Policymakers can reduce involuntary commitments by filling the crisis care gap Forced treatment for mental illness — known as “involuntary commitment,” “civil commitment,” and “pink-slipping” — highlights the overlap between Ohio’s health care and criminal legal systems. A new Policy Matters report, Involuntary commitment and the crisis care gap, describes how the
New research spells out Clevelanders’ complex feelings about crisis response, first responders, and public safety The people most likely to interact with emergency responders should have a say in the county’s developing care response program, say local advocates and researchers. A new report from Policy Matters Ohio and REACH (Responding with Empathy
17.5%: Share of Ohio households facing undue energy burdens, without even considering heating fuel costs. That is one of many reasons Climate & Sustainability Researcher Molly Bryden delivered proponent testimony on House Bill 197, which would establish a pilot program for community solar in Ohio. She was among dozens delivering
Policy Matters Ohio testifies in support of HB 197 before the House Public Utilities Committee Policy Matters Climate & Sustainability Researcher Molly Bryden today delivered proponent testimony on House Bill 197, which would establish a pilot program for community solar in Ohio. “Community solar presents Ohioans with an opportunity to
Numeric news from Policy Matters 45.6%: Share of revenue collected into Ohio’s General Revenue Fund that came from the sales tax last year. That share has increased dramatically in the last 20 years, as Ohio leaders repeatedly cut the income tax (the only progressive tax in the state) and raised
Advocates propose four policies to fix the tax code State legislators have tax policy options that would help Ohio families, workers, property owners, renters, and others with low or moderate incomes, according to a new brief from Policy Matters Ohio Tax Policy Researcher Bailey Williams. Policy Matters, Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio,
Gov. DeWine raises more questions than he answers Gov. DeWine delivered his annual State of the State address in Columbus today, outlining policy priorities and ambitions for the coming year. Policy Matters Ohio Executive Director Hannah Halbert released the following statement, with contributions from Policy Matters staff: In today’s State
Policy Matters, Children’s Defense Fund, NOBLE highlight tax policies that work for everyone Ohio’s tax system is upside-down and backward, catering to the wealthiest at the expense of the lowest-paid, and leaving our state with too few resources to meet critical needs. Researchers and advocates from around the state will
Numeric news from Policy Matters $9,697: Average annual cost of child care for one infant in Ohio. $138,528: Minimum annual household income required to make that amount “affordable” according to benchmarks set by the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. $65,720: Median annual household income in Ohio. That means
Policymakers leave parents, providers without options State legislators have driven Ohio’s child care system into crisis, according to a new report released today by Policy Matters Ohio. The state makes it more difficult than any other for parents to qualify for Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC), and reimburses PFCC providers
State proposes changes that conform to letter, violate spirit of federal policy The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and Department of Children and Youth (DCY) may change the rules of Step Up to Quality (SUTQ), the state’s long-established rating system for child care providers. The planned changes
We need to provide better support for Ohioans returning from prison
This piece was previously published on Cleveland.com and is reprinted here with permission. It’s Reentry Week in Cuyahoga County, dedicated to raising awareness about how we support (and too often fail to support) Ohioans who return home after being incarcerated. First, some facts about the people we imprison: Ohio held