First-ever Head Start Day at the Statehouse honors six state leaders, elevates family voices, and calls for continued investment in Ohio’s youngest children.

Columbus, OH (11-10-26) – More than 100 Head Start parents, educators, program leaders, and early childhood advocates from 29 organizations across Ohio gathered at the Ohio Statehouse today for the first-ever Head Start Day at the Statehouse, hosted by the Ohio Head Start Association, Inc. (OHSAI) in partnership with Groundwork Ohio.

Under the theme Uniting for Children and Ohio’s Future, participants called on state leaders to prioritize young children and families in the next state budget and strengthen Ohio’s early childhood system. The event featured a keynote address by nationally recognized early childhood policy expert Dr. Cynthia Osborne, powerful video stories  (WORKFORCE –https://youtu.be/PKU7DD5w_e0) (CHILDREN –  https://youtu.be/ewFqTCjeZg8)from Head Start parents,  and the presentation of the Champion for Ohio’s Future Awards to six state leaders.

Julie Stone, Executive Director of the Ohio Head Start Association

“Head Start works for Ohio – it powers our workforce, strengthens parents and children, and anchors communities in every corner of the state. As our teams met with 45 legislators today, we asked them to keep the Ohio Department of Children and Youth strong in the new administration and to keep Head Start at the table as Ohio shapes its early childhood policy.”

Head Start and Early Head Start programs serve more than 26,000 children and families across all 88 Ohio counties, while OHSAI’s 59-member programs employ more than 7,000 Ohioans. In addition to preparing children for kindergarten, Head Start connects families with health, dental, and developmental screenings, supports parents as leaders, and provides reliable child care that helps parents participate in the workforce. Without Head Start, Ohio’s child care gap would grow by 37 percent.

As Ohio prepares for a new gubernatorial administration and the FY2028–2029 state budget, Head Start leaders are calling for continued investment in young children and strong partnerships between state agencies and early childhood providers. Today’s  meetings gave families and educators an opportunity to share their experiences with the policymakers whose decisions will shape Ohio’s early childhood system.

Omar Hartley, Head Start parent

“Head Start teaches them. They mold them into what they can be, and kids are getting the foundation for not just now, but their whole life.”

During the morning program, OHSAI presented its inaugural Champion for Ohio’s Future Awards to six state leaders recognized for their commitment to Ohio’s youngest children and families: State Representatives Andrea White (R-Kettering), Jodi Salvo (R-Bolivar), and Latyna Humphrey (D-Columbus); State Senators Susan Manchester (R-Waynesfield) and Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati); and Ohio Department of Children and Youth Director Kara Wente. Each honoree was introduced by a Head Start program from their district.

Lynanne Gutierrez, President and CEO of Groundwork Ohio

“Head Start is an essential part of Ohio’s early childhood system, supporting healthy development, strengthening families, and helping parents participate in the workforce. As Ohio prepares for a new administration and state budget, we have an important opportunity to build on that foundation. The experiences shared by Head Start families today remind us that the most effective policies begin with listening to the people they impact. We look forward to working with state leaders and our Head Start partners to advance policies that give every young child in Ohio the opportunity for a strong start.”

Stone added-

“These six leaders have stood up for Ohio’s youngest children and the families raising them, and today we are proud to say thank you. The decisions Ohio makes in the coming months will shape how our state supports its children for years to come, and we are committed to working alongside our legislators and state partners to make sure every child in Ohio has the strong start they deserve.”

As Ohio’s next administration and General Assembly prepare to shape the FY2028–2029 state budget, OHSAI will continue working with policymakers, Head Start providers, and families to strengthen Ohio’s early childhood system and ensure that investments in young children remain a statewide priority.

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About the Ohio Head Start Association, Inc.

Incorporated in 1986, the Ohio Head Start Association, Inc. is the statewide nonprofit representing Ohio’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which together serve more than 26,000 children and families in all 88 counties. OHSAI advocates for sound early childhood policy, supports program leaders through professional development, and works alongside state and national partners so that every child in Ohio has the strong start they deserve. Learn more at www.ohsai.org.

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.