Chair Roemer, Ranking Member West and members of the committee, my name is Will Petrik. I am the Budget Researcher with Policy Matters Ohio, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. Our mission is to create a more prosperous, equitable, sustainable and inclusive Ohio. Thank you for the opportunity to testify on House
From Akron to Athens, most of us want the same things for ourselves and our family: peace of mind that we can put food on the table and see a doctor when we need to. Today, certain corporate interests and their political allies are pushing Senate Bill 17 (SB 17),
Chair Roegner, Vice Chair McColley, Ranking Member Craig and members of the committee. My name is Will Petrik and I am the Budget Researcher with Policy Matters Ohio, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. Our mission is to create a more prosperous, equitable, sustainable and inclusive Ohio. Thank you for the opportunity
All children, no matter their race or where they come from, deserve a safe, stable, supportive home. Today, that’s not the reality for thousands of children in Ohio’s two-tiered foster care system. In violation of federal law, Ohio provides far less financial support to a child in state custody who
Introduction Ohio’s future depends on all our children thriving. Children need love, and a safe, stable environment that supports healthy growth and development. Yet poverty, racism and the ongoing opiate addiction crisis have resulted in many Ohio children enduring the trauma of separation from their family of origin. Now, the
As the drug epidemic drives more children into Ohio’s child welfare system, state lawmakers must provide more resources to help relatives and family friends take care of children who have been separated from their biological parents, according to a new report by Policy Matters Ohio. Currently, Ohio provides less support
Everyone, no matter their race, income or zip code, deserves stability and security. Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans have lost their jobs and thousands more have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding economic downturn. Federal lawmakers must act now to help families and communities rebound quickly,
The COVID-19 relief plan released by Senate Republicans Monday doesn’t do enough to help Ohioans put food on the table or stabilize the economy, new analysis from Policy Matters Ohio shows. Joined by the Ohio Association of Foodbanks and Children’s Defense Fund of Ohio, Policy Matters called on Congress to
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disastrous impact on the child care industry in Ohio and across the nation, including layoffs, closures and major declines in enrollment. Child care providers need federal relief now to prevent additional closures. Working families are also experiencing hardships, managing work and caregiving. Mothers,
If Congress doesn’t allocate enough support in the next stimulus bill, Ohio could lose 204,000 child care slots, according to a new report from Policy Matters Ohio. Policy Matters released the report at a press conference today with the Ohio Organizing Collaborative (OOC). Child care has been one of the
Dear Governor DeWine: Everyone, no matter where they live or what they look like, needs stability and security. The COVID-19 crisis has upended the lives of all Ohioans and slowed down our economy. As we all work together to flatten the COVID-19 curve, we ask you to do everything you
Ohio can do more to guide newly unemployed Ohioans to apply for food, healthcare, rent and child care assistance A coalition of health and human service organizations, labor unions, and policy institutes sent Governor DeWine a joint letter yesterday asking him and his administration to make sure that every Ohioan
