A Legislative Update, June 18, 2019
The House was successful in passing several pieces of legislation last week to create a kinship navigator program, help individuals attain new credentials and certificates, create the Children’s Behavioral Health Network, and create the Office of Drug Policy.
My colleagues in the Ohio House and I work hard to improve the lives of the Ohioans we represent, and I appreciate the opportunity to update you on these and other issues before us in the legislature.
Kinship Navigator Program: House Bill 14 creates a statewide program of kinship care navigators to assist those kinship caregivers who need assistance locating the support services that are available to them. The statewide navigator program will provide information and referral services to our state’s kinship caregivers. House Bill 14 will allow kinship care providers access to similar funding as foster care providers, and the resources necessary to care for their grandchildren, nieces and nephews, or siblings they have decided to take in. I co-sponsored House Bill 14 because these caregivers answer a unique call when their most vulnerable loved ones are in need and we need to do what we can to support them.
Tech Credential Job Training Grants: I co-sponsored House Bill 2, which will reimburse businesses and provide individuals with grants to financially assist with attaining new credentials and certificates in high demand fields. Ohio’s economy is quickly changing and in order to keep pace, businesses, employees and individuals need to be able to retool their skills so that they are able to more fully participate in the growing economy. Ohio will be able to assist those who want to enhance their skills through TechCred, Individual Microcredential Assistance Program, and Industry Sector Partnership grants.
Ohio Children’s Behavioral Health Network: House Bill 12 supports the creation of a stakeholder group that will study and help develop recommendations for a comprehensive system of programs that will support children and their families in facilitating social, emotional, and behavioral development. The group of stakeholders will make recommendations for the development of programming to help prevent mental illness among Ohio’s children. I co-sponsored House Bill 12 because I am very aware of and concerned with the issue of mental illness among children.
Governor’s Office of Drug Policy: House Bill 10 creates one permanent centralized office within the Governor’s office to coordinate state and local drug-related efforts. The Office of Drug Policy will coordinate drug-related efforts throughout the state, share information about measures adopted across state agencies and local governments to reduce drug abuse and addiction, formulate policies to facilitate mutual assistance across communities, seek increased funding and resources through public and private partnerships for drug abuse treatment, and establish a telephone hotline to assist local communities. I co-sponsored House Bill 10, which passed unanimously, because the drug epidemic has touched nearly every Ohioan and it’s time for state agencies to begin coordinating their efforts to combat this.
In everything I do, whether it is in Columbus or back in my home district of Stark County, I will continue to make your priorities my priorities. With that goal in mind, I welcome your feedback and opinions at any time. Please do not hesitate to contact me by calling (614) 752-2438, emailing Rep48@OhioHouse.gov, or by writing me at 77 South High St., Columbus, Ohio 43215.