On March 12, 2025, the Ohio Statehouse buzzed with energy as Groundwork Ohio’s Advocacy Day brought together over 400 passionate advocates, parents, and early childhood professionals. This annual event served as a powerful platform to champion the needs of Ohio’s youngest residents, emphasizing the critical importance of investing in the prenatal-to-five years—a period that lays the foundation for lifelong success.
Starting Point was proud to have several staff members and child care providers from Northeast Ohio participate in this year’s Advocacy Day, joining forces with fellow advocates to push for bold investments in early childhood education and support services. The collective efforts of all participants played a crucial role in driving meaningful change and ensuring that children and families were prioritized at the highest levels.
A Unified Call for Action
The day’s agenda focused on key initiatives aimed at improving the lives of Ohio’s children and families:
- Affordable, Quality Child Care: Advocates highlighted the urgent need for accessible child care that maintained high standards, recognizing its impact on both children’s development and parents’ ability to participate fully in the workforce. The economic ripple effects of inadequate child care options were a major point of discussion, reinforcing the need for sustainable solutions.
- Refundable Child Tax Credit: There was strong support for implementing a refundable child tax credit to ease financial burdens on families and promote economic stability. Personal stories shared by advocates illustrated the growing financial challenges parents faced, reinforcing the necessity of direct relief measures.
- Improved Health Outcomes for Mothers and Babies: Conversations underscored the importance of expanding health services to address issues such as infant mortality and maternal health disparities. Recent data reflecting progress in these areas highlighted the effectiveness of targeted programs while emphasizing the need for continued investment.
State Support & Momentum
As an opener for Groundwork’s Advocacy Day, Kara Wente, Director of Ohio’s Department of Children and Youth, presented critical insights to the state of efforts to serve families and children in improving child care accessibility and reducing infant mortality. The same day, Governor Mike DeWine issued his State of the State address. He gave a strong outlook for programs in Ohio that serve children, including his proposed child tax credit of up to $1,000 per child under seven, aimed at easing financial pressures on families. Starting Point joins our community partners at Groundwork Ohio in strongly supporting Governor Dewine’s budget proposal as-is as the legislative process continues.
Looking Ahead
The momentum generated by Advocacy Day 2025 reflected the power of collective action. As we celebrated the progress made, we remained committed to advocating for policies that support Ohio’s children and families, knowing that yesterday’s efforts would shape a brighter, more equitable future for generations to come.
We extended our gratitude to Groundwork Ohio for providing a platform for hundreds of parents and supporters of early childhood education on Advocacy Day. The work was far from over, but together, we were building a stronger Ohio—one where every child had the opportunity to thrive.
For those inspired by this year’s Advocacy Day, we encouraged ongoing engagement. Reaching out to legislators, sharing stories, and continuing to advocate for impactful policies would help sustain this important work. When we invest in our children, we invest in Ohio’s future.
