CCV Secures $15.6 Million for Ohio Children
For months, $15.6 million in vital funding for the Ohio Adolescent Health Centers (OAHC) was trapped in bureaucratic limbo. OAHC is a collaboration of nine provider organizations that serves as the state's largest prevention network, reaching students in 69 of Ohio’s 88 counties. OAHC goes directly into public schools to provide the only real alternative to Planned Parenthood’s deviant sex education curriculum.
The OAHC provides a holistic, primary-prevention framework that empowers middle and high school students to pursue optimal health through sexual risk avoidance and character formation. Unlike programs that merely offer "risk reduction" by assuming sexual activity, OAHC equips youth with a whole-person toolkit to protect their life trajectory and the future of the Ohio family
Defeating the Runaround
After the funding was included in last year’s budget bill (HB96), the bureaucracy tried to play a game of concessions, claiming for months that they couldn’t find the money.
Going into this battle, we knew that we had truth on our side. The legislation had passed. The Governor had signed it. CCV got to work.
When a state department claimed technical issues were preventing the funds from moving, we worked with the legislature to pass a second budget correction bill. We even used the exact language the bureaucrats provided to fix the problem. Yet, the money still did not move.
Next, the state claimed they could only find $1 million of the $15.6 million appropriated. They offered a fraction of what was required, hoping we would be satisfied and go away.
Our team stayed on the phones. We refused to back down and let a signed law be treated as a suggestion. Then weeks later, the missing $14.6 million miraculously appeared. Without CCV’s constant presence, that money would have stayed in the state’s coffers.
You can get the details of this battle from Mike and David in the news segment of our Narrative podcast:
The Battle for the Classroom
For years, Planned Parenthood and other radical activists have held a near-monopoly on "health" education in our public schools. Their "comprehensive" sex education models are designed to normalize risky behavior and separate children from the moral guidance of their parents.
As Christians, if we fail to provide a robust, life-affirming alternative, we leave a seat at the table for those who wish to indoctrinate our children with the "gender unicorn" and other destructive ideologies. This is why the funding for OAHC has been so critical. This is a worldview battle that will determine what curriculum we allow to shape the hearts and minds of the next generation of Ohioans.
Why IS OAHC the Solution?
OAHC delivers message integrity through a framework that respects the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of the family. Their approach is built on:
Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA): Their RUC curriculum teaches "primary prevention," the same model used to prevent drug and alcohol abuse. It empowers students to avoid risk entirely. By setting high expectations, they give students the tools to achieve their full potential without the baggage of premature sexual activity.
Character & Goal Setting: Students learn that their current choices dictate their future freedom. The curriculum covers self-regulation and the development of personal agency.
Remaining on the Front Lines
Securing this $15.6 million was an arduous process. But at CCV, we know that even though policy is downstream from culture, policy also protects the culture. If we allow bureaucrats to ignore the will of the legislature and the needs of our children, we lose the ability to protect the family.
Our presence at the Statehouse is a safeguard. We are there to unmask the tactics of those who wish to bury biblical truth under layers of administrative red tape. This victory belongs to the parents and citizens who stand with us. It belongs to the donors who ensure CCV has the resources to stay in the fight.
Standing with Our Champions
We thank champions like Representative Beth Lear (R-Galena) and Senator Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware). They leaned in when the pressure was highest. They understood that this wasn't just a technicality; it was a battle for the soul of our state.
As Representative Lear stated in a conversation with CCV Policy Executive Director David Mahan:
"If I can’t make a difference for the Lord in what I do, there’s no reason for me to be in the Statehouse. I’m just really glad that God worked it out because, to my knowledge, OAHC and RUC are the only entities in the state that are following state law."
Her words remind us that we are seeking to honor God by protecting the "least of these" and ensuring that our children are raised in an environment that values truth over ideology.
You can watch the full converation and get more details about the battle for OAHC’s funding here:
Turning Victory into Impact
Now that the funding has been freed, the real work begins. OAHC is currently ramping up operations to meet the demand from schools across the state. But the opposition will not sit idly by. Planned Parenthood and their allies in the media will continue to attack these programs. They have declared publicly that they will “continue to challenge sexual risk avoidance programming at the federal, state, and local level.” We must remain vigilant. We must continue to support OAHC as they expand their reach into every corner of Ohio.
This victory is a reminder that even when a bill is signed into law, the battle is not over. It requires constant oversight and a willingness to confront those who try to subvert the truth.
Because you stand with CCV, we can continue to be that voice of clarity in Columbus. We can continue to ensure that Gospel-centered solutions actually reach the classroom. We have secured a massive win, but the mission continues. Let us move forward with confidence, knowing that when we stand for the truth, we are standing for the future of Ohio.
For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or contact@ccv.org. For media inquiries, email media@ccv.org.
As Ohio's largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel.
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