Latest News
June 4, 2025
Five Years Later: How Ohio Leaders Are Acting on Racism as a Public Health Crisis
In 2020, numerous Ohio leaders, including those in Columbus and Franklin County, declared racism a public health crisis, committing to address systemic inequities. Since then, initiatives such as Columbus Public Health’s Center for Public Health Innovation have implemented programs like the “Vax Cash” incentive, a flavored tobacco ban, and the establishment of the Office of […]
June 2, 2025
Ohio Budget Plan Sparks Backlash Over Forced School Closures and Sales
This article by the Statehouse News Bureau examines a provision in Ohio’s proposed budget that would allow the state to force the closure of underused public school buildings and require districts to sell them to charter or private schools at below market value—something school leaders like Canton Superintendent Jeff Talbert call unfair to local taxpayers. […]
May 27, 2025
Millions at Risk: GOP Bill Could Slash SNAP Benefits, Says CBO Report
This article examines how a recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis indicates that over 3 million individuals could lose access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits under a Republican-backed bill passed by the U.S. House. The legislation proposes stricter work requirements and shifts a portion of SNAP funding responsibilities to states, potentially adding $14 […]
May 23, 2025
Split U.S. Supreme Court Halts First Religious Charter School in Landmark Decision
This Reuters article examines the U.S. Supreme Court’s 4-4 split decision on May 22, 2025, which effectively blocked the creation of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School in Oklahoma—the nation’s first proposed taxpayer-funded religious charter school. The tie, resulting from Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s recusal due to potential conflicts of interest, upheld the Oklahoma […]
May 23, 2025
Communicating about Democracy Under Threat
This article by the FrameWorks Institute explores the challenges in conveying the fragility of democratic institutions to the public. It identifies three main obstacles: the tendency to equate government solely with current leaders, the belief that American actions inherently define democracy, and the abstract nature of concepts like authoritarianism, which can feel disconnected from daily […]
May 23, 2025
House Budget Cuts Aid to Fund Deportations and Tax Breaks for the Wealthy
This article from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) details how the House’s budget reconciliation bill drastically cuts critical supports like Medicaid, SNAP, and the Child Tax Credit, which disproportionately harms low-income families and communities of color. According to CLASP, the bill redirects these funds to expand immigration enforcement—allocating $45 billion for agencies […]
May 13, 2025
REFOCUS: A New Lens for Leading Through Crises
At ACS, we don’t just build tools—we refine them. When we find new approaches that help organizations, we integrate them into our resources. ACS has updated its Crisis Communication Worksheet with a reminder to REFOCUS: a powerful, step-by-step mindset tool designed to help leaders pause, regain perspective, and communicate with purpose when the pressure is on. […]
May 1, 2025
Updates to ACS What to Watch: Parts 1 and 2!
The ACS What to Watch 2025 Update is a critical follow-up to ACS’ Winter 2025 Newsletters: What to Watch: Part 1 and What to Watch: Part 2, confirming that many of the threats we previously identified have materialized; the Trump administration’s aggressive rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, major changes to education policy, […]
April 29, 2025
ACS Helps You Vote Like a Pro!
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
Introducing the ACS Communication Framework and Dissemination Work Plan!
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: Align messaging with your goals and audience needs Identify the best communication channels Streamline internal workflows and responsibilities Respond effectively to change or crisis […]