Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio issues statement on Ohio’s final budget investments in child well-being
Kim Eckhart, Director of the Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio, has issued the following statement in response to Ohio’s budget.
“This final budget represents steps forward and backward for Ohio’s children. We have seen significant improvements from the Senate’s version, yet we believe this budget does not go far enough in making the necessary investments to make Ohio the best place for children to grow up.
“As the leader of the Hunger-Free Schools Ohio campaign, CDF-Ohio was pleased to see a final budget that includes additional investment in the school meals program. Under this new provision, students who qualify for reduced-priced meals will now be able to access both school breakfast and lunch at no cost.
“This is a moment to celebrate the efforts of students, parents, school nutrition staff and school administrators who tirelessly advocated during the budget process to end hunger during the school day and reduce school meal debt. This is a step in the right direction, but many students who face food insecurity still won’t qualify for free school meals. The Hunger-Free Schools campaign will continue efforts to ensure all students in Ohio have access to school meals at no cost.
“We are grateful that our policymakers listened to the voices of parents and medical professionals and passed a budget that provides continuous Medicaid coverage for children through age three. This guarantee of uninterrupted coverage means that infants and toddlers can get regular checkups and care throughout the crucial early years. The final budget bill also includes restoration of investments in school based health centers, something we continue to advocate for.
“We also called on our lawmakers to invest in child health by restoring Medicaid expansion to 300 percent of the federal poverty level for pregnant people and children. Unfortunately, the final budget does not include an expansion of Medicaid coverage to more pregnant women and children.
“While we are encouraged by the progress that has been made, this budget does not go far enough in supporting children and families. It falls short in supporting affordable child care, expanding Medicaid to more children who need it, and providing scholarships for children who have been in the foster care system.
“Further, while we applaud necessary updates to funding inputs for the Fair School Funding Plan, this budget’s inclusion of a universal EdChoice voucher program subsidizes the private educations of students with low household economic burden, at the expense of our public schools and students experiencing economic disadvantage, the supposed beneficiaries of vouchers to begin with.
“Our work does not end after the budget passes. As a community, we must continue to tell our representatives to finish the job of making Ohio the best place for children and youth.”
About Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio:
The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.
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