ARPA funds are not only impacting current policy and recovery decisions but are set to impact policy decisions for the next biennium and beyond.

On Wednesday, Governor Mike DeWine addressed the General Assembly in his State of the State address for the first time since 2019. DeWine covered a number of topics including law enforcement, state parks, companies such as Intel coming to Ohio, highway safety, and more. Here’s what AOF was most encouraged to hear, and some areas where DeWine’s speech missed opportunities to elevate the urgent needs of Ohioans.

This week, Advocates for Ohio’s Future sent a letter signed by 50 organizations and concerned constituents across Ohio asking Governor Mike DeWine and General Assembly leaders to institute a public, transparent planning process for American Rescue Plan funds.

Earlier this month, BroadbandOhio, the state office dedicated to improving access to high-speed internet across Ohio, released a new set of broadband access maps that show that even fewer Ohio households have access to broadband than previously thought.

Starting March 1, 2022, Medicaid enrollees will be able to select a new managed care plan as part of the Ohio Medicaid Next Generation rollout. Selections made beginning March 1st will go into effect on July 1, the go-live date for Medicaid Next Generation.

This week, AOF is releasing our 2022 Poverty Level Scorecard and Public Benefits Eligibility Infographic!

To help families prepare for the end of these temporary COVID-19 flexibilities and enhanced benefits, AOF is releasing our winter checklist for families to ensure they continue to receive the benefits and tax credits they’re eligible for.

AOF is excited to announce our 2022 Steering Committee! Each of these 30 organizations bring a unique and important voice to the AOF table and give incredible amounts of time to the leadership and governance of AOF.

When planning for 2021, we knew it would take many months, if not years, for Ohio’s families and businesses to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Open enrollment for health insurance through the state marketplace begins on November 1st! Although open enrollment will continue through January 15, 2022, individuals are encouraged to sign up by December 15th in order to have health care coverage starting on January 1st.

Leaders in Congress have been grappling over the details of the federal $3.5 trillion economic recovery package known as the Build Back Better (BBB) agenda from the Biden-Harris Administration. Though AOF doesn’t usually dive deeply into federal legislation, a number of provisions in this bill have the potential to have a real, meaningful impact for the vulnerable populations we serve including children and low-income working adults.

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) represents a historic opportunity to invest in people, communities and infrastructure. Ohio is set to receive a total $5.36 billion, separated between two allocations, which must be obligated by December 31, 2024 and fully expended by December 31, 2026.

AOF created a brand new public benefits infographic that we’re proud to release today!

As part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP), Congress expanded the Child Tax Credit (CTC) to allow families to receive a total of $3,600 per child up to age 5 and $3,000 per child age 6 to 17.

Beginning September 24th, Ohio Medicaid began informing members of the 2021 open enrollment period by letter notices via mail and by automated phone calls from the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline.

Starting in October, almost all SNAP households will see a modest, permanent increase in their SNAP benefits—generally between $12 to $16 per person per month. States will automatically make these changes for all SNAP households and recipients do not need to take any action.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of welfare reform, when the federal government ended the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) entitlement program and created the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant through the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act (PRWOA) in 1996.

Today, AOF sent a letter to Governor Mike DeWine on the 1-Year anniversary of the release of the Minority Health Strike Force Blueprint asking for transparency, accountability and robust community involvement.

We are concerned that the changes proposed in House Bill 248 will result in lower immunization rates, poor data collection, and more outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. In turn, greater instances of vaccine-preventable diseases will impact the long-term health and economic stability of our state, already struggling to emerge and recover from an ongoing public health and economic crisis.