Advocate

Headquartered in urban Cleveland, Ohio, and established in 1970, The Centers for Families and Children began as a community mental health center, delivering treatment services to individuals diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness. Today, as a result of the 2017 affiliation with Circle Health Services (formerly The Free Clinic of Greater Cleveland), and the 2022 affiliation with Cleveland Christian Home, The Centers is a comprehensive, $80 Million, health and human services network. High-quality, innovative services are delivered by 650 professionals at 11 locations throughout Cuyahoga County including: five community health centers, six early childhood education campuses, one youth residential facility, and one workforce development training site. Each year, the organization is developing solutions that promote economic security, health, stability and self-sufficiency for 15,000 vulnerable, low-income and medically underserved Northeast Ohio residents.

Core Program Advocacy Priorities

Community Health Centers rely on Federal grant funding to offset the cost of providing comprehensive health care (mental health, addiction services, dentistry, pharmacy and primary care) to uninsured and underinsured patients, regardless of their ability to pay.

Key Advocacy Areas:

  • Protection & expansion of Medicaid funding
  • Behavioral health reimbursement rates
  • Opioid and substance abuse treatment
  • 340B Pharmacy
  • Health professional workforce training & incentives

Priority Asks:

  • Behavioral health rate changes
  • Changes/improvements to managed care
  • Recognition of pharmacists as providers of billable clinical services funded by Medicaid
  • Behavioral health care coordination

Advocacy partners include: National Council for Behavioral Health providers, Ohio Council for BH providers, Ohio Behavioral Health Provider Network (OBHPN), Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition (MHAC), National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) & Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OACHC)

Workforce Development and Job Training Services connect unemployed, under-employed, and low-income adults (ages 18 – 60) to in-demand career pathways with advancement and living wage opportunities. Working closely with prospective employers, clients earn short-term, industry-specific credentials and certifications. Focusing on diverse populations with the only training program in Ohio conducted in both English and Spanish.

Key Advocacy Areas:

  • TANF and WIOA funding
  • Funding to support micro and related credentials
  • Ohio Means Jobs & Jobs Ohio

Priority Asks:

  • Cuyahoga County approval of workforce development contracts
  • Workforce development component of SAY YES! To Education
  • Fee waivers for state certification courses

Advocacy partners include: La Raza (network of Hispanic workforce providers), Cuyahoga County Youth Workforce Consortium

Early Childhood Education and Family Support Programs prepare children for school and life while providing interventions that combat infant mortality, such as intensive home visiting services for pregnant women and support for career and educational attainment of families. The early childhood education program holds the state’s highest quality rating (Step up to Quality 5 Stars) and offers a campus-like experience, including a unique preschool, co-located within a branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library. Federal, state and local funds make high-quality services affordable and convenient.

Key Advocacy Areas:

  • Expansion of Head Start and Early Head Start
  • Expansion of Ohio ODJFS voucher funds and eligibility
  • Expansion/increase of funds to support home visiting
  • Expansion/increase in voucher reimbursement rates tied to SUTQ rating

Priority Asks:

  • Elimination of prohibition on ‘layering’ to allow providers to combine federal, state and local funds to support high quality services
  • Recognize Head Start and Early Head Start as home visiting services eligible for state funds
  • Medicaid reimbursement for home visiting

Advocacy partners include: National Head Start Association, Ohio Head Start Association, Groundwork, PRE4CLE, Cuyahoga County Invest in Children

For more information, contact:

The Centers for Families and Children

4500 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44103

Barbara Baird, Marketing & Communications Manager

(216) 296-1127 or Barbara.Baird@thecentersohio.org

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