Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Week in Review
For the week ending January 23, 2026
Monday, January 19, 2026
 Ohio Governor Mike DeWine honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a remarkable leader who fought to remove barriers for all. He asked that we continue to work together to create a better, more prosperous state and nation, so everyone can live up to their God-given potential.
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
 Governor DeWine and Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA, announced the official launch of OhioSEE, a new children’s eyesight program serving Ohio’s highest-need counties.
Today’s announcement took place at Campus International School in Cleveland, where several students in kindergarten through third grade received fitted eyeglasses, at no cost to the child or family, from Vision to Learn, an OhioSEE vendor.
“What we are doing with OhioSEE is life-changing for these students, and this is just the beginning,” said Governor DeWine. “I look forward to seeing this program grow as it addresses the barriers preventing young students from receiving the critical eye care they need. I encourage superintendents in the pilot counties to take a serious look at this program and contact us to get enrolled.”
 Lt. Governor Jim Tressel traveled to Cincinnati for the first stop of his statewide WorkOhio Kickoff Tour.
WorkOhio is a new initiative to connect Ohioans with in-demand jobs in their area through personalized support from teams of regional job experts. The program was announced by Lt. Governor Tressel last week.
“There are great opportunities opening up in every corner of Ohio, and Southwest Ohio is no exception,” Lt. Governor Tressel said. “With WorkOhio, we are making it easier for people to start a job search and find great opportunities close to home by connecting them with local experts who know the employers, the industries, and the resources that can help them reach their full potential.”
Governor DeWine, Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Andy Wilson, and Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) Director Kara Wente announced two new initiatives aimed at helping children in the state who may be at risk of human trafficking.
The first initiative is a pilot program that will embed caseworkers with anti-human trafficking expertise in three public children services agencies in Cuyahoga, Hamilton, and Montgomery counties. These dedicated caseworkers will focus solely on human trafficking cases and serve as the agency’s subject matter experts, strengthening identification, screening, and service coordination to improve outcomes for vulnerable youth. Embedding these workers in children services agencies in communities with active anti-trafficking networks will enhance collaboration and ensure survivors are connected to the supports they need.
The second initiative, in Montgomery County, will focus on addressing the root causes of numerous runaway reports of missing children. A local nonprofit will lead non-police response efforts for youth who repeatedly run away or go missing from care, using a human trafficking screening tool and other trauma-informed services.
“Unfortunately, we know that human trafficking is underreported,” said Governor DeWine. “By implementing these efforts, we will identify more children who are being trafficked and help them recover from their trauma.”
 Lt. Governor Tressel traveled to Marietta as part of his statewide WorkOhio Kickoff Tour.
“We have brought together a great team to lead our WorkOhio effort in Southeast Ohio,” Lt. Governor Tressel said. “Job experts across the region are ready to help people in their communities discover the opportunities and resources that can lead them to the right career fit. With the team we have in place, WorkOhio will open new doors and help more Ohioans reach their full potential.”
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Governor DeWine and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen D. Dackin announced the award of $10 million in Ohio School Bus Safety Grants to 371 schools, districts, and county boards of developmental disabilities statewide.
The grants will help ensure safer travel for Ohio students through safety upgrades to existing buses and the addition of advanced safety features on new buses.
“Whether students are in the classroom or on the school bus, we owe it to parents and families to do everything we can to keep them safe,” said Governor DeWine. “We’re raising the bar for student safety on Ohio’s buses, and these grant awards demonstrate our dedication to making school transportation safer.”
Friday, January 23, 2026
 Governor DeWine joined state officials from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), and Buckeye State Sheriffs Association to encourage Ohioans to prepare for the impending severe weather.
According to the National Weather Service, some parts of Ohio could see up to 12 inches of snow and extreme cold is expected.
"My main advice to everyone is to stay home if you can," said Governor DeWine. "By staying home, you and your family will be in the safest place to ride out the storm; you give ODOT and local road crews time to plow the roads; and you can help ensure that law enforcement resources aren't taxed."
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957
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