This week, Groundwork Ohio hosted a leadership training for the Ohio Department of Health's Ohio Equity Institute (OEI) teams on how policy and practice can improve social determinants of health in communities across the state. OEI teams are tasked with developing upstream strategies specific to their communities that positively impact women and reduce infant mortality rates. During the training, the teams participated in hands-on exercises that challenged them to think critically about the barriers women in their community face and develop specific strategies to address those barriers. Teams also had an opportunity to hear from a panel of leading experts on the social determinants of health and benefit from technical assistance as they work to implement their action plans. We are excited to see how OEI teams apply the tools and expertise gained during the training to lift up the women and children in their communities! Interested in learning more about trainings provided by Groundwork Ohio? Contact us.
Join the largest and fastest-growing network of programs serving children in need. First Book and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) are supporting educators in the region who serve kids in need by creating access to affordable and free books and resources--everything from new, relevant books to free educator resources, school supplies, technology, winter coats and socks. Sign up for immediate, ongoing access to new books and resources. Registration is always free! Register now. Who can join First Book? Anyone touching the lives of children and families in low-income communities should sign up now... schools, early childhood programs, military family support programs, shelters, clinics, libraries, and more are encouraged to join! (Not sure if you're eligible? Check here.) For a limited time, you can also use this coupon for $25 off books from the Marketplace and Book Bank!
FAO is also providing Social-Emotional Learning Book Kits to schools throughout Appalachian Ohio. The Kit includes six books that address social-emotional learning themes that are relevant to elementary school students and represent 1st-3rd reading and content levels, though some of the books include Kindergarten in their target age range. The books come with reading guides that teachers can use in their classrooms as they guide their students through the books. It also includes a trauma-informed toolkit, a resource developed by First Book in response to the demand from classroom educators for strategies they can use to address student trauma in their classrooms. Educators and service providers interested in accessing the free book series may contact FAO at 740.753.1111 or info@ffao.org.
Join the Groundwork Team... We're Hiring!
Interested in joining our awesome team? Groundwork is seeking a full-time Policy Associate to support our statewide effort to ensure that every child has the best chance for lifelong success. Check out the full job description here.
Please submit a resume and cover letter for consideration to lwolf@groundworkohio.org. Additional writing sample and professional references may be requested after an initial review of the application. All applicants will get written notification via email of whether or not they will be invited to an interview.
Upcoming Event: An Equitable Start for Children
The United Way of Greater Cincinnati knows that although most children are given the same starting point in life, ultimately their lived experiences determine their opportunity to succeed. United Way Success By 6®, with partners like you, helps to bridge the gap to ensure that every child gets a stronger start to a successful future.
Join United Way on November 12 at Xavier University to:
Broaden your understanding of how inequities show up in early childhood with a panel featuring local and state (OH & KY) experts
Learn more about the future direction of United Way Success By 6® and how our work must change together to ensure an equitable start for children
Make connections and be inspired by the collective power of your partnership with United Way Success By 6®
Breakfast and free parking provided.
Questions? Contact Carol.Hilliard@uwgc.org.
The Groundwork staff hopes to see you there!
The Administration for Children and Families Wants YOUR Input
This week, the Administration for Children and Families posted a request for information on improving access to affordable, high-quality child care in the US. We encourage you to share your experience, expertise, and knowledge of the challenges in your communities to help inform future action by ACF and work toward improving our child care system for Ohio's children and families.
Improving Access to Affordable, High-Quality Child Care As part of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) commitment to supporting working families and promoting the healthy development and well-being of children, ACF is seeking input from the public and interested stakeholders on strategies to improve access to high quality, affordable child care in the U.S. Child care is one of the biggest expenses a family faces and can be a barrier to work. The average cost of center-based infant child care in 28 states is more than college tuition. At the same time, child care settings are a place of learning and education for children from the time they are infants and toddlers through their school-age years. Access to high-quality learning opportunities lays the foundation for children’s development and, ultimately, their success in school and in life. Unfortunately, many families do not have access to the affordable, high-quality child care their children need. This Request for Information seeks public comment on:
Identifying emerging and innovative practices to improve access to high-quality child care
Identifying regulatory and other policies that unnecessarily drive up the cost of care or limit parents’ choice of different child care options
Identifying ways to improve funding of child care and other related early education programs to support quality and create a more streamlined, equitable, and sustainable financing framework for future generations.
Information collected through this request may be used by ACF in the development of future rulemaking and technical assistance, formation of legislative proposals and research agendas, and/or strategic planning.
Comments can be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal here by December 2, 2019.
Two Weeks Left to Apply for the Groundwork Advisory Committee
Groundwork Ohio is seeking applications for our 2020-2021 Advisory Committee. Members of the Advisory Committee are trusted to provide insights on the needs of young children and families in Ohio and advance Groundwork’s mission to champion high-quality early learning and healthy development strategies. We are committed to ensuring committee membership reflects the diversity of race, geography, gender, age, experience, expertise, and more that exists within Ohio’s child-serving systems. Members of the Groundwork Ohio Advisory Committee:
Provide valuable field input and expertise to help inform Groundwork’s understanding of policy implications
Serve as a resource for Groundwork research projects and advocacy efforts based on field and systems experience in the early childhood sector
Support Groundwork by promoting engagement opportunities, attending events, and facilitating connections with other child advocates
Participate in quarterly in-person meetings
Contribute organizational time and resources to Groundwork and support efforts to advance our mission.
We hope you will consider applying to serve on the Advisory Committee and share your valuable insights with our team! Applications are due by November 1, 2019.