Dewine rallies support for budget hikes for children
“This will get them up to the starting line so they have a chance to succeed.”
Gov. Mike Dewine lobbied advocates for children Monday for help in persuading the legislature to fund his budget agenda for Ohio’s neediest children.
Speaking at an Ohio Children’s Trust Fund event marking April as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month, Dewine said that state investments to improve the lives of children are among the most important items in his proposed twoyear state operating budget.
The governor told an audience of about 200 in the Statehouse atrium to contact legislators to express their support for his agenda on behalf of children.
Dewine requested Dewine Gov. Mike Dewine
an increase of $300 million over current funding, proposing that it be targeted for school districts where children live in poverty. The increase would help cover the cost of “wraparound” services such as health care, mental-health counseling, mentoring and after-school programs.
The money — up to $250 per impoverished student in districts such as Columbus — would free up teachers to teach while giving children help they need to perform better in the classroom, the governor said.
The Republican also wants a $74 million annual increase for family and children services agencies to help improve a system choked with foster children whose parents are addicted to opioids and other drugs. Ohio long has provided less money to county agencies that any other state, he said.
Dewine also wants to spend $50 million to triple home-visitation programs in which counselors work with pregnant women and new mothers, babies and young children to help reduce infant mortality and improve school readiness.
“This will get them up to the starting line so they have a chance to succeed,” he said.
Dewine also has outlined how he would provide an extra $24 million to cover the health-care needs of children poisoned by lead paint. He also would set aside $10 million in Medicaid funds to help abate lead in affected homes.