Voices For Ohios Children

VOICES FOR OHIO'S CHILDREN IS A STATE WIDE, MULTI-ISSUE CHILD ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION THAT ADVOCATES FOR PUBLIC POLICY THAT IMPROVES THE WELL-BEING OF OHIO'S CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

ADVOCATE FOR CHANGES TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND AVAILABILITY OF HOME VISITING SERVICES TO OHIO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH HELP ME GROW AND MATERNAL, INFANT, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING (MIECHV), CONSISTENT WITH THE 2016 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HOME VISITING STAKEHOLDER AND PROVIDER WORKGROUPS. SUPPORT STATEWIDE EFFORTS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY CHILD CARE INCLUDING ENSURING ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THE STEP UP TO QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM. SUPPORT AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT ENSURE MORE CHILDREN IN LOW-INCOME FAMILIES SUCCEED IN SCHOOL

RETAIN THE COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE OF CHILDREN'S BENEFITS IN MEDICAID INCLUDING OPTIONAL SERVICES SUCH AS ORAL HEALTHCARE IN THE EARLY AND PERIODIC SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT (EPSDT) PROGRAM. MAINTAIN MEDICAID EXPANSION. PURSUE INNOVATIVE POLICY OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FOR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL SETTINGS. ENSURE THAT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REDESIGN STRENGTHENS ACCESS TO CARE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BY MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTS OF THE POLICY PROPOSALS, INCLUDING WORKFORCE CAPACITY AND ACCESS TO SERVICES. SUPPORT THE ELIMINATION OF HEALTH DISPARITIES AND PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY TO REDUCE INFANT MORTALITY

SUPPORT ACCESS TO QUALITY AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING. RESOLVE CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS TO ACCESSING COORDINATED CARE ACROSS CHILD-SERVING SYSTEMS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES CONSISTENT WITH THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON MULTI-SYSTEM YOUTH RECOMMENDATIONS. SUPPORT THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EXTENSION OF FOSTER CARE THROUGH AGE 21. ENSURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES MAINTAINS ITS MISSION AND YOUTH-SPECIFIC PROGRAMMING THAT PRODUCE THE BEST OUTCOMES FOR OHIO'S YOUTH, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. ENCOURAGE INVESTMENTS IN YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND MENTORING PROGRAMS