Gene Krebs
Have you ever been bothered by a vague sense that something is missing, felt guilty about it, but were unsure of what to do fix things? For several years I would occasionally think about the Healthier Buckeye program, a piece of legislation that funded innovative programs in 21 counties in Ohio with grants ranging from $750,000 down to $170,000. It passed with the efforts of many Bridges advocates, and it was championed by Ohio House of Representatives Finance Chair Ron Amstutz.
After the $11.5 million dollars was approved and spent, nothing more happened, as I was distracted by many things. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I was isolated on the farm 111 miles from the Ohio Statehouse. But most importantly, I did not know very many people serving there anymore. Due to term limits in Ohio, every two years about a quarter of the legislators are new, and the new legislators knew nothing about the Healthier Buckeye initiative or about me. (Remember that everything is built on relationships)
Nothing further happened with that program to revive it until my good friend and colleague Sean Logan got involved. I served with him in the Ohio House, and he was the director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources under Democrat governor Ted Strickland. Sean also does some lobbying work around the Statehouse.
Sean ran into a newly elected Ohio Representative, Jodi Salvo, at a Chamber of Commerce event in northeast Ohio. She revealed in conversation that she had been trained as a social worker. Sean had been trained in Bridges when he was a Columbiana County commissioner and asked her if she was familiar with this effort. When she expressed enthusiasm for this model, he told her about me coauthoring two books for aha! Process, including the new fifth edition of Bridges Out of Poverty. I happened to be in Columbus and dropped off some books from aha! Process for her and her staff.
From that we had a Zoom meeting, and I explained what the Healthier Buckeye program was. She agreed to have us bring in some recipients of that program to speak to a full committee and seek funding. We brought in three: Natalie Longmeier of Marion Matters, Stephen MacDonald of Lucas County (Toledo), and Dontae Sledge, a young man who had used the Getting Ahead program to overcome the hurdles placed before him as an emancipated foster care person. They knocked it out of the park with great testimony.
Each Tuesday for the next two weeks, we will showcase another testimony—one from Stephen MacDonald, and one from Natalie Longmeier.
Click here to watch the video testimonies that were given to the Ohio House Children and Human Services Committee on March 5 about the benefits of Bridges Out of Poverty and Getting Ahead.
We are hopeful for funding to build Bridges work in Ohio. We have a champion and a possible path forward to create a lasting legacy for the success of many folks who need that bit of insight that Bridges provides. Stay tuned to see how and if this works out. It may be a template for your state.
