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Ohio Child Care Grants, Programs and Services

Whether you are looking to start a child care program in Ohio or are a seasoned owner, there are many resources available to help fund your programs. Each state has a primary agency or organization responsible for subsidizing child care programs. They partner with local child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agencies and shared services organizations to raise awareness of grant opportunities and support the distribution of funding. They also provide additional programs and services to help you run your business. 

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Ohio Child Care Grants, Programs and Services 

Primary State Agency (Child Care Development Fund)

This primary agency oversees early care and education programs and services in Ohio, and they are responsible for subsidizing child care programs from federal and state child care grants. Visit the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R Agency)

Child Care Resource & Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) are another great resource for assisting child care providers with available grants and funding and other resources. Find your local CCR&R.

Shared Services Organizations

The community of ECE leaders working to provide services to support sustainable child care programs is growing all the time. Reach out to your local organizations to learn more about their services. Visit Early Learning Resources Ohio.

NAEYC Regional Affiliates

Join your local NAEYC affiliate to connect with professionals in your community at conferences, networking events, leadership opportunities, advocacy efforts and more. Visit Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children (Ohio AEYC) or Southwest Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children (SWOAEYC)

Champions of Mixed Delivery Monthly Call

The Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC) and National Child Care Association (NCCA) and are partnering to offer Champions of Mixed Delivery