May 17, 2023

by: Emily Hastings

UCP testifies in front of Ohio Senate Health Committee – May 10, 2023

Last week, our Director of OakLeaf Services, Paul Soprano, testified in front of the Ohio Senate Health Committee advocating for increased funding for employment services for persons with disabilities through Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) agency.

There were over 80 witnesses from all types of social service agencies present. You can watch their testimony at the link below. Paul’s portion begins at approximately 1:31:50.

https://ohiochannel.org/video/ohio-senate-health-committee-5-10-2023

For the first time in recent memory, the budget that was passed by the Ohio House fully funds OOD to draw down the entire federal match to increase services available to jobseekers and employers as well as increase rates paid to providers like UCP of Greater Cleveland so that we can pay staff higher wages. Let’s hope the Senate keeps the full amount in the budget that they will soon pass.

In the photo below from left to right is Justin Blumhorst, Capabilities; Scott Marks, Ohio Provider Resource Association (OPRA); Tonya Reed, RTC Services; and Paul Soprano, UCP of Greater Cleveland.

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