CDF-Ohio strives to give children a head start in life and ensure that they are safe and secure while their parents are at work. We support public investment in high-quality early care and education programs that get children ready to learn. High quality child care beginning in early childhood improves school and academic success. While a high-quality early care and education experience benefits all children, it is particularly important for children at risk of school failure. The absence of quality, affordable child care and prekindergarten programs is a daily concern for thousands of Ohio parents

Today most families with young children rely on childcare. Every day in Ohio more than 500,000 children younger than age six spend some or all of their day in licensed and regulated early care education settings. In 2003, 276,000 children under the age of six were cared for in unregulated family-based childcare. There is a great need for reasonable, affordable and quality childcare as the number of employed low-income single mothers with young children continues to increase.

CDF-Ohio participated in the 2005 National School Readiness Indicators Initiative along with 17 other states. Recommendations from the initiative can be accessed at http://gettingready.org. Low-income families need help in order to get and keep jobs, and to ensure that their children have access to early care and education programs they need in order to succeed in school. Ohio’s child care assistance program can provide that help. Working families earning up to 179% of poverty are eligible ($29,772 for a family of three in 2006). Parents currently must pay a co-pay depending on the amount of their income. These co-pays have resulted in many families not being able to afford child care.

Though Ohio used to be number one in the nation in the funding for Head Start, due to the previous administration's state budget crisis, funding was decreased and resulted in fewer children being served.

CDF-Ohio will continue to work with the legislature and Governor to ensure that every child has a fair start with the benefit of quality child care and early education programs.