, and created a webpage designed for use by legislative offices answering questions on the COVID cliff.

American Rescue Plan Act Tracking

Last year, AOF and the Ohio Poverty Law Center (OPLC) released a new tool for tracking American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) spending, at OhioARPATracker.org. In September, AOF and OPLC released an overview of ARPA spending to date. We reported that although the entire $5.4 billion in State Fiscal Recovery Funds has been appropriated, just half of that has been granted, distributed, or spent, leaving billions in federal dollars yet to be used. Funds from ARPA must be appropriated by December 31, 2024, and spent by the end of 2026. We’ll continue to update the ARPA tracker until that time, to ensure federal funds are used as fully as possible by the deadlines.

The Debt Ceiling

In May, AOF sent a letter to Senators Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance during talks about raising the federal debt ceiling. AOF stressed the importance of key food, healthcare, and housing initiatives, and urged the Senators not to cut public benefits as part of the debt ceiling agreement. AOF remains committed to social programs that build a better future for all Ohioans.

Elections

AOF shared important information with voters for the May, August, and November elections held in Ohio this year. We focused on providing voters with information regarding registration deadlines, valid ID requirements, and trusted nonpartisan information on ballot issues.

A Year of Changes

AOF and its affiliated members underwent many exciting career transitions over the past 12 months. Kelsey Bergfeld, director of AOF for five years, transitioned into a new role with AARP Ohio. John Corlett, one of the co-founders of AOF and CEO of The Center for Community Solutions – AOF’s fiscal agent and partner – retired after dedicating 40 years to public service. Emily Campbell, who has more than a decade of experience at Community Solutions alone, has succeeded John in the CEO role. This past year, AOF also mourned the loss of one of AOF’s co-founders and the fiercest advocate for children, Gayle Channing Tenenbaum. Read John Corlett’s recounting of the story of Gayle’s pivotal role in founding AOF here.

In other changes, Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, longstanding Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, retired. Her successor, Joree Novotny, is now a member of AOF’s Executive Committee. Steven Wagner, Executive Director of the Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio, retired. Longtime UHCAN employee Charlotte Rudolph is now serving as Executive Director. Executive Director of the Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association Joel Potts transitioned into a leadership role at the new Ohio Department of Children and Youth. Laura Abu-Absi, who brings years of experience with state and county government, will succeed him as Executive Director. Will Petrik, a former AOF Director and most recently a project manager for Policy Matters Ohio, transitioned to a new role at a Franklin County-based nonprofit. Congratulations to all moving on to new adventures – in new roles and in retirement!

Additionally, as 2024 quickly approaches, we are excited to announce six new organizations are joining our Steering Committee. We are excited to work with them in 2024 and beyond in pursuit of our shared goals. AOF is also welcoming a new Co-Chair onto our Executive Committee. More details to come in January!

What’s Coming in 2024?

In 2024, AOF plans to continue efforts to increase voter participation and awareness of more recent changes in Ohio election law. AOF will inform voters about the March and November elections, relying on trusted, nonpartisan sources. We will also continue engagement around new voter ID requirements and voter registration deadlines, ensuring as many Ohioans as possible are involved in the election process.

The benefit cliff is an area central to AOF’s advocacy plans in the upcoming year. Presently, we are working with a benefit cliff collaborative of individuals from across the state and in different fields. The goal of this group is advocating for legislative and administrative solutions in the benefit cliff in 2024.

Preparations for the 2025 budget process will also begin for AOF next year. AOF will host the second Budget Training Academy in 2024, intended to increase awareness and educate others about Ohio’s budget process. The Budget Training Academy will begin with virtual webinars in July and culminate in an in-person Summit and HHS reception in December.

We are grateful for all of the support we’ve received from our partners, members, and supporters this past year. Your continued support of AOF directly impacts our ability to pursue our goal of building a better Ohio for all, especially our most vulnerable. As we continue in this mission, please keep in touch by following us on Twitter (or X), Facebook, and signing up for our weekly newsletter. Happy Holidays from AOF, and here’s to a successful 2024!

The Home Energy Assistance Program

by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern

With the winter months upon us, millions of Ohioans are turning up the thermostats and heating their homes. The cost of heating a home for the entirety of the winter season varies based on the type of energy the home utilizes. The Energy Information Administration published cost outlooks for regions throughout the country.

For many low-income Ohioans, the winter season presents a challenging decision between living in a home with no heat or paying the hundreds of dollars to heat their home. Fortunately, for those who meet eligibility requirements, the federally-funded Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) offsets some of the financial burden associated with heating a home.

