"State of the Black Child" Report Card for Ohio

The National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) and BCDI-Cleveland want your feedback!

Based on the feedback collected from engagement through stakeholder calls with community leaders in Ohio, NBCDI has developed the following policy recommendations that have been identified as the most significant for Black children and families.

With your input, the State of the Black Child Report Card for the Ohio will be used as an advocacy tool with policy recommendations designed to advance racial equity and support data points highlighting disparities in outcomes for Black children.

This survey should take approximately 5-7 minutes to complete. If you have any questions please feel free to email us at policy@nbcdi.org or visit our website at www.nbcdi.org. Please submit your responses no later than Tuesday, November 12, 2019.

NBCDI and BCDI-Cleveland thanks you for your collaboration!

Question Title

* 1. Rate your top 5 Policy recommendations for Ohio below:
(click N/A option for the remaining 9 choices)

Address the high rates of infant and maternal mortality by increasing access to high-quality prenatal care for Black mothers through targeted programming (culturally responsive parent coaches and doula programs) and outreach in Black communities designed to increase trust in the health care system.

Not Applicable

Improve coordination between mental health, early education and public assistance programs and continue to expand wrap-around supports in schools, like the Student Wellness and Success Fund (community-based organizations providing supports to families and mentorship/support to children)

Not Applicable

Increase funding for literacy initiatives and expand the scope to include digital literacy.

Not Applicable

Expand eligibility requirements for child care assistance to ensure that children of working parents/caregivers have access to high-quality, early childhood education programs

Not Applicable

Improve job-quality in the early childhood education and mental health professions including salary and benefit increases and increased access to professional development

Not Applicable

Ensure teacher diversity reflects diversity of children; implement targeted supports designed to recruit and retain Black educators in the early childhood education workforce and K-12 workforce

Not Applicable

Create and implement annual professional development for educators from early childhood education through high school on racial equity, social-emotional development, effective parent engagement and how to use culturally-responsive child observation and assessment to effectively respond to the needs of Black children

Not Applicable

Develop a diverse task force that includes policymakers, educators and parents/caregivers to examine restructuring and supports for low-performing schools in Ohio and high school graduate rates among Black students. Develop statewide guidance for school districts to improve graduation rate examine (response to Ohio House Bill 70). This process should be led by a task force of diverse parents/caregivers and educators requiring representation from Black families.

Not Applicable

Incorporate cultural competence as a required measure of quality for early childhood education (Step Up to Quality)

Not Applicable

Strengthen provisions in House Bill 318 that limit exclusionary discipline practices (suspensions and expulsions) in early childhood and elementary education by 1) allowing parents to request a hearing to review any suspension or expulsion and 2) increasing funds to implement positive guidance and developmentally appropriate discipline practices to ensure all schools and centers can access these supports

Not Applicable

Review testing in early childhood education through high school to ensure assessments are developmentally appropriate and equitable

Not Applicable

Address the lead crisis in Cuyahoga County and investigate lead levels across the state of Ohio: 1) Provide clean water by passing legislation to fully fund new infrastructure that will replace corroded pipes; 2) Ensure residents are not forced to pay for lead-poisoned water by waiving unpaid water bills dating through duration of the water crisis; 3) Provide funding to affected school systems and ECE programs to make parent education programs and home visitation services available to parents to educate them on: adverse effects of lead-exposure, available resources and how to advocate for their child’s education and healthy development

Not Applicable

Reduce the number of Black children entering the child welfare system by implementing policies to support families in crisis and prevent child separation from their parents/caregivers

Not Applicable

End criminalization of children by improving police officer education and training and supporting advocates and lawyers who are committed to reforming the juvenile justice system

Not Applicable

This second section provides a more in-depth look at each recommendation. They are followed by a data point and example of how other states have addressed said issue. This part is optional, but we would greatly appreciate your input. Thank you !

Question Title

* 2. Please provide your feedback as to which current legislation and/or policies should be highlighted in the Black Child Report Card for the State of Ohio. Links to publications and/or websites are strongly encouraged.

Question Title

* 1. Rate your top 5 Policy recommendations for Ohio below: (click N/A option for the remaining 9 choices)

Question Title

* 2. Please provide your feedback as to which current legislation and/or policies should be highlighted in the Black Child Report Card for the State of Ohio. Links to publications and/or websites are strongly encouraged.

* 1. Rate your top 5 Policy recommendations for Ohio below:
(click N/A option for the remaining 9 choices)