COLUMBUS, OH — The youth advocacy organization Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio (CDF-Ohio) is officially launching its comprehensive Defending the Whole Child Policy webinar series, designed to give parents, students, community members, and local leaders an in-depth opportunity to discuss the critical factors shaping children’s development. The virtual initiative, which begins on Monday, November 9, 2026, aims to spotlight multifaceted aspects of child well-being across the state, covering foundational pillars such as family stability, economic mobility, children’s health, and education.
The newly introduced webinar series builds directly upon an extensive statewide virtual and in-person listening tour conducted by CDF-Ohio earlier this year. During that tour, organization staff traveled extensively across urban, rural, and suburban communities to engage directly with residents. The listening tour reached key metropolitan areas including Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus, as well as the state’s economically distinct Appalachian region, providing families with a platform to voice the specific supports their children need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
Organizers state that the upcoming webinar discussions will also heavily feature and analyze the findings from the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book. That influential annual report provides a comprehensive analysis of child well-being across states nationwide. In the latest 2026 rankings, Ohio was placed 27th for overall child well-being. The data underscored that the state has significant room for improvement, drawing particular attention to persistent challenges surrounding child poverty, educational attainment, and foundational health outcomes.
“Defending the whole child means looking at all the supports young people in Ohio receive and asking if our leaders and communities are truly helping them thrive,” said CDF State Director Dr. John Stanford. “We hope these conversations empower parents and children to identify what our state needs to build a better future for its young people.”
The kickoff session for the Defending the Whole Child Policy webinar series is scheduled for Monday, November 9, at 12 p.m. EST. This inaugural discussion will focus specifically on family stability and economic mobility, while also exploring effective pathways to address the distinct needs of foster children throughout Ohio. Community members interested in participating can access the session via the official Zoom registration link provided by the organization. Additional schedule details and information regarding the rest of the planned webinar series can be found online through CDF-Ohio’s public announcements, with centralized access links available via their Linktree portal.
Reflecting on the motivations behind the series, CDF-Ohio Research Manager Christian Davis noted that the insights gathered from families during the statewide listening tour revealed urgent, community-driven priorities that demand immediate policy attention.
“Participants in our listening tour emphasized the need for expanded emotional, social, and mental health support for their children, as well as dedicated trauma assistance,” said Christian Davis, CDF-Ohio Research Manager. “We were also joined by youth currently or previously involved in the justice system, who shared their perspectives on youth and social justice. We hope to have similar conversations during our webinar series, as they provide unique insights into the issues impacting child well-being that we might not otherwise hear.”
The webinars are structured to ensure that local voices remain at the forefront of policy discussions. By creating an open digital forum, CDF-Ohio hopes to bridge the gap between everyday community experiences and statewide legislative priorities. Organizers emphasize that sustainable progress in areas like economic mobility and health outcomes requires direct input from the individuals most affected by state policies, including parents navigating the educational and foster care systems, educators working on the front lines, and young people themselves.
As Ohio continues to grapple with the rankings and metrics reported in the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book, initiatives like the Defending the Whole Child Policy webinar series represent a concerted effort to translate data into actionable community dialogue. Through continuous public engagement and targeted discussions on family stability, economic opportunity, and health, CDF-Ohio aims to maintain momentum from its listening tour and foster collaborative solutions for the state’s youth.
For more information regarding the webinar schedule, registration details, or ongoing advocacy initiatives by the organization, community members can reach out to Christian Davis, CDF-Ohio Research Manager, via email at [email protected] or by phone at 513-315-0462.