HEAP provides financial assistance for Ohioans with a household income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty line. For a family of four, total household income up to $52,500 meets eligibility. Recipients receive HEAP benefits in the form of a one-time payment typically applied directly to the utility bill. The average energy assistance grant per year in the state of Ohio is $316.

 HEAP Income Eligibility Through July 2024

Households who meet eligibility requirements and are not yet enrolled in HEAP can apply here. Applications can be submitted online, via mail, as well as in-person or over the phone through a county’s Energy Assistance Provider.

WIC Funding & Declining Participation

by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern

In mid-November, Congress approved a temporary funding package, pushing the deadline for full-year appropriations bills into early next year. The bipartisan agreement ended the threat of a government shutdown for the time being, ensuring key health programs remain operational, including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Though WIC will continue assisting millions of women and children across the U.S. over the next two months, congressional action is needed early next year to secure WIC’s future.

Numbers Behind WIC

WIC provides funding for nutrition and healthcare access for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, as well as infants and children under the age of five. Established as a permanent federal program in the 1970s, today WIC serves about seven million people nationwide, 55 percent of whom are children. In Ohio, about 160,000 individuals benefit from WIC each month (75 percent children and infants). Dozens of studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of WIC on maternal and infant health, showing a positive impact on rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, and infant mortality. WIC’s proven effect on the well-being of mothers and young children has led to the U.S. Department of Agriculture calling it “one of the nation’s most successful and cost-effective nutrition intervention programs”.

Future of WIC

Congress has until early next year to pass appropriations bills and avoid a shutdown, however, both a government shutdown and the passage of appropriations bills pose potential threats to WIC. A government shutdown would result in an immediate reduction in benefits for most of the individuals receiving assistance. In addition to a reduction in benefits, new participants may be put on a waitlist, something WIC has not had in nearly 30 years. Though a shutdown directly harms WIC, it is not the lone threat to the future of WIC funding in the coming months. As the deadline for next year’s appropriations bills nears, some House Republicans have suggested spending cuts to WIC. Since it is fully-funded at the federal level, the future of WIC is dependent upon the steps taken by Congress over the next few months.

While the funding of WIC beginning next year remains unclear, so does the future of WIC participation in Ohio. Between 2015 and 2021, statewide participation in WIC declined by nearly a third.

Some have pointed to the decline in participation as a direct result of Ohio having yet to switch to an online delivery system. As of March 2023, Ohio is one of just five states still requiring in-person issuance of WIC benefits. Research during the pandemic showed higher participation in states with an online delivery system and decreased participation in states that require in-person visits. Moreover, the decline in WIC participation may also be linked to a lack of participating retailers, especially in rural counties. While urban counties have dozens of retailers and pharmacies carrying WIC-eligible products, some rural counties throughout the state have as few as one location WIC participants can utilize. Regardless of the causes leading to decreased participation, the reality is Ohio has one of the lower WIC participation rates in the country. While about 51 percent of eligible individuals are enrolled in WIC nationally, Ohio has a participation rate of just 38.9 percent, meaning there is a gap of 250,000 eligible Ohioans not enrolled.

The most pressing issue regarding WIC is the funding deadline approaching early next year, and should be the present focus for advocates and lawmakers. Once funding is secured, efforts should be made to increase participation in Ohio and allow eligible women, children, and infants to benefit from the federal program.

Call to Action

Contact U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance to ask them to fully fund WIC using this link from the Ohio Association of Foodbanks!

SNAP Skimming in Ohio

by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern

In the mid-1990s, Ohio became the first state in the country to launch a statewide switch to “smart cards” for food assistance recipients, eliminating paper food stamps throughout the state. Nearly 30 years later, paper food stamps are a relic of the past, and individuals receiving food assistance utilize cards similar to that of a debit card issued by a bank. While more convenient, Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards pose a security threat for hackers intent on stealing and using card information.

What is SNAP Skimming?

SNAP Skimming occurs when thieves place an illegal device on an ATM or card machine at a retailer to copy EBT card information. After the information is stolen, criminals make fake EBT cards and use them to purchase food and beverages. Skimming is an illegal activity not limited to EBT cards, as criminals cost financial institutions and consumers more than $1 billion each year by skimming information off of ATMs, retail locations and fuel pumps across the United States.

