COLUMBUS, Ohio – Gov. Mike DeWine signed the state budget bill Monday, including $20 million in spending for a new Responsible Fatherhood Initiative.
The initiative, a product of the Senate, escaped DeWine’s veto pen when he signed the budget Monday at 11:15 p.m.
The funding will support grants to nonprofits—many faith-based—that help men become more engaged fathers, and will fund a statewide media campaign.
Lawmakers also approved a Senate proposal to designate June as Responsible Fatherhood Month, encouraging public events that highlight the role of fathers in children’s lives.
The initiative, modeled after a Florida program, drew praise from Republicans and skepticism from Democrats, who said maternal and child health programs should take priority.
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Supporters argue the investment addresses a root cause of poverty and instability in families. Senate President Rob McColley said research shows children with involved fathers are more likely to avoid poverty, behavioral issues, and incarceration—making the initiative not just a social investment, but an economic one.
Generative AI contributed to the writing of this story.
