Local property tax levies are an important source of funding for a variety of health and social service programs in Ohio. They fund everything from A (abuse and neglect investigations) to Z (Zika virus surveillance). Community Solutions identified 42 of Ohio’s 88 counties that have at least one levy for health or social services in this year’s November general election....
November 4, 2019November 1, 2019
County council HHSA committee hears update as foster care costs soar
The October 16 meeting of the Cuyahoga County Health, Human Services and Aging committee saw presentations from two community organizations, and also considered several contracts, one of which expands the number of providers in the foster-care system. The number of children in foster care has soared to more than 2,900 children currently in out-of-home care, the highest number in a...
October 28, 2019October 24, 2019
Medicaid Substance Use Disorder waiver is a critical tool
by Loren Anthesin Blog, Medicaid
On September 24, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Ohio’s 1115 Substance Use Disorder Demonstration waiver (SUD waiver). The approval of the SUD waiver represents years of Medicaid policy debate about the role and scale of the behavioral health delivery system as Ohio grapples with the consequences of the opioid epidemic and tries to comply with federal...
October 21, 2019October 11, 2019
Why I’m nervous about the census
by Kate Warrenin Blog, Data, Ohio
The census – the constitutionally mandated effort by the government to count each person living on U.S. soil every 10 years- is one of this country’s original grassroots movements. It is a more significant undertaking than any campaign, or any get out the vote effort. Every 10 years, we try to count everyone. The results of that count impact apportionment...
October 21, 2019October 16, 2019
Ohio awarded federal grants to address, study maternal health
By: Tara Britton, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy Hope Lane, Public Policy & External Affairs Associate Ohio was recently notified that it will receive two new federal grants to address maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the state. These grants come from two separate agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Centers for Disease...
October 21, 2019October 15, 2019
Volunteers teach, advocate, protect, empower and keep hope alive
by Roslyn Kalealin Blog, Celebration
It never fails. Every year, when the winners of the Most Treasured Volunteer Award are introduced, I think “Wow. We are so fortunate to have people like this in our community.” And this year is no different. This year’s honored volunteers include: A single mom who leads dozens of girls on exciting adventures through cheer and community service, teaching life...
October 14, 2019October 14, 2019
Cuyahoga County executive releases new budget recommendations
Cuyahoga County executive Armond Budish released his third county budget last week, the 2020-2021 biennium budget. The proposed budget totals more than $1.75 billion[1] in total expenditures. With questions swirling about the future of the Justice Center, fallout from the jail conditions, questions surrounding an aging population, as well as increased demand in services for children, the proposed budget faced...
October 14, 2019October 11, 2019
Ohio families and advocates praise Governor’s MSY funding announcement
As an advocate for children, youth and families for more than 52 years, I am grateful that Ohio’s Governor, House and Senate listened to parents and young people and have taken action to end the awful practice of forced custody relinquishment of multi-system youth. The term ‘multi-system youth’ refers to children and teenagers with complex behavioral, physical and developmental needs...
October 7, 2019October 4, 2019
Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality Focus of ‘Toxic: A Black Woman’s Story’
by Emily Muttilloin Blog, Infant Mortality, Maternal mortality and morbidity, Ohio, Strengthening the HHS Safety Net
Last week, First Year Cleveland through their Pregnancy And Infant Loss Initiative (PAIL), debuted a short film that tells the story of infant loss from a black women’s perspective. As the film website explains, the film invites the viewer to “Follow Nina in this day-in-the-life drama, and see the world through the eyes of a successful black woman who must...
October 7, 2019October 4, 2019
Ohio’s single-mom households more likely to live in poverty than single dads, what does this mean for kids?
Being a single parent is hard. Without another adult in the family, responsibilities for caregiving, earning and household management fall on a single set of shoulders. There are more than 377,000 families with children in Ohio that are classified as “female householder, no husband present,” the Census Bureau’s designation for a single mother (or grandmother or foster mother) household. Nearly...