2008-2010 Public Policy Agenda
Recommended Advocacy Issues from Result Committees
Result Committee Recommended Advocacy
Issue
Safe & Decent Revitalize vacant and abandoned
Housing housing and property.
Recommendation: Tier One
Current Agenda Item at Tier
One
Support policies that hold
landlords accountable for the
quality of their rental properties.
Monitor as Tier Three or add as a
strategy to Tier One vacant and
abandoned property issue.
New Item
Safe Neighborhoods Support policies that slow the
rate of home foreclosures.
Rationale
There are 4,200 vacant and abandoned structures in Columbus, up from 3,500 in 2006.
Vacant and abandoned houses contribute to overall blighted conditions of a neighborhood,
lower property values and often set the stage for criminal activity such as vagrancy, drug
dealing and prostitution.
Advocates have experienced success in highlighting the affect of vacant and abandoned
property. HB 138 passed the house in December, has had three hearings before the Senate
Judiciary Committee on Civil Justice, and looks good for Senate passage. Required recordation
of deeds is just one of the strategies identified in our current public policy agenda. The vacant
and abandoned property problem has the attention of all levels of government and both sides
of the aisle. Community Research Partner’s recent project on behalf of ReBuild Ohio provides
additional data and talking points. The Safe & Decent Housing and Safe Neighborhoods
Results Committees believe much more work remains to be done in this area and urge
continued Tier One focus.
According to the U.S. Census, in 2002 there were 20,000 renter-occupied housing units and
10,700 renter-occupied housing units with moderate to severe physical problems. These units
exhibit serious exterior and interior housing code issues that need to be enforced in order to
maintain the quality of Central Ohio neighborhoods and the safety of our citizens. Existing
enforcement codes and staff are inadequate to address such issues in a timely fashion.
Annual inspections of rental property and/or stricter code enforcements would make it difficult
for landlords to neglect their properties.
A recent study by Business First revealed that there were 7,500 foreclosures in the Columbus
market in the first six months of 2007, up from 3,500 in the first six months of 2005.
Currently, 45 houses a day are foreclosed on in the Columbus market. For every foreclosure in
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Result Committee Recommended Advocacy
Issue
No Tier Recommendation
New Item
Barriers to Accessing Increase access to health care for
Health Care low-income families.
Recommendation: Tier Two
Current Agenda Item at Tier
Two
Ensure quality healthcare for
Central Ohio’s growing immigrant
communities.
Recommendation: Tier Two
New Item
Centralize aggregate health care
data and monitor use of health
care system at the community
level.
Recommendation: Tier Three
New Item
Rationale
a neighborhood, the surrounding houses fall 1% in value. As more foreclosures occur, the
rates of vacant and abandoned properties increase. Strategies could range from financial
literacy classes to supporting a moratorium on foreclosures to suing unethical lenders.
Expanded Medicaid eligibility does little for low-income families if physicians – particularly
specialists – cap the number of Medicaid patients they see. Many physicians contend that low
Medicaid reimbursement rates prohibit them from caring for large numbers of Medicaid eligible
patients.
Committee members recommend an expanded focus on expanding Medicaid eligibility, which
will help increase access to health care for low income families. A focus on enrollment of
eligible populations is important as well as increasing the number of providers accepting
Medicaid reimbursement. Work to reduce renewal and administrative barriers.
Central Ohio is home to growing Somali and Hispanic communities. Health care must be
provided despite cultural and language differences. Central Ohio is also home for many
undocumented families in need of health care.
There is a disconnect between available information and services and utilization of services by
people who need care. Policies are needed that ensure people utilize the care that’s available
and cultural competency must be prioritized in health care delivery.
The health care system and related subsystems have grown increasingly fragmented, due in
part to lack of information sharing and availability of aggregate data that would allow for
monitoring of system utilization.
A monitoring system could be used by public health departments, safety-net provider
organizations, other advocates, and funders to obtain needed information about Franklin
County’s health care safety-net’s capacity (supply and demand).
The monitoring system could:
• Document gaps in capacity, the need for additional resources and how those resources
could best be used to serve vulnerable persons
• Advocate for policies at the state and local levels
• Support the work of a “community answer” to the problem of access to care - insurance
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Result Committee Recommended Advocacy
Issue
Nutrition & Fitness Promote School wellness policies.
Recommendation: Tier Two
Current Agenda Item at Tier
Two
Promote alternative transit by
expanding bikeways and ensuring
the presence of sidewalks while
connecting both to safe and
decent neighborhoods.
Recommendation: Tier Three
New Item
Promote policies that encourage
access to parks and recreation.
