Give the Gift of Health & Hope.

Torian's Story... a Reminder of Our Advocacy's Impact!

When Amber’s phone rings during the middle of the day, her heart sometimes skips a beat, especially when she sees it’s her son’s school calling.  Amber’s oldest child, Torian, suffers with severe asthma and until recently, didn’t have his medicine with him to help ease his symptoms and prevent the onset of an asthma attack. Diagnosed at five years old, Torian, knows all too well what the symptoms are and when he needs to use his inhaler.  Everyday Torian takes four different medications to keep his asthma at bay, however, sometimes these medicines aren’t enough and only the inhaler can open his lungs. 

Amber, a single mother of three, qualifies for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as she works on her undergraduate degree in social work. If not for her insurance through the CHIP program, Torian’s medical expenses would be debilitating to her monthly budget. She would need to choose between food and health care for her children.

Voices for Ohio’s Children proudly worked with policy makers and other national partners to ensure programs like CHIP continue. Today, 95% of Ohio’s children have health insurance coverage. Voices supported the leadership of our federal policy makers to maintain funding for the program. Our leadership ensures our children aren’t suffering in silence.  We are the VOICE of Ohio’s children!

Amber and Torian’s journey continues to evolve and improve. Until recently, only the nurse’s office at a school could store a child’s inhaler since it supplies medicine. Delayed access to medication made Torian anxious and would sometimes cause his asthma attacks to escalate quicker than they would have if he had immediate access to his inhaler. Through Voices, Amber learned about a new piece of legislation, Senate Bill 29, which allows children to carry their inhalers during school.  As a mother, she has advocated for her children all their lives. Amber knew she needed to testify in support of SB29. Torian is truly blessed to have her as his mother and champion. And Voices for Ohio’s Children was pleased to equip Amber to effectively advocate on behalf of her child.

The mission of Voices for Ohio’s Children is to advocate for public policy that improves the well-being of Ohio’s children and families. Our work is only possible through the generous donations of our supporters. With your support, we can ensure Ohio’s children and their needs will be at the top of every community’s agenda.

Give a year-end/holiday gift today to Voices for Ohio’s Children so we can continue to help children like Torian.
 
 

 

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Dear Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Partners:

Cristie Carlson from Hamilton County Public Health & Cradle Cincinnati and Reina Sims from the Ohio Commission on Minority Health are co-chairing the "Reducing Smoking Before, During and After Pregnancy" action group for the Ohio Collaborative to Prevent Infant Mortality (OCPIM). The OCPIM was formed in 2010, as the successor of Ohio Department of Health's Ohio Infant Mortality Task Force, in which seven strategic focus areas, or "action groups," were outlined as part of the Ohio Infant Mortality Reduction Plan.

They are hoping to engage diverse leaders across the state, in both the fields of tobacco cessation and infant mortality, to work together in efforts to reduce smoking before, during and after pregnancy throughout the state of Ohio. As those dedicated to this field in Ohio, I wanted to be sure that you were aware of the action group and your ability to have input as they work to address maternal smoking cessation throughout the state.

Please complete the survey if you are interested in participating or being included in updates from the action group.

For more information, please email Cristie Carlson or call 513-946-7806.

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Opportunity to Participate in Father Involvement Study

Craig Garfield, pediatrician and father involvement researcher at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, is inviting all fathers of children between the ages of 3 to 5 (or organizations that work with fathers) to participate in a survey on father involvement in child healthcare. The goal is to better understand how today’s fathers are involved in the health of their children.   For more information, please contact Dr. Garfield at [email protected]