The state of Ohio offers several programs designed to reduce child care costs for families and support child care providers. These initiatives address the financial challenges of accessing quality care and the operational difficulties faced by early childhood education centers. Information regarding these programs is available through state agencies and community organizations.
Ohio Child Care Assistance Program
The Ohio Child Care Assistance Program provides financial support to eligible parents. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) administers this assistance to help cover costs while parents are working, attending job training, or enrolled in school. Approximately 116,000 children in Ohio receive this financial assistance each month.
To qualify for publicly funded child care, a family’s income must be below 130 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). Based on 2021 guidelines, this ranges from $17,420 for a family of two to $44,660 for a family of eight. Eligibility is determined by gross income and family size. Families may be required to pay a copayment based on these factors.
Applications for the Ohio Child Care Assistance Program can be submitted online through the ODJFS website. Licensed preschools and childcare centers that participate in Ohio’s Step Up to Quality program can accept students who receive these state funds.
Child Care Cred Program
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the Child Care Cred Program, designed to help families access childcare and support the state’s workforce. The program operates with support from employers and the state. To qualify for the Child Care Cred Program, families must live in the state of Ohio, and employers must be Ohio-based.
According to the Governor’s office, the state is also working toward expanding child care voucher availability, increasing early learning grants, and increasing support for in-home providers. The program aims to provide a boost to the Buckeye State’s workforce by ensuring parents have quality childcare, which allows employers to have productive employees.
Shared Services Pilot for Child Care Providers
Action for Children offers a shared services pilot program for child care centers and Family Child Care owners and administrators in Ohio. This program operates in partnership with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY). It is currently available for free to licensed child care programs in seven central Ohio counties: Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Pickaway, and Union counties.
Participants in the shared services program receive free access to brightwheel’s Child Care Management System (CCMS), which is a requirement for participation. The program is funded by the Ohio Department of Children and Youth and Action for Children’s donors. Action for Children is also expanding its network of trusted professionals to support early childhood education programs, referring to service providers such as caterers, realtors, and cleaners who work well with child care programs.
Child Care Sector Challenges and Statistics
The child care sector in Ohio faces significant challenges regarding workforce retention and affordability. From 2017 to 2023, the number of childcare workers in Ohio dropped by 31.9 percent. The median hourly wage for childcare workers in Ohio is $13.44, resulting in an annual salary of $27,960 for full-time workers. This is significantly lower than the median wage for all workers in Ohio, which was $23.95 in 2023.
Affordability is a major concern for families. Child care centers charge an average of $11,438 per year. The median household in Ohio spends 11 percent of their income on infant care for a single child. In Central Ohio, 57 percent of childcare programs that accept public funding expressed concern about closing in the next 12 months without additional public support.
Comparison of Support Models
Policy discussions in Ohio compare different models of support, such as the "Tri-Share" model and "Free Childcare for Childcare Workers."
- Tri-Share Model: This model involves the state, employers, and parents sharing the cost of childcare. It is noted that this model only benefits families who work at participating employers. The state’s share is only one-third of the bill.
- Free Childcare for Childcare Workers: This model provides free childcare specifically to early childhood educators. Proponents argue this is a better solution with a higher return on investment. It is proven to stabilize the sector and create more childcare slots. It does not put additional burden on parents or businesses, as the state covers the cost.
Outcomes of Free Childcare for Childcare Workers
The free childcare model has seen success in neighboring states. As of November 2024, Kentucky’s program assisted approximately 2,900 families with 5,200 children. The program cost roughly $2,800 per child. In Fiscal Year 2025, Kentucky appropriated $15 million for the program.
Benefits observed in Kentucky include: * Improvements in staff recruitment and retention for providers. * An increase in the number of providers accepting children who use public funding, as this allows them to offer free childcare to their staff. * Keeping 2,900 early childhood educators in the workforce. * Creating between 14,500 and 43,500 additional spots in childcare programs.
This model allows for more space in childcare programs, giving more parents the option to enter the workforce or increase their working hours.
Professional Development Requirements
Ohio requires early childhood professionals to complete 20 hours of professional development every two years. These training hours and continuing education units (CEUs) must be documented in the Ohio Professional Registry. Professionals are required to create and manage their registry profile to track training hours and comply with state licensing requirements.
Procare Professional Development offers state and IACET-accredited training to help customers maintain compliance and elevate the quality of care and education. Professional development programs are designed to encourage and support early childhood professionals in expanding their skills.
Conclusion
Ohio provides various avenues for financial relief regarding child care, targeting both families and the workforce that supports them. The Ohio Child Care Assistance Program offers direct aid to low-income families, while the Child Care Cred Program seeks to integrate employer support. For providers, the shared services pilot offers operational support at no cost. Simultaneously, the state grapples with sector-wide issues such as low wages and high costs, with policy discussions focusing on models that provide free care to childcare workers to stabilize the workforce and increase availability.