10 Things That Need To Be Done To Improve Family Values In Ohio

Promote stable family life by requiring the Success Sequence—completing high school, working full-time in one’s 20s, and marrying before having children—to be taught in middle and high schools, as following this sequence significantly increases the likelihood of avoiding poverty and achieving middle-class status.
Eliminate marriage penalties in state programs such as the Child Tax Credit (CTC), child care subsidies, and other benefits, and seek federal waivers to address penalties in Medicaid and food stamps, which currently discourage marriage and stable family formation.
Make family life more affordable by implementing a $1,000 child tax credit focused on working and middle-class families and offering a 20% marriage credit to married parents, which would support family stability and reduce financial strain.
Expand access to quality, affordable child care by increasing public preschool enrollment, which currently stands at only 11% for 4-year-olds, and addressing the high cost of care—averaging $17,675 annually for a family with one infant and one 4-year-old, or 21% of median family income.
Establish an Educational Savings Account (ESA) program equal in value to the current EdChoice voucher, allowing families to choose non-chartered schools, and flatten the means-testing curve to 650% of the Federal Poverty Level to prevent higher-income working families from being penalized for earning more.
Invest in comprehensive reproductive health services, including access to abortion, maternity care, and contraception, by ending restrictive state policies such as mandatory waiting periods, biased counseling, and ultrasound requirements, and by ensuring state-level funding for family planning programs to address Ohio’s high infant and maternal mortality rates.
Expand Medicaid coverage to include doula and midwife services, particularly to ensure culturally competent care for Black and brown pregnant individuals who face systemic discrimination in traditional birthing environments, as part of broader efforts to improve maternal health outcomes.
Implement paid family and medical leave policies to allow workers to care for newborns, sick family members, or recover from illness without losing income, as only 15% of U.S. workers have access to paid leave, and 62% of Ohio workers are ineligible for unpaid FMLA leave.
Ensure access to paid sick days for all workers, as 46% of private sector workers in Ohio lack this benefit, which is essential for maintaining health and preventing the spread of illness in communities and workplaces.
Strengthen family resilience by promoting positive family dynamics such as appreciation, commitment, positive communication, enjoyable time together, spiritual well-being, and effective stress management, which are foundational to healthy family functioning and long-term stability.

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