Strong Foundations Act Summary

• Establishes the "Help Me Grow" program providing evidence-based home visiting services to pregnant women and families with children under five, including prenatal care, parenting education, and early intervention services.

• Requires health benefit plans to cover full cost of hearing aids (up to $2,500 every 48 months) and related services for persons age 21 and younger verified as deaf or hearing impaired.

• Creates a central intake and referral system coordinating home visiting services across Ohio through multiple state agencies including health, job and family services, medicaid, and developmental disabilities departments.

• Appropriates $7 million to Department of Health and $3 million to Department of Job and Family Services for programs addressing maternal and infant mortality, including stable housing initiatives, legal services partnerships, child care grants, and mobile applications for pregnant women.

• Requires Medicaid coverage updates for mental health and dyadic family therapy services for children birth through age five and their caregivers by June 30, 2025.