The GOP-led Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee has proposed a series of devastating reductions in funding for programs intended to combat HIV/AIDS, including eliminating all $220 million in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) portion of the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative. Three counties in...
Department of Children and Youth Begins Planning; Announces New Director
Earlier this year, the DeWine administration announced in their state budget proposal a plan to create the Department of Children and Youth (DCY). The agency will combine several programs and resources from six agencies working in health and human services. With the recent passage of the state budget, the new Department is officially going to be included as a service...
April HHSA meetings focused on housing, transportation, medical respite and recovery
The Cuyahoga County Health, Human Services, and Aging Committee met on April 5th, 2023, to consider several contracts. The meeting was Chaired by Vice Chairman Martin Sweeney. The first item considered was an award of $10,000 over two years to Enterprise Community Partners. The funds were administered because of the American Rescue Plan Act, from the District 9 ARPA Community...
May HHSA contract focused on supporting crime victims and trauma survivors & community health and crime prevention
The Cuyahoga County Health, Human Services, and Aging Committee met on May 3, 2023, to consider one contract. The featured contract considered was an award of $20,000 to Brenda Glass Multipurpose Trauma Center from the District 9 ARPA Community Grant Fund. Presenting to the HHSA committee was Candice Williams, Ohio State Director for the Alliance for Safety Justice (ASJ), Shakyra...
The Ohio Department of Medicaid’s Substance Use Waiver (SUD) 1115 Waiver: An Update
The SUD 1115 demonstration waiver is a pilot program meant to offer a comprehensive continuum of care for Medicaid-enrolled individuals with an opioid use disorder or other substance use disorder. A central part of the waiver focuses on enhancing residential treatment services by permitting Ohio to receive federal funding for Medicaid services for individuals with an OUD and/or SUD who...
Community Engagement: How to Make It Meaningful
Think about the last community engagement event you attended. How did you feel about it during and after? How did you know about it? Why did you decide to go? Who else was there? Were you glad you went or did it feel like someone was checking a “community engagement box”? Through our consulting services, Community Solutions is often involved...
Special election on August 8: why and how (and bring your ID)
Ohioans will go to the polls on Tuesday, August 8. This election is unusual. There is a single item on the ballot: Issue 1 “Elevating the Standards to Qualify for an Initiated Constitutional Amendment and to Pass a Constitutional Amendment.” As the official ballot language shows, voting “Yes” means that future constitutional amendments will need at least 60 percent of...
Welcome Dylan Armstrong, Public Policy Fellow
The Center for Community Solutions welcomes a new member of the public policy team, based in the Columbus office. Dylan Armstrong joins Community Solutions in the role of Public Policy Fellow. “We are excited that Dylan has joined the team. His advocacy and state budget experience, across several roles and different states, will enhance the policy team’s reach in Columbus...
An update on 988: What is the future of behavioral health crisis care?
On July 7th, 2023, Governor Mike DeWine gave a press conference discussing the 988 Lifeline. His press conference outlined significant changes that have occurred since the Lifeline number was federally changed last July. Previous work by Community Solutions has tracked the implementation of the 988 Lifeline number. With the conclusion of the state budget, the Ohio Department of Mental Health...
Governor DeWine supports local bans on flavored tobacco products in the state budget
On July 4, 2023, Governor Mike DeWine vetoed numerous provisions from the state budget, including the preemptive language that would prevent local regulation on tobacco and alternative nicotine products. Originally, the Ohio Senate included the preemptive language about tobacco regulation and retail licensing in its version of the state budget along with other plans to eliminate programs in the health...