By Malissa Harris | Policy Associate, and Vanessa Butler | Senior Director of Community Relations & Special Projects
The voices and lived experiences of families remain at the center of Groundwork Ohio’s work and mission. As we embark upon a new year of galvanizing families across the State of Ohio and providing critical advocacy skills and training, participating in continued learning around authentic family engagement is key.
We were recently invited to join ZERO TO THREE’s and Alliance for Early Success’ Family Advocacy Community of Practice. Throughout 2025, we will engage in dialogue with other states and organizations that are actively incorporating family advocacy within their core pillars of work. On January 14 and 15, we joined fellow Alliance grantees for a phenomenal and engaging kick-off in the beautiful Savannah, Georgia.
During this two-day experience, we heard firsthand from two ZERO TO THREE parent advocates, Ivonne and Shawnnita, both of whom shared their journeys of navigating necessary support for their children, as well as amplifying their voices to advocate on behalf of many other families with young children. Their transparency and vulnerability around finding support with other families that are aligned with their lived experiences demonstrated the value of cultivating safe spaces for family advocates. Additionally, supporting families intentionally and holistically is necessary when building relationships in transformational ways.
Zero to Five Montana’s team provided their organizational insights and expertise around cultivating internal team culture to further enhance family engagement, as well as the importance of trusting families to know what it is they need to be their own best advocate. Additionally, eliminating barriers for families to authentically engage in advocacy is paramount.
Galvanizing families to join Groundwork Ohio in our advocacy work is crucial. Looking ahead, we know that advocacy for families and young children is a marathon, but we will be thoughtful in pausing and celebrating the small wins along the way.
Through its Family Action Network, Groundwork Ohio empowers parents and caregivers to actively participate in the policymaking process, ensuring that their lived experiences and insights are reflected in decisions that affect their families. By fostering a diverse and inclusive coalition, Groundwork Ohio amplifies the voices of those who have historically been excluded, working to create a system where families have a genuine influence in shaping Ohio's early childhood policies and practices.
Learn more and join by contacting Malissa Harris at mharris@groundworkohio.org
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