In Governor DeWine’s Executive budget, many advocates were surprised by the proposal of a new cabinet-level department, the Ohio Department of Children and Youth. The creation of this new department would cement the Governor’s legacy of investing in kids following his creation of the Governor’s Office of Children’s Initiatives in January 2019.

This budget is an opportunity to invest in improving the quality of life of all Ohioans. AOF and our partner organizations support policies that build an Ohio where all people and families live healthy lives in quality communities with pathways to prosperity for all. 

The upcoming state budget is an opportunity to invest in improving the quality of life of all Ohioans. AOF and our partner organizations support policies that build an Ohio where all people and families live healthy lives in quality communities with pathways to prosperity for all.

Over the past three years, Congress has released an unprecedented amount of pandemic relief funds to state and local governments. Ohio received tens of billions of dollars across six COVID relief bills for everything from PPE and testing supplies to tourism funding to education to child abuse. The largest of these relief bills is the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which makes historic investments, not only responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in supporting and strengthening government programs at every level as the country recovers from the pandemic.  

AOF is excited to release three updated resources for advocates.

Budget season is here again! If you haven’t started preparing for the marathon 6-month process yet, it’s not too late. Here’s everything you need to know about the process and how to prepare.

As an odd-numbered year, 2023 brings a lot of change to the Ohio Statehouse. Ohio’s legislative sessions run for two years and always begin in odd-numbered years. Last week marked the beginning of the 135th session of the Ohio General Assembly. What does this mean for advocacy? A lot of changes…

You have likely been reading a lot about student loans in the news. The next looming date is August 31, 2022, when payments for federal student loans turn back on after a COVID-19 induced moratorium spanning more than two and half years.

On August 2nd, 2022, a rare special election will be held in Ohio in which almost every voter in the state will have a race on their ballot. This year, the special election will serve as the primary election for all Ohio General Assembly candidates, just 13 weeks before the November general election, because of continual delays in the redistricting process.

A new national suicide prevention hotline, accessible by calling or texting 9-8-8, launches tomorrow, July 16th. By federal mandate, every state is required to launch its own 988 hotline, which won’t immediate replace the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, but once fully implemented nationwide, will be available to every person in every state to respond to those in mental health crisis.

As part of temporary COVID-19 programming all Ohio households receiving SNAP have been receiving temporary emergency allotments to bring their monthly benefit to the maximum amount for their household size. When the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) ends, all beneficiaries will return to receiving their base benefit. While this loss in federal food assistance will undeniably hurt everyone who relies on the program to meet their nutritional needs, older adults, a population that already disproportionately struggles with food security, will face the most severe impacts. 

This week, Advocates for Ohio’s Future released a new Medicaid eligibility resource, breaking down the various pathways into Medicaid coverage.

This tax season, it’s more important than ever that every Ohioan file an income tax return - yes, every Ohioan, regardless of income level! Because of flexibilities included in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), many Ohioans and their families will be eligible to receive thousands of dollars back in their federal tax return through the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, and any missed third stimulus checks.