April 29, 2025
Vote Like a Pro: ACS’ Top 10 Tips for Navigating the Polls—a new tool by Advocacy & Communication Solutions—is designed to help U.S. voters feel confident and prepared when heading to the polls; understand your voting rights, stay informed about registration and voting options, and learn to be proactive in planning your Election Day experience.
April 17, 2025
Advocacy & Communication Solutions, LLC (ACS) is excited to unveil a new tool designed to help organizations communicate with clarity, consistency, and impact.
The Communication Framework and Dissemination Work Plan helps your team:
Whether you’re sharing updates with staff, engaging stakeholders, or advocating for change, this tool ensures your message reaches the right people—at the right time—with the right impact! Download now!
April 14, 2025
Ohio’s expanding school voucher program is diverting public funds to private education, potentially undermining public schools and creating inequities in the state’s education system.
This article from the Akron Beacon Journal examines Akron Public Schools’ opposition to Ohio’s expanded voucher program, arguing it drains public funds and benefits wealthier families while lacking accountability.
And this one from the Columbus Dispatch looks at how Ohio’s school voucher costs are rapidly increasing, raising concerns that the program favors private school families and weakens public education funding.
Both articles show growing statewide concerns that the voucher system is shifting resources away from public schools, deepening educational disparities across Ohio.
March 24, 2025
This article by Signal Cleveland examines a recent analysis by the Economic Policy Institute that shows Ohio families spend an average of $17,071 annually on infant child care—nearly 54% more than the $11,110 average tuition at four-year public colleges in the state. In Cuyahoga County, child care has become the highest monthly expense for families, surpassing costs for housing, food, transportation, or healthcare.
February 26, 2025
A recent article details how Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed state budget includes a “trigger law” that would end Medicaid expansion in Ohio if the federal government reduces its funding, potentially leaving 770,000 residents without coverage. The clause is being debated as congressional Republicans consider Medicaid cuts, and while similar measures exist in other states, Ohio lawmakers are still negotiating the final budget. Critics warn that ending Medicaid expansion would harm families, hospitals, and businesses, while supporters argue that the state cannot afford to cover the costs if federal funding decreases.
February 24, 2025
Is Ohio prioritizing school choice over public education? This article from Cleveland.com details how Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed budget would cut $103 million from traditional public schools over the next two years while increasing funding for charter schools by $221.8 million and private school vouchers by $265.4 million—343 of Ohio’s 609 school districts would lose state foundation aid in the next fiscal year, with suburban districts facing the largest reductions.
Critics argue that diverting funds to less-accountable alternatives could lead to higher property taxes and fewer opportunities for public school students. The administration defends the budget as a shift toward funding students rather than specific districts.
The implications? A budget that reinforces Ohio’s trend of prioritizing school choice over public education funding, raising concerns about equity, accountability, and long-term consequences for public school students and communities.
February 12, 2025
Ohio reproductive rights advocates are preparing for ongoing challenges to reproductive freedoms. This article from Ohio Capital Journal highlights the importance of their advocacy, as they engage the community, prepare for legal battles, and educate the public on how they can defend reproductive rights.
The ACS Fund for Women & Girls plays a crucial role in this advocacy by providing financial support to women and girls, particularly those of color, to access reproductive services, pursue higher education, and build careers in public service. Through our fund, ACS is supporting these advocates’ efforts to ensure that all women have the resources and opportunities to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and futures.
Contribute to a broader movement that empowers women, promotes reproductive justice, and strengthens community resilience against challenges to reproductive rights. Make a difference today.
January 21, 2025
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, the implications for women have been profound and far-reaching, with many states implementing restrictive abortion bans; bans that force women to travel long distances, face significant financial burden, or risk unsafe procedures to access care.
Almost Completely Illegal Abortion States (12):
Six-Week Bans (“Fetal Cardiac Activity” Bans):
Exceptions in Abortion Bans:
Reported Consequences:
Other Substantial Restrictions:
These restrictions disproportionately impact low-income women, women of color, and those in rural areas. And it looks like the U.S. is likely to remain a patchwork of abortion access in 2025; state-level restrictions will affect women in more restrictive areas and those without resources to travel or access online medications; efforts to ban medical abortion and eliminate access to medication could invoke laws like the Comstock Act; Federal judicial appointments could increasingly favor anti-abortion positions, complicating legal challenges to restrictive laws; and preventative reproductive healthcare – like access to birth control and vaccines – may also face new threats, particularly if federal leadership shifts to individuals with ant-vaccine stances. ACS takes a deeper look at these possible implications in our What to Watch Part 2 newsletter, coming out soon.
ACS is not backing down, despite these threats. Through the ACS Fund for Women & Girls, ACS is supporting reproductive justice by making grants to organizations that provide abortion access, as well as other essential reproductive health care. Anyone who cares about ensuring access to reproductive justice can contribute to the Fund.
December 17, 2024
This year, ACS turns 20! We’re celebrating with a game of “20 Questions,” featuring our amazing ACS team!
Scarlett’s featured answers:
Something you’ve done in your work that you’re most proud of? The ACS Fund for Women & Girls.
A skill that might surprise us? I played multiple instruments growing up.
See Scarlett’s answers to all our 20th Anniversary “20 Questions” here!
November 6, 2024
Post-election stress is real, and for many, disappointment and anxiety are likely, especially if one’s chosen candidate loses.
The Times article, How to Cope if the Election Didn’t Go Your Way, provides guidance on managing post-election stress, particularly if the outcome is disappointing.
This election is a call to action, underscoring the essential work needed to uphold and expand the rights of women, children, and historically marginalized communities. But that work cannot continue if we are stuck in the outcome and not focused on the future. While the results can’t be changed, our reaction to it and how we act moving forward are within our control. Read more on how to take care of yourself so that we can continue to take care of each other.