2008 2010 United Way Public Policy Agenda

United Way of Central Ohio

2008 - 2010 Public Policy Agenda United Way engages in public policy advocacy because it is our civic duty to use our experience and knowledge to help influence policy decisions that impact community needs.

United Way of Central Ohio (UWCO) works to advance the common good by focusing on the building blocks for a good life: a quality education that leads to a productive career, enough income to support a family through retirement, good health, and a safe place to live. In short: Education, Income, Health and Home.

To advance the common good, we must create long-lasting changes that address the root causes of social and economic problems. Government plays an important role in creating policies that help advance the common good. Under the guidance of our Public Policy Committee, UWCO advances local, state and federal policies that address community needs and generate lasting community impact.

UWCO’s highest priority issues are: • Promote school readiness • Improve financial stability of low- and moderate-income households • Revitalize vacant and abandoned housing and property In July 2008, the Board of Trustees endorsed an advocacy agenda involving these three legislative priorities and several other issues of interest. Each public policy issue supports at least one of UWCO’s impact areas – Education, Income, Health and/or Home – and affords UWCO staff and volunteers multiple opportunities to work with our elected and appointed officials to build a community where everyone has the aspirations, resources and opportunities to reach their fullest potential.

GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER.

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United Way of Central Ohio

2008 - 2010 Public Policy Agenda Leadership Issues – Tier One Promote school readiness United Way of Central Ohio supports public policies that increase opportunities for Ohio’s children to receive high quality early care and education from birth to age six. Research shows that the first years of a child’s life are critical to brain and social development.1 Investments in early care and education provide a significant return.2 UWCO supports policies that: • Create a Cabinet-level office of school readiness that will provide closer coordination of the early care system’s work currently spread across different state departments.

• Maintain state investment in programs that increase quality of care, such as TEACH and Step Up To Quality.

• Maintain state investment in programs that increase early care opportunities for children from birth to age six, such as the Early Learning Initiative (ELI).

• Ensure that every school district in Ohio has the opportunity to offer full-day kindergarten programs on a voluntary basis.

Improve financial stability of low- and moderate-income households United Way of Central Ohio supports policies that help families increase and maximize their income and begin the longer-term process of saving and building assets. Between 1999 and 2006, the number of Ohioans in poverty increased by nearly 316,000.3 Based on the cost of living in Franklin County, a family must earn more than twice the federal poverty level to maintain financial stability.4 UWCO supports the following approaches: • Align key elements of Ohio’s workforce development system—education, job training, and economic development – to efficiently match employers with skilled employees.

• Establish a state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

• Increase state investment in asset-building opportunities and remove barriers to saving behavior.

• Streamline screening and application processes to address underutilization of public and employer provided benefits.

Revitalize vacant and abandoned housing and property United Way of Central Ohio supports policies that make it easier to acquire and put back into use vacant and abandoned housing stock. In the City of Columbus alone, there are 4,946 vacant properties and many more abandoned properties.5 UWCO supports laws, codes and procedures that help improve the quantity and quality of housing stock for renters and homeowners, thereby contributing to stronger and safer neighborhoods.

UWCO supports the following policies: • Increase the use of nonprofit land banks to help local governments manage the flow of property from vacant/abandoned status to redevelopment.

• Increased use of priority liens to foreclose on nuisance property.

• Expedite the process for tax lien sales.

• Protect renters at risk of homelessness because of foreclosure procedures against landlords.

Coalition Issues – Tier Two Increase access to health care for low-income families United Way of Central Ohio supports public policies that increase access to health care for low-income families through established and innovative initiatives. Approximately 1.3 million Ohioans, or 12 percent of Ohio’s population, have no health insurance.6 Working with state partners, UWCO supports efforts to maintain eligibility and services for parents, children and pregnant women.

Increase and maintain housing and supportive services United Way of Central Ohio supports public policies that increase the services available to the homeless and people at risk of homelessness. UWCO is a member of the Rebuilding Lives Funders Collaborative, led by the Community Shelter Board, and works with its partners to strengthen our community’s response to homelessness. UWCO supports the work of the Interagency Council on Homelessness and increasing the amount of financial resources allocated to the Ohio Housing Trust Fund. UWCO supports federal legislation that strengthens the connection between programs that support emergency shelter and outreach, and those that provide supportive services proven to help break the cycle of homelessness.

Promote school wellness policies United Way of Central Ohio supports public policies that address the increasing rate of obesity among children. The percent of school-age children who are overweight has tripled during the past three decades, increasing from approximately 5% in the 1960’s to over 15% in the early 2000’s.7 Thirty-eight percent of Franklin County third graders are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.8 Working with local partners, UWCO is committed to finding ways to promote policies that will lead to healthy and active children.

Increase state and federal resources for food banks and other food programs Challenging economic conditions in Ohio have placed increased demand on food pantries. At the same time, operating costs for community pantries and food banks have increased. UWCO will work with local and state groups to secure additional funding for food banks, pantries and other food programs.

Support Issues – Tier Three • Develop public support for statewide implementation of 2-1-1 • Support policies that oppose discrimination and promote cultural competence • Support policies that reduce disproportionate minority representation in the justice system • Maintain or expand support for subsidized housing • Increase access to public transportation • Maintain or expand public support for quality afterschool programming • Expand public support for urban education efforts • Help students successfully transition from high school to employment or higher learning • Support delinquency prevention and intervention programs

Definition of Tiers

In order to be a strong leader and reliable coalition partner, United Way of Central Ohio divides its issues into three categories:

Tier One: Leadership Issues

UWCO will proactively lobby and bring attention to our issues. We will convene stakeholders, support research, develop policies, present public testimonies, and mobilize grassroots advocacy efforts.

Tier Two: Coalition Issues

UWCO will support the work of coalitions and partners who are the thought-leaders on our issues.

Tier Three: Support Issues

UWCO will monitor these issues and respond to opportunities to advance or protect the common good.

Notes 1. From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development, National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2000.

2. Should Ohio Invest in Universal Preschooling? Economic Commentary. Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.

February 2005.

3. The Real Bottom Line: The State of Poverty in Ohio 2008. Community Research Partners, May 2008.

4. The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Ohio 2008. Center for Women’s Welfare, University of Washington, School of Social Work. July 2008.

5.

City of Columbus Code Enforcement Department, Building Services Survey, 2008.

6. Covering Ohio’s Uninsured. The State Coverage Initiative (SCI) Team’s Final Report to Governor Ted Strickland. July 2008.

7. Childhood Overweight and Obesity: An Epidemic of Modern Times. Ohio Public Health Association Fact Sheet, (http://www.ohiopha.org/Member/Obesity/factsheet.htm).

8. Facts About Growing Up Healthy in Franklin County. Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 2008 Collaborative Children’s Health Report.

Valerie Ridgeway Director of Public Policy 360 South Third Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 tel 614-227-2706 fax 614.227.8714 cell 614.557.9070 valerie.ridgeway@uwcentralohio.org www.liveunited.org/publicpolicy