Recommendation: Tier Two
New Item
Financial Stability Promote polices that fund and/or
increase awareness about Earned
Rationale
does not equal access
• Make more informed city and county decisions
At a basic level, a monitoring system could provide currently unavailable snapshots and trends
on descriptors of the county’s primary care safety-net.
Regardless of the fact that schools are, to some extent closed systems, opportunities still exist
to encourage healthy nutrition and fitness learning and behaviors. Advocacy can be directed
at availability of healthy food items, limitation of unhealthy food products available in schools,
amount of physical activity during the school day, and instructional standards for nutrition and
physical activity.
Providing residents with bikeways, walking paths, and sidewalks will help encourage them to
choose active transportation rather than relying solely on automobiles, thereby increasing the
frequency of physical activity. Efforts in this area would also help residents feel more
connected to their community and neighbors.
Increasing access to and availability of quality parks and recreation options as well as
programming will encourage residents to increase physical activity. Connecting parks and
recreation options to safe and decent neighborhoods will help remove barriers to exercise and
physical activity.
The federal EITC is a refundable tax credit available to many working individuals and families
who earn less than $38,000. This credit currently does more to bring working families out of
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Result Committee Recommended Advocacy
Issue
Income Tax Credits (EITC).
Recommendation: Tier One
Current Agenda Item at Tier
Three
Financial Stability Promote policies that support
(cont.) workforce development.
Recommendation: Tier Three
New Item
Emergency Food, Increase and maintain housing
Shelter & Financial and supportive services for
Assistance homeless persons and people at
risk of homelessness.
Recommendation Tier: Two
Current Agenda Item at Tier
Two
Rationale
poverty than any other government program. In the 2004 tax season, more than 780,000
Ohio families received the EITC at an average credit of $1,729, which brought more than $1.3
billion in federal refunds to Ohio. According to IRS data, $161 million dollars returned to
Franklin County because of the EITC in Tax Year 2005. Enacting an Ohio EITC that supplements
the federal credit would provide working families a needed boost in income while contributing
additional monies to the local economy.
OUW is working closely with Policy Matters to develop a statewide coalition (CA$H) to work on
financial stability. CA$H (Coalition for Assets, Savings & Hope) will help people build savings
and financial security through assets, and increase awareness about asset building initiatives.
CA$H will also begin laying the groundwork for a statewide EITC for the 2011-2012 biennium
budget.
A major obstacle to financial stability is the inability to obtain meaningful employment.
Employers want qualified and motivated workers. Workforce development programs provide
education and training that lead to successful and long-term employment. Employers see the
fiscal value of retaining good workers. Many businesses are supportive of initiatives that
address workforce issues and job satisfaction.
Support local, state and federal efforts to address the needs of homeless individuals:
• The City of Columbus is spearheading an affordable housing advocacy campaign as part of
the Rebuilding Lives Updated Strategy recommendations. Planning work for this effort will
begin this year.
• The Home for Good Ohio Campaign is a statewide coalition that’s working to secure $13
million a year for two years in the next biennial budget for supportive housing, service
coordination, and rent subsidies for disabled and homeless individuals.
• The McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the first major federal legislative response
to homelessness, is due for reauthorization. It provides a range of services to homeless
people, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, job training, primary health care,
education, and some permanent housing. The reauthorization could result in increased
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Result Committee Recommended Advocacy
Issue
Increase state and federal
resources for food bank support.
Recommendation: Tier Two
New Item
Emergency Food, Develop 2-1-1 Plus system to
Shelter & Financial help people in crisis.
Assistance (cont.)
Recommendation: Tier Two
New Item
Increase state funding for safety
net services.
Recommendation: Tier Three
New Item
Develop public support for the
Emergency &
implementation of 2-1-1-.
Disaster
Preparedness
Rationale
funding, expanded services and a greater target population.
The number of people in poverty or at risk of poverty continues to increase as economic
challenges continue. Food banks across the state are seeing increased demand and fewer
donations. The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (OASHF) has more than 3,300
member charities that include food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other organizations in
all 88 counties.
In the last biennial budget, OASHF asked for a $6.5 million increase to support a 5% increase in
food purchases and help compensate food banks for a 35% increase in operating costs related
to rising energy and fuel costs for transportation, storage and distribution. OASHF did not
receive the increase. Committee members would like UWCO to advocate for increased funding
in the next biennium budget.
Senator Sherrod Brown introduced emergency legislation in December to fund food banks
through the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The bill would provide $40 million
in emergency food until Congress passes a Farm Bill (currently in conference committee).
