Ohio Right to Life supports parenting resource centers, maternal housing and adoption grant funding in budget

Emma Martinez, director of legislative affairs for Ohio Right to Life, told the House Children and Human Services Committee that parenting resource centers, maternal housing and adoption grants are cost-effective tools to support pregnant women, parents and adoptive families.

Martinez said there are more than 123 parenting resource centers statewide that offer services at no cost and asked lawmakers to keep proposed increases to the Ohio Parenting and Pregnancy Program grant funding. She noted the governor proposed raising the program’s annual funding from $7 million to $10 million per fiscal year and urged lawmakers to retain that level to broaden access.

Martinez also described a maternal and infant housing assistance program included in the governor’s proposal at $500,000 per fiscal year to support maternal housing beds and transitional housing services; she said the amount would not meet total need but could expand available beds. Finally, Martinez urged continuation of the adoption grant program, which the governor proposed to fund at $34 million per fiscal year; she noted the program had provided grants to more than 2,296 families since it was converted from a tax-credit model to a grant program.

Committee members asked about the maternal housing line and the measures’ scope; Martinez said the funding supports centers that provide free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, parenting courses and case management for education and employment supports. No committee vote or formal action occurred during the hearing.