Groundwork Ohio, the state’s leading policy and advocacy organization uniquely focused on the needs of young children during the prenatal period to age five, is thrilled to celebrate the passage of House Bill 7 or ‘Enact the Strong Foundations Act’ from the floor of the Ohio House of Representatives today.
Introduced by Rep. Andrea White (R-Kettering) and Rep. Latyna M. Humphrey (D-Columbus) in February of 2023, the legislation supports a strong foundation for Ohio mothers and babies in their first 1,000 days and addresses maternal and infant mortality through investment and policy change that support their healthy development. The bill takes a multi-pronged approach, providing innovative funding for stable housing, medical-legal partnerships, Centering Pregnancy programs and other infant vitality supports, Early Intervention, Early Head Start, and home visiting programs. The bill also makes strategic improvements to early childhood mental health policy and Ohio’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), to ensure that families who need help are better able to access these critical services.
“We know that babies learn who they are by how they are treated. The House’s passage of the Strong Foundations Act communicates that Ohio policymakers prioritize the needs of moms and babies and seek to invest in their future that is inextricably linked to the future of our state,” said Lynanne Gutierrez, President of Groundwork Ohio. “We applaud Reps. White and Humphrey for their dedication to Ohio’s families and now call on the Ohio Senate to act urgently to pass HB 7 and prioritize Ohio’s infants, toddlers, and their families.”