Groundwork Ohio

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Groundwork Ohio

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Groundwork Ohio is a statewide, nonpartisan nonprofit championing young children from the prenatal period through age five.

We turn research into action to advance policies that help make Ohio the best place in the nation to be a young child. Ohio's statewide advocacy leader for early childhood education.

11/01/2026

🌟 Partner Spotlight: Families Flourish!

Through housing support, life coaching, and community partnerships, Families Flourish is helping working families build economic stability and create new opportunities for their children.

Since welcoming its first 10 families in 2018, the organization has grown to serve 145 families as of August 2026, with plans to expand its programming to the Miami Valley.

Learn more about Families Flourish, its approach to supporting families, and the importance of investing in every child's potential in our latest Partner Spotlight!

🔗https://www.groundworkohio.org/post/partner-spotlight-families-flourish

10/31/2026

On October 22, Groundwork Ohio's Roadshow visited Greene County for conversations and site visits focused on infant and early childhood mental health, kindergarten readiness, workforce challenges, and access to developmental and behavioral supports.

Our day began at the Greene County Educational Service Center in Yellow Springs, where we joined the E Triple C quarterly meeting to hear from local early childhood professionals and community leaders. We then visited Beavercreek Preschool Center Preschool Center and Mini University, Inc. at Wright State University to learn how inclusive learning environments, individualized services, and community partnerships are supporting young children and strengthening the early childhood workforce.

Thank you to everyone who welcomed our team and shared their experiences as we continue learning from communities across Ohio! 🚗

Read the recap: https://www.groundworkohio.org/post/groundwork-ohio-roadshow-2026-greene-county

10/30/2026

Ohio already faces significant challenges when it comes to child care access. Without Head Start, those challenges would grow even greater.

📊 Without Head Start, Ohio's child care gap would increase by 37%, leaving even more families without access to the care and early learning opportunities they need.

During , we're highlighting the critical role Head Start plays in supporting Ohio's youngest children, strengthening families, and helping close gaps in access to early childhood education.

Learn more about Head Start's impact in Ohio: https://www.groundworkohio.org/head-start-ohio-data

10/30/2026

Early childhood educators shouldn't have to shoulder the cost of classroom supplies alone. 🍎

More than 90% of early childhood educators report purchasing classroom materials out of pocket, spending an average of $860 annually.

The new bipartisan SEED Act takes an important step toward recognizing early childhood educators alongside K–12 teachers by expanding the federal educator expense tax deduction.

Beginning with the 2026 tax year, eligible early childhood educators can deduct up to $350 in qualifying classroom expenses.

Learn what this means for Ohio's early childhood workforce: https://www.groundworkohio.org/post/new-federal-law-expands-tax-deduction-to-early-childhood-educators

10/30/2026

The scariest stories aren't always fiction.

From rising child care costs and limited access to early learning programs to maternity care deserts and shortages of pediatric providers, these challenges are a reality for too many Ohio families.

Throughout Groundwork Ohio's statewide Roadshow, we've heard directly from parents, early childhood professionals, and community leaders about the barriers facing young children and families—and the local efforts underway to address them.

Now, we want to hear from YOU! 📣

Your experiences and perspectives can help shape our policy recommendations for Ohio's youngest children and families.

📝 Take our policy survey and make your voice heard: https://secure.everyaction.com/L_c133zRwkWL28DBWbmNJw2

10/29/2026

📍 On October 21, Groundwork Ohio's Roadshow visited Cuyahoga County.

While one part of our team hosted a community roundtable in Cleveland with First Year Cleveland and Coalition On Homelessness and Housing in Ohio and later went to Parma to visit Parma Preschool, another part of our team visited My Kids Childcare Inc. in Mentor and Shell's Learning Center LLC in Maple Heights with Ohio AEYC and Children's Hunger Alliance.

Thank you to all the policymakers who joined us throughout the day: State Sen. Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood), John Brad Deane from U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH-11)'s office, State Sen. Kent Smith (D-Euclid), and State Rep. State Rep. Darnell T Brewer - OH22 (D-Cleveland.

🔗 Read the recap: https://www.groundworkohio.org/post/groundwork-ohio-roadshow-2026-cuyahoga-county

10/29/2026

📍 Groundwork Ohio Roadshow 2026: Summit County!

On October 27, our Roadshow traveled to Summit County, where we joined local leaders to explore innovative solutions to Ohio's child care challenges!

Our visit highlighted Greater Akron's Unified Early Learning System, a collaborative initiative focused on strengthening child care businesses, supporting educators, improving program quality, and expanding access to high-quality early learning.

🚍 With site visits coordinated by the Early Childhood Resource Center, we had the opportunity to see these efforts in action at two local Akron Area YMCA child care programs:

📚 Hope Early Care & Education Center We learned how professional development, coaching, and staff supports are improving workforce stability and reducing turnover.

🖍️ Crowned Crayons Academy in Barberton: We saw how business supports have helped the program achieve a GOLD quality rating, strengthen staff wages, and double enrollment!

We concluded the afternoon with a panel discussion featuring Akron Mayor Shammas Malik, Groundwork Ohio President & CEO Lynanne Gutierrez, Joe Luckring of PNC, Josh Gordon of Barberton Community Foundation, and Dr. David James of Summit Education Initiative. The conversation explored how local partnerships, cross-sector collaboration, and state policy can support stronger early childhood systems.

A special thank you to United Way of Summit & Medina, Summit Education Initiative, the Early Childhood Resource Center, the City of Akron, OH, Mayor Shammas Malik, our host sites, panelists, and all the community partners who joined us throughout the day and continue working to strengthen early childhood systems across Summit County!

What we heard in Summit County will help inform our statewide Roadshow report and future policy recommendations for Ohio's youngest children and families.

10/29/2026

Thank you to the City of Akron, OH, Mayor Shammas Malik, and all our community partners for joining us for our Summit County Roadshow! It was great to see firsthand how local collaboration and innovative solutions are strengthening child care, supporting working families, and building a stronger workforce across Summit County.

10/29/2026

Haven't voted yet? You still have options!
Early in-person voting continues through November 1.
Find your location and hours and make a plan that works for you: https://www.ohiosos.gov/directories/early-voting-locations

10/28/2026

This week on The Morning Meeting, we’ll hear from Parent & Youth Ambassadors working as part of a statewide initiative of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth.

Parent & Youth Ambassadors provide a single, in-person resource that helps families quickly access needed supports. PYAs all have lived experience in social systems and respond to inquiries with connections to concrete supports, service referrals, and benefit navigation.

📅 Thursday, October 29 | 9:30 am

🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/gzfHVVwW

Address

175 S. Third Street
Columbus, OH
43215

Telephone

+16145250944

Website

http://www.groundworkohio.org/

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