Committee members recommend an expanded 2-1-1 that would make the system a single
point of contact for persons in crisis. Expanding 2-1-1 to include call-backs or follow-up
contact with callers to make sure people in crisis receive the assistance they needed would
make 2-1-1 more effective and help prevent people from falling between the cracks.
Work with state coalitions such as Have a Heart Ohio in advocating on behalf of Ohio’s most
vulnerable citizens, especially low-income families, children and individuals. Work for
meaningful welfare reform and workforce polices. Advocate for sufficient funding for human
services.
A statewide 2-1-1 would quickly connect people impacted by an emergency or disaster with
needed services.
The Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security Office is working with
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Result Committee Recommended Advocacy
Issue
Recommended Tier: 2
Current Agenda Item at Tier
Three
High School Expand public support for urban
Graduation education efforts.
Recommendation: Tier Two
Current Agenda Item at Tier
Three
Help students successfully
transition from High School to
employment or higher learning
by supporting P-16.
Recommendation: Tier Three
New Item
High School Promote delinquency prevention
Graduation (cont.) and intervention programs.
Recommendation: Tier Two
New Item
Kindergarten Promote School Readiness.
Readiness
Recommendation: Tier One
Current Agenda Item at Tier
One
Support polices that address
Rationale
FIRSTLINK to ensure people can easily access information and services in the likelihood of a
disaster. Ohio United Way and United Way of America are heading efforts to secure state and
federal funding for 2-1-1 systems. Pockets of the state do not have 211 systems.
School funding remains inadequate for Ohio students. Despite being deemed unconstitutional,
Ohio continues to rely on property taxes to fund public schools. This is especially challenging
for urban school districts that are plagued with increased foreclosures, vacant and abandoned
properties, and urban flight. Committee members urge UWCO to become more actively
involved with coalitions that advocate for a more equitable school funding system.
P-16 is a shared education reform effort designed to align curriculum standards to higher
education standards and expectations. P-16 also aligns educators and community businesses
in a joint effort to produce skilled and talented workers needed for the 21st century economy.
Established in statute and chaired by the Governor, the Partnership for Continued Learning is
comprised of leaders from education, business and industry, economic development,
government and local communities. The Partnership is charged in statute to make policy
recommendations that will help Ohio students succeed at school, on the job, and in their lives.
Drop out rates continue to be high, leading to problems with financial stability (unemployable)
which is connected to crime and safety. Investment in delinquency prevention programs
would help keep youth in school so they can graduate. Attention is also needed in helping
ensure smooth transitions between grade levels.
Early childhood care/education advocates experienced tremendous success last year with an
increase of nearly $270 million in the state’s 2007-2008 biennium budget. Ohio is facing a state
budget deficit of at least $730 million. To date Governor Strickland has held early care harmless in
his efforts to re-balance the state budget; but economic forecasts may indicate the need for
additional cuts. Committee members would like Kindergarten Readiness to remain a Tier One
legislative priority as advocates work to protect gains made in the 2007-08 state budget.
Maternal depression is a significant risk factor affecting the well-being and school readiness of
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Result Committee Recommended Advocacy
Issue
maternal depression.
Recommendation: Tier Three or
consider including in current Tier
One School Readiness legislative
priority.
New Item
Support programs that encourage
outdoor activity and an
appreciation for the environment.
Recommendation: Tier Three or
consider including in current Tier
Two School Wellness legislative
priority.
New Item
Support policies that require
licensure of home child care
providers.
Recommendation: Add to current
Tier One School Readiness priority.
New Item
Rationale
young children. Maternal depression, alone, or in combination with other risks, can pose
serious barriers to healthy early development and school readiness. More than half the
mothers (52%) in a study of 17 Early Head Start programs reported depressive symptoms.
Maternal depression is a barrier to ensuring that young children experience the kinds of
relationships that will facilitate their success in early school years. Investing in treatment and
support for maternal depression will promote healthy early child development and school
readiness.
Outdoor programs increase children’s appreciation of the environment and helps foster a
responsibility to preserve it. The outdoor environment provides space to develop fundamental
movement skills such as walking, running and coordination. An important goal of early
childhood programs is the development of a healthy self-esteem. Outdoors, children are able
to experience the increasing control they have over their bodies and the gains they make in
their physical skills. Outdoor programs also help reduce childhood obesity.
Child care centers caring for 13 or more children are licensed by the state, as are homes
caring for seven to twelve children. However providers of one to six children in their own
homes are certified by the county only if they receive public money for their services. There is
no oversight for persons who care for up to six children for private pay, as a business, in their
homes.
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