SNAP Skimming in Ohio

In Ohio, skimming is becoming an area of increasing concern for families receiving food assistance. Between November 2022 and May 2023, it is estimated that nearly 2,000 transactions were made in Ohio using stolen information, with the amount of funds stolen around $775,000. Beginning in June of this year, an ODJFS plan was implemented for individuals to have their stolen benefits replaced.

Under this new policy, SNAP benefits stolen between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2024 are eligible for reimbursement, with the exception of Pandemic EBT benefits, which are ineligible. Upon benefits being stolen, the assistance group (AG) must complete the JFS 07011 form including a handwritten signature and submit it to their local county agency. The form needs to be submitted within 90 days of the benefits being stolen or within 90 days of receiving a letter from their county agency notifying them of the theft. Once the completed form is received, county agencies have 30 days to review the request, determine eligibility, and replace benefits if the AG is approved. Replacement benefits cannot be approved or issued until the AG receives a new EBT card, which must be issued by ODJFS within two days of receiving notification of stolen benefits.

The amount of replacement benefits received by the AG is dependent upon the individual circumstances, but cannot exceed the lesser of the amount of benefits stolen or equal to two months of benefits issued to the AG.

Solutions to SNAP Skimming

In the near-term, one key preventative measure SNAP recipients can take is changing their PIN with frequency. Changing your PIN often coupled with avoiding easy-to-guess combinations like birthdays, addresses and social security numbers reduces the likelihood of SNAP skimming. In addition to changing your PIN, Ohio SNAP recipients can now lock their EBT card using an app on their smartphone. It is recommended that cardholders keep the card locked unless actively making a purchase. Instructions for downloading and using the app can be found here. As a long-term action, investment in new technology to distribute chip-enabled EBT cards would further reduce the likelihood of skimming. As of now, no state offers EBT cards equipped with the chip feature, though some states have investment plans for this newer technology.

In addition to a transition to chip-enabled cards, USDA is also exploring a pilot program with five states to test mobile contactless payment. Using the mobile option, SNAP recipients can pay for their groceries using a smartphone in similar fashion to Apple Pay or Google Pay, which connects the user’s smartphone to their bank card information. A potential switch to mobile payment presents another mitigation strategy to current SNAP skimming efforts. The mobile payment pilot program is part of a broader movement towards modernization of SNAP, including programs to allow online shopping using SNAP and WIC benefits.

SNAP skimming is costly for taxpayers and recipients of benefits. Measures taken now to make EBT cards more secure in the future will help reduce the occurrence of stolen benefits and ensure the individuals in need of food assistance are receiving the benefits.

Ohio Capital Budget: A Guide for Community Investment Projects

by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern

In even-numbered years, the Ohio General Assembly is tasked with passing a capital budget for the succeeding two fiscal years. The capital budget provides funding for state-owned infrastructure and community investment projects. Ohio’s capital budget for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 totaled $3.5 billion in appropriations, with the majority of the dollars going towards the Intel investment in Licking County, public schools, and state parks. Just short of $200 million funded community projects.

Presently, House Speaker Jason Stephens and Senate President Matt Huffman hold contrasting views in regards to the planning period for next year’s capital budget. While Speaker Stephens hopes to have a proposed budget in place by the beginning of April, Huffman, reportedly for political reasons, has suggested waiting to start negotiations until after the primary elections are held in the spring.

Whether the upcoming capital budget is delayed or not, nonprofit organizations seeking funds for capital projects should act now for the best chance of approval. The Ohio Office of Budget and Management provides a 14 page document detailing eligibility requirements for community project funding. Within this resource is a step-by-step guide for a nonprofit applying for funds, details about the approval process, and information about attainment of funds following approval.

Basic eligibility for community project funding through the capital budget requires the requester be a government entity or nonprofit organization, and funding must be directed towards the acquisition, construction, or otherwise improvement of capital assets. Funds may be used towards the purchase of equipment or furnishings, but must be done within the context of a broader capital project with approval. A comprehensive list of allowable expenditures can be found here.

With ongoing disagreements regarding the formation of next year’s capital budget, the best path forward for organizations seeking state funds is contacting legislators as soon as possible to bring projects to their attention. In the previous capital budget, limited funds were reserved for community projects, as most of the funding benefits state-owned entities. Action now gives nonprofit organizations the greatest opportunity to secure future funding for the betterment of their organizational goals.

