After a series of vetoes by the governor, the General Assembly seems primed for some last minute veto overrides before the end of what has been a very active lame-duck session. Of particular consequence is the threat of “freezing” the Medicaid expansion. Evidence shows that this program is a true safety net, with the majority...
Category: Strengthening the HHS Safety Net
December 24, 2018
Achievement Gap or Resource Gap? A Discussion on Poverty and Opportunity at Celebration of Human Services
On October 26, The Center for Community Solutions hosted its annual Celebration of Human Services. As part of the celebration, Community Solutions organized breakout sessions covering select topics. One such session delivered a powerful panel discussion around poverty and opportunity. Chris Matthews, a parent and Community Change Agent, Mary Bogle, Principal Research Associate at the...
December 24, 2018
Criminal justice and behavioral health number one issue for many in Northeast Ohio
By: Tara Britton, tbritton@communitysolutions.com Brie Lusheck, blusheck@communitysolutions.com On October 26, The Center for Community Solutions hosted its annual Celebration of Human Services in Cleveland. The event highlighted the incredible service from individuals around the city as volunteers, providers and public officials gathered to pay homage to the human services work and workers in Cleveland. Three breakout...
December 3, 2018
Racial Equity is at the “Very Heart of Policy:” Reflections from IMPACT 2018
By Will Tarter, wtarter@communitysolutions.com Adam White, awhite@communitysolutions.com Last week, several staff members from The Center for Community Solutions flew to Washington, D.C. to join a delegation of Ohio advocates and policy thinkers at IMPACT 2018, a state policy conference hosted annually by The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). IMPACT is one of...
November 26, 2018
How Ohio helps needy families in crisis, but still encourages a goal of self-sufficiency
The Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) program, as previously detailed in a report released by The Center for Community Solutions, addresses emergent needs families may experience during a time of hardship. A loss of a job or a sudden illness are only a few examples of issues that could catapult families into poverty. These scenarios...
November 12, 2018
Number of Ohio syringe exchange programs more than doubles in two and a half years
Syringe exchange programs are a public health strategy designed to prevent the spread of blood borne pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis amongst people who inject drugs (PWID). The programs also connect clients to other services, including substance abuse treatment, HIV testing, and, in some cases, physical and mental health treatment. In March of 2016,...
November 5, 2018
Dear future governor, How will you strengthen the health and human services safety net?
With Tuesday’s midterm election, Ohioans are bracing for the changes new state leadership will bring. In order to better inform Ohioans on some of the policy issues that may be discussed in the future, The Center for Community Solutions has continued its work to provide 18 questions for the 2018 election. A future governor who...
October 22, 2018
Election Day is coming; will Ohio’s candidates make adolescent reproductive health a priority?
In Ohio, sex education varies among school districts and is often episodic and inconsistent. Research shows that when sex education is comprehensive (builds on itself, is taught Kindergarten through twelfth-grade), age-appropriate, evidence-based, medically accurate and inclusive (of all genders, sexual orientations, race and ethnicities) it can delay sexual initiation. It can also reduce unintended pregnancy,...
September 17, 2018
New Census data offers insight on how work requirements may affect low-income Ohioans’ access to food assistance
Each year, the release of new census data from the year before offers a chance to learn the latest changes in population shifts, poverty rates, insurance coverage and other important indicators within our communities. Data and policy wonks are often quick to point to certain policy decisions and social trends that drive the outcomes shown...
September 10, 2018
A Declining OWF Caseload Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story
While Ohio’s economy has certainly been on the upswing since the end of the Great Recession, many Ohioans are still struggling to provide even the most basic necessities for their families like personal hygiene items, clothes, cleaning products and diapers. For very low-income families, Ohio Works First (OWF), Ohio’s cash assistance program under the federal...