Community Solutions’ State Budget priorities for 2026-27

The Center for Community Solutions is pleased to share its priorities for the 2026-27 State Operating Budget. As we await the formal introduction of the 2026-2027 state operating budget from Governor DeWine in early February, we reflected on the work of the executive and legislative branches over the last several years and have included below priorities that build upon this work done to date.

These priorities span health and human services and at their core are focused on improving the health, social and economic conditions of Ohioans. We look forward to engaging with our partners and the executive and legislative branches of state government to educate on, elevate and advance these goals over the next several months and years.

Improve coordination, efficiency and access across public benefits, including Medicaid, SNAP, TANF and WIC.

• Support for county JFS offices
• Improve the self-service portal

What we’ve written:

• My Experience with SNAP Employment & Training Requirements in Ohio
• SNAP Employment and Training Program: Best practices for Ohio
• Policy innovation could encourage young people to work while protecting SNAP benefits 

Support tax policies that center the realities of families as they juggle working, caretaking and making ends meet.

What we’ve written:

• Sandwich Caregivers: Holding it All Together
• Record Low Unemployment Statistics Leave Out Millions of Ohioans
• New Data Shows Ohio Children at Lowest Poverty Rate in 20 Years
• What helps poor families? A look at new census data
• More than just a refund: EITC helps lift people from poverty
• Emily Campbell at the City Club: 5 Things about poverty in Cleveland

 Advocate for solutions to health and human services issues that address the needs of Ohioans of every age.

Families come in all shapes and sizes, and we must consider the needs of family members across the life span, from young adults to working-age parents struggling to older Ohioans.

What we’ve written:

• Barriers and Access to Resources in the Union-Miles Neighborhood 

Improve data collection and sharing and implement strategies to improve maternal health, with a focus on those most impacted by severe outcomes and death.

What we’ve written:

• Solutions to combat substance misuse and maternal mental health conditions
• Disparities in maternal mental health:  a rising public health issue
• Rethinking Maternal Mental Health Solutions
• New report finds more than 70 percent of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable

Support the continuum of care for children and youth with behavioral health needs.

This includes local MSY wraparound funds, OhioRISE, and overall improved access to services. This could include school-based health centers.

What we’ve written:

• RecoveryOhio and Suicide Prevention: Ohio’s new agenda for behavioral health
• Behavioral health disparities in Appalachia and rural Ohio
• The Great Minds Fellowship expands programming to support mental and substance use services in Ohio
• Great Minds Fellowship working to expand Ohio’s behavioral health workforce 

Advocate for additional funding for harm reduction.

What we’ve written:

• Harm Reduction in Ohio 

Ensure Summer EBT has adequate funding and infrastructure.

• Build specific requests from the results of the Summer EBT research project.

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