Groundwork Ohio Event Connects Families Directly with State and Federal Policymakers

May 27, 2026 – Columbus, OH – Today, nearly 300 parents, caregivers, babies, toddlers, and young children gathered at the Ohio Statehouse for Family Voices at the Statehouse, hosted by Groundwork Ohio.

The event brought together parents, caregivers, and state and federal leaders to discuss the real challenges and opportunities facing families with young children in Ohio.

The program opened with remarks from Kara B. Wente, Director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, who emphasized the importance of hearing directly from families.

“We see our North Star as doing what’s right for kids,” said Kara B. Wente, Director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth. “We can write policies. We can make programs. … But we can’t do that well if we’re not hearing and listening to all of you.”

Wente noted that beginning in July, all Ohioans will have access to 211, a free 24/7/365 information and referral service using trained navigators who link families needing non-emergency help to community resources that can benefit them and their children.

The event also featured a keynote address from Rachel Giannini, a nationally recognized speaker and parent advocate, who spoke about the power of family voice in shaping stronger systems and communities.

A legislative panel discussion included State Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D–Lakewood), Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery), Rep. Meredith R. Lawson-Rowe (D-Reynoldsburg), and Rep. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon), who engaged directly with families on key issues affecting young children.

Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood), said, “If I were the queen of the world, the first thing I’d do is make quality child care free for every single family that needed it.” She added that Ohio needs to reduce the bureaucratic burden it imposes on families who earn so little that they’re eligible for state subsidized child care.

Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery), noted, “Affordability is a big deal.” Referencing the so-called “benefit cliff” that results in families losing critical financial assistance even when their income increases insignificantly, Click said lawmakers need to provide a “bridge” to financial stability. “We want to make it easier for people to advance themselves.”

Rep. Meredith R. Lawson-Rowe (D-Reynoldsburg), praised Ohio’s “tri-share” initiative, a state-funded pilot program designed to make child care more affordable by splitting costs between an employee, their employer, and the state. She also called for reducing health care costs that overwhelm families. “I shouldn’t have to decide, Am I going to pay a health care premium, or am I going to pay for my medicine that I need daily in order to keep me alive,” she said.

Referencing the high cost of housing for families, Rep. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon), said, “We have functionally zoned out starter homes. … You can have good homes that don’t necessarily have a 35-foot setback or three brand new trees in the front.” When home prices start at $300,000, he said, “… people can’t get up on that rung.”

Throughout the day, families shared their experiences related to child care, health care, and economic stability—offering firsthand insight into how public policies impact their daily lives.

“Families understand better than anyone what’s working, what’s broken, and what stands in the way of opportunity,” said Lynanne Gutierrez, President & CEO of Groundwork Ohio. “Policymakers make better decisions when they listen directly to the people living these realities every day.”

A recent unpublished survey from the RAPID Family Voices Project of hundreds of Ohio families revealed a clear gap between parents having a voice and parents having influence. While most respondents said policymakers “sometimes” hear from people with experiences like theirs, fewer believe policymakers truly listen. Only 12% of parents said policymakers “always” listen to families like them — highlighting that many families do not feel their lived experiences are meaningfully shaping policy decisions.

“Too often, families are left out of policy conversations because the process wasn’t built for working parents. Our job is to remove barriers, build confidence, and make sure families are in the rooms where decisions are being made,” said Gutierrez.

The event included a morning program, meetings between families and state and federal policymakers, and a stroll on the Statehouse lawn. Participants were members of Groundwork Ohio’s Family Action Network, a statewide group of parent advocates.

For most families, the day marked their first time engaging directly with policymakers.

“I talked a lot about how the cost of child care is overwhelming families, making it impossible for many to take jobs and get ahead”, said Clarisse Loughridge, a parent from Celina, Ohio. “Making quality child care affordable needs to be a priority in Ohio.”

Groundwork Ohio emphasized that investing in young children and families is essential to strengthening Ohio’s workforce and economy today and in the future.

Today’s event also marks the official launch of Groundwork Ohio’s 2026 Roadshow, a statewide effort to hear directly from families, providers, local leaders, policymakers, and community partners about what is working—and what is needed—to improve outcomes for young children and families.

Beginning with hundreds of families gathered at the Ohio Statehouse today, Groundwork Ohio will travel across Ohio over the coming months to visit communities in all 33 Ohio Senate districts. Through site visits, roundtable discussions, and community forums, the organization will elevate local voices, highlight innovative solutions, and identify challenges facing young children and families.

“We’re starting here at the Statehouse because families deserve to be at the center of decisions that affect their lives,” said Lynanne Gutierrez. “Over the next several months, we’ll travel across Ohio to listen, learn, and build relationships with communities. Then we’ll return to the Statehouse to share what we heard and help ensure those voices shape the future of policy in Ohio.”

Insights gathered during the Roadshow will be compiled into a comprehensive report and shared with Ohio’s next Governor, members of the General Assembly, media, community leaders, and other decision-makers.

About Groundwork Ohio

Groundwork Ohio is a nonpartisan public-policy research and advocacy organization that champions high-quality early learning and healthy development strategies from the prenatal period to age 5, that lay a strong foundation for Ohio kids, families, and communities. We advance quality early childhood systems in Ohio by engaging, educating, and mobilizing diverse stakeholders and strategic partners to promote data driven and evidence-based early childhood policies. Learn more at groundworkohio.org.