by: Andy Jesson and Sarah Hudacek
Advocates for Ohio’s Future (AOF) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of over 500 state and local health and human services policy, advocacy and provider organizations that strive to strengthen families and communities through public funding for health, human services, and early care and education. We work to empower and support nonprofit organizations in the critical work they do, especially as it relates to lifting up the most vulnerable among us.
2023 Budget & Policy Priorities
In February, AOF announced three specific areas of focus for advocacy during this General Assembly, centered on COVID-era benefits, Medicaid, and the benefits cliff. Our first goal was to ensure coverage protections and strengthen supportive services as enhanced COVID-era benefits and program flexibilities expire. AOF focused on helping lead the work of the Ohio COVID Recovery Coalition, helping increase preparedness for the loss of health coverage and nutrition supports.
Our second goal was to maintain and expand Medicaid eligibility so all Ohioans get the health care and coverage they need. AOF worked with our partner organizations to expand Medicaid eligibility, allow for continuous coverage for children up to six years old, and ensure Ohioans seeking health care and mental health and addiction services have sufficient access.
Our third goal was to convene a dedicated coalition of AOF partners, community organizations and business leaders to develop comprehensive strategies to address the benefits cliff and strengthen work and family supports across public programs. In collaboration with partner organizations, AOF pursued increases in Ohio’s Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC), an increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for older adults without earned income, and a shift to the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) by making it fully refundable.
Although not all of our policy goals were achieved, AOF will continue to work towards the goals above in 2024.
Rally for Ohio’s Future
This past June, AOF and our members spearheaded the Rally For Ohio’s Future, an event held on the lawn of the Ohio Statehouse. Amid damaging spending cuts proposed in the Ohio Senate version of the State Operating Budget, the event showed unified support for key initiatives supporting public schools, childcare, healthcare, housing, food insecurity, and older Ohioans. Buses were offered from foodbanks across the state, and we were excited by the nearly 200 advocates who attended the rally.
Budget Advocacy
In addition to the Rally, AOF also testified before the House Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Senate Health Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and submitted written testimony to the Senate Medicaid Committee. We wrote a letter to budget conferees urging the restoration of many House-inserted investments in the budget and the removal of harmful provisions added by the Senate. We also sent a letter to Governor DeWine requesting a line-item veto.
In June, AOF hosted a press conference featuring seven of our members discussing the harmful provisions included in the Senate budget and advocating for changes to better support Ohioans.
AOF also had record engagement online and on social media platforms during the 2023 budget process. In June alone, nearly 4,000 people visited AOF’s website, interactions on Twitter were in the tens of thousands, and newsletter engagement skyrocketed. We also hosted eight budget webinars over the 6-month budget process, with over 700 attendees in total.
Food Insecurity
AOF partnered with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks in 2023 to begin the State of Hunger legislative education series. State of Hunger events give legislators and staff the opportunity to learn about the current state of food insecurity in Ohio, resources available to assist constituents facing food insecurity, and a review of recent nutrition-related policies enacted at the state and federal levels. In collaboration with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, AOF hosted two State of Hunger events in 2023 and plans to continue hosting the events on a semi-annual basis.
COVID Cliff Advocacy
Throughout the year, AOF focused on raising awareness about the end of temporary pandemic-era flexibilities and program expansions to Medicaid and SNAP. We organized over three dozen meetings with legislators, hosted a webinar about the COVID cliff, created two public webpages with important SNAP and Medicaid information, and created a webpage designed for use by legislative offices answering questions on the COVID cliff.
American Rescue Plan Act Tracking
Last year, AOF and the Ohio Poverty Law Center (OPLC) released a new tool for tracking American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) spending, at OhioARPATracker.org. In September, AOF and OPLC released an overview of ARPA spending to date. We reported that although the entire $5.4 billion in State Fiscal Recovery Funds has been appropriated, just half of that has been granted, distributed, or spent, leaving billions in federal dollars yet to be used. Funds from ARPA must be appropriated by December 31, 2024, and spent by the end of 2026. We’ll continue to update the ARPA tracker until that time, to ensure federal funds are used as fully as possible by the deadlines.
The Debt Ceiling
In May, AOF sent a letter to Senators Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance during talks about raising the federal debt ceiling. AOF stressed the importance of key food, healthcare, and housing initiatives, and urged the Senators not to cut public benefits as part of the debt ceiling agreement. AOF remains committed to social programs that build a better future for all Ohioans.
Elections
AOF shared important information with voters for the May, August, and November elections held in Ohio this year. We focused on providing voters with information regarding registration deadlines, valid ID requirements, and trusted nonpartisan information on ballot issues.
A Year of Changes
AOF and its affiliated members underwent many exciting career transitions over the past 12 months. Kelsey Bergfeld, director of AOF for five years, transitioned into a new role with AARP Ohio. John Corlett, one of the co-founders of AOF and CEO of The Center for Community Solutions – AOF’s fiscal agent and partner – retired after dedicating 40 years to public service. Emily Campbell, who has more than a decade of experience at Community Solutions alone, has succeeded John in the CEO role. This past year, AOF also mourned the loss of one of AOF’s co-founders and the fiercest advocate for children, Gayle Channing Tenenbaum. Read John Corlett’s recounting of the story of Gayle’s pivotal role in founding AOF here.
In other changes, Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, longstanding Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, retired. Her successor, Joree Novotny, is now a member of AOF’s Executive Committee. Steven Wagner, Executive Director of the Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio, retired. Longtime UHCAN employee Charlotte Rudolph is now serving as Executive Director. Executive Director of the Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association Joel Potts transitioned into a leadership role at the new Ohio Department of Children and Youth. Laura Abu-Absi, who brings years of experience with state and county government, will succeed him as Executive Director. Will Petrik, a former AOF Director and most recently a project manager for Policy Matters Ohio, transitioned to a new role at a Franklin County-based nonprofit. Congratulations to all moving on to new adventures – in new roles and in retirement!
Additionally, as 2024 quickly approaches, we are excited to announce six new organizations are joining our Steering Committee. We are excited to work with them in 2024 and beyond in pursuit of our shared goals. AOF is also welcoming a new Co-Chair onto our Executive Committee. More details to come in January!
What’s Coming in 2024?
In 2024, AOF plans to continue efforts to increase voter participation and awareness of more recent changes in Ohio election law. AOF will inform voters about the March and November elections, relying on trusted, nonpartisan sources. We will also continue engagement around new voter ID requirements and voter registration deadlines, ensuring as many Ohioans as possible are involved in the election process.
The benefit cliff is an area central to AOF’s advocacy plans in the upcoming year. Presently, we are working with a benefit cliff collaborative of individuals from across the state and in different fields. The goal of this group is advocating for legislative and administrative solutions in the benefit cliff in 2024.
Preparations for the 2025 budget process will also begin for AOF next year. AOF will host the second Budget Training Academy in 2024, intended to increase awareness and educate others about Ohio’s budget process. The Budget Training Academy will begin with virtual webinars in July and culminate in an in-person Summit and HHS reception in December.
We are grateful for all of the support we’ve received from our partners, members, and supporters this past year. Your continued support of AOF directly impacts our ability to pursue our goal of building a better Ohio for all, especially our most vulnerable. As we continue in this mission, please keep in touch by following us on Twitter (or X), Facebook, and signing up for our weekly newsletter. Happy Holidays from AOF, and here’s to a successful 2024!