The following statement can be attributed to Nick Lashutka, President & CEO, Ohio Children’s Hospital Association in response to the DeWine-Husted campaign’s speech regarding the “Opportunity for Every Ohio Kid” plan:

JUNE 28. 2018 – The Ohio Children’s Hospital Association and our six members – Akron Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Dayton Children’s Hospital, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, ProMedica Russell J. Ebeid Children’s Hospital, and UH/Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital – are committed to saving, protecting and enhancing the lives of Ohio’s children.

We are encouraged by what we heard today from Attorney General DeWine. As we are for the “Party of Kids,” we support policies that advance the health and wellbeing of children. We particularly appreciate the recommendation of elevating child initiatives to a cabinet level position and an increased focus on pediatric mental health as discussed today. We also believe investing in increased home visiting services for at-risk new mothers, foster-care system improvements and providing early child care can be important factors in addressing the social determinants of health, which can impact nearly every aspect of a child’s development.

We look forward to working with all elected officials and candidates in the coming months, as always, to ensure Ohio’s children – our most present asset and future workforce – are made a top priority in policy proposals and decisions facing our state.

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