What you may have missed in the budget: The State of Ohio’s updated parental leave policy

What you may have missed in the budget: The State of Ohio’s updated parental leave policy

During the state budget debate over funding, the state’s parental leave policy was changed to allow employees working for the State of Ohio more paid time off upon the birth or adoption of a child. The major changes are highlighted below: State employees will now have 12 weeks of paid time off, at 70 percent of their regular pay rate,...

Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services: Final budget overview

Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services: Final budget overview

On July 5th, Governor Mike DeWine signed H.B.33 into law. The enacted version of H.B. 33 appropriates $1.2 billion in FY 2024 and $1.1 billion in FY 2025 for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS), totaling $2.3 billion for the entire biennium. Approximately half (50.4%) of these funds come from the General Revenue Fund (GRF). Roughly a...

Financial challenges in two Cleveland neighborhoods: housing, wages, childcare

By: Ivan T. Conard, Intern, Community Impact and Engagement During my internship with the Center for Community Solutions, I embarked on a journey that allowed me to dive deep into the heart of Cleveland’s neighborhoods. Through surveys conducted via handwritten notes, verbal discussions, and digital links, I gained invaluable insights into the challenges faced by the community. Let’s investigate the...

HIV Funding – A Legacy Worth Protecting

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

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)

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...