State Budget Training registration is open!
Join us for advocacy training, an overview of health and human services funding for advocates, panels focused on statehouse media, executive branch and legislative branch.
Tuesday, December 10th | 10:00AM - 4:00PM
Renaissance Columbus Downtown | 50 N 3rd St, Columbus, OH 43215
Training Agenda
9:00am to 10:00am Registration and Grab ‘n Go Breakfast
10:00am to 10:15am Welcome and Setting Expectations for the Day
Douglas Lumpkin, Owner and CEO at InterConnections Consulting Group and Board Member of The Center for Community Solutions
10:15am to 11:00am Panel of Legislators
A bipartisan panel of members of the Ohio General Assembly will offer their perspectives on the next legislative session and their experiences with the state budget process, with a particular focus on how advocates can most effectively engage in the process.
Rep. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton)
Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake)
Senate Democratic Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood)
Sen. Louis Blessing (R- Colerain Township)
11:00am to 11:45am Inside the Office of Budget and Management
Director Murnieks will detail the Ohio Budget process, providing the ins and outs of the executive branch process the results in the Governor’s As Introduced budget, and the role of the executive branch in getting the budget across the finish line.
Director Kimberly Murnieks, Ohio Office of Budget and Management
12:15pm to 1:15pm Lunch and Celebrating 10 Years of Medicaid Expansion in Ohio
While attendees enjoy lunch, John Corlett will emcee a fireside chat to recognize the 10th anniversary of Medicaid expansion in the state of Ohio. The conversation will look back at the cross-sector work that happened to get Medicaid expansion across the finish line and the impact the program has made on Ohioans.
1:15pm to 2:00pm Health and Human Services Agencies Preparing for the State Budget
Representatives from four of the state’s health and human services agencies will discuss their and how the next budget will build upon the work done to date by the DeWine administration. They will also discuss the important role that stakeholders play in the policymaking process and the most effective ways to engage.
Bridget Harrison, Deputy Director, Ohio Department of Medicaid
Joel Potts, Chief Government and External Affairs Officer, Ohio Department of Children and Youth
Melissa Bacon, Deputy Director of Behavioral Health Policy, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Alex Lapso, Legislative Liaison, Ohio Department of Aging
2:15pm to 3:00pm “Secrets of the State Budget” Budget and Advocacy 101
A panel of experts from around Capitol Square will share their experiences across the executive and legislative branches and working with coalitions to move policy. They will share their secrets to navigating the budget process, effective advocacy approaches and stories from the middle of the action.
Matt Carle, Esq., Partner, CHW Advisors
Sarah Hudacek, Coalition Manager, Advocates for Ohio’s Future
Gina Wilt, Advocacy Director, Coalition on Homelessness and Housing
Moderator: The Center for Community Solutions Policy team
3:00pm to 3:45pm Media Roundtable
A panel of statehouse news media representatives will talk about the vital role they play in connecting all of us with the Statehouse and the importance of connecting with state level policy. The group will also share ways in which advocates can connect with news media to help tell their stories.
Karen Kasler, Statehouse Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio
Natalie Fahmy, Ohio Statehouse Reporter, NBC4 Columbus
Moderator: Patti Carlyle, The Center for Community Solutions
3:45pm to 4:00pm Closing Remarks | Tara Britton