Harm Reduction Strategies During Ohio’s Opioid Crisis

by: Andy Jesson, AOF Policy & Communications Intern

Despite downward trends over the last decade in opioids prescribed statewide, the opioid epidemic continues to plague Ohio at a disproportionate rate compared to the rest of the country. Ohio’s most recent publicly-available data shows the opioid crisis having a continued impact, with 4313 Ohioans dying as a result of an opioid overdose in 2021. Statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rank Ohio 5th nationally in aggregate overdose deaths and 7th in overdose death rate.

Ohio Behavioral Health Dashboard

Amidst various strategies combatting the drug epidemic rests the use of harm reduction initiatives. Harm reduction is defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as an evidence-based approach that is critical to engaging with people who use drugs, equipping them with life-saving tools and information. Often partnered with prevention, treatment, and/or recovery, harm reduction specifically focuses on diminishing the health risks associated with drug use such as unsterile needles, laced substances and fatal overdoses.

On October 11, 2023, Governor Mike DeWine announced a $100 million investment of federal funds in programs aimed at mitigating opioid addiction and overdose deaths throughout the state. The funding, received from SAMHSA, is intended to strengthen existing programs in harm reduction, prevention, treatment, and recovery. At the core of this investment and past initiatives by the DeWine Administration is increasing access to the opioid antagonist naloxone for individuals who use drugs.

Naloxone, commonly referred to by its brand name Narcan, is a nasal spray used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. An opioid antagonist, naloxone binds to opioid receptors in the brain and reverses/blocks the effects of other opioids present in the bloodstream. Naloxone has no effect (positive or negative) on someone not experiencing an opioid overdose.               

In 2012, the Ohio Department of Health coordinated the first Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone) site in Portsmouth, one of the epicenters of Ohio’s opioid crisis. Project DAWN is a state initiative increasing access to naloxone through the creation of distribution sites, serving as an important harm reduction strategy for opioid addiction. Since 2012, Project DAWN expanded to now cover 82 of Ohio’s 88 counties through 182 registered programs. Evidence supports the work of Project DAWN and its continued expansion throughout the state. Between 2014 and 2022, distribution of naloxone increased from less than 3,000 to over 205,000 kits per year, and the number of known overdose reversals in Ohio increased from 190 to more than 18,000 per year.

Governor DeWine announced further expansion of naloxone kits in September 2023 through partnerships with RecoveryOhio, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and Project DAWN. This latest initiative provides naloxone kits at designated rest areas along Ohio’s highways, further increasing access to the life-saving drug. This year, Governor DeWine announced an additional collaboration set to offer free naloxone kits to public and independent colleges and universities across the state. Naloxone kits are also available online and as an over-the-counter medication in pharmacies across the state.

Rest Area Map

Recent establishment of the OneOhio Recovery Foundation in 2021 presents another opportunity for Ohio to further distribution of naloxone and other harm reduction resources. The nonprofit foundation was created by government leaders in Ohio to distribute 55 percent of the funds Ohio will receive amid lawsuits with pharmaceutical companies. Coupled with current initiatives, promotion of OneOhio Recovery Foundation can further mitigate risks associated with drug use.

In addition to naloxone, the state also offers fentanyl testing strips (FTS) to Ohio distributors of dangerous drugs (pharmacies, hospitals, etc.). Fentanyl testing strips are small strips of paper that indicate the presence of fentanyl in other drugs including cocaine and heroin. Use of FTS reduces the risk of a fatal drug overdose by warning the user if a substance contains fentanyl. Legislation making FTS legal in Ohio went into effect in April 2023, with the focus in recent months centered on making FTS more accessible for individuals who use drugs.

FTS provide an important mechanism for individuals to avoid consumption of highly lethal fentanyl, an otherwise odorless, tasteless, and undetectable drug. Over the last decade, fentanyl has become increasingly prevalent within the illicit drug market, largely responsible for the upward trend in overdose deaths. In 2016, 58 percent of all Ohio drug overdose deaths involved fentanyl. By 2022, the number had risen to 81 percent, along with the overall increase in overdose deaths. Fentanyl presents a unique challenge in efforts to reverse trends within the opioid epidemic because of its lethality. FTS offer one method for reducing Ohioans’ consumption of fentanyl, and in turn, the number of lives lost to drug overdoses.

Harm reduction is not a standalone strategy deployed to reduce the number of people who use drugs but rather an effective tool for individuals facing addiction. State-supported harm reduction initiatives reduce the risk of death or disease stemming from drug use. As opioid addiction continues its assault against Ohio families, expansion of programs distributing naloxone and fentanyl testing strips will reduce the number of Ohioans tragically lost to the drug crisis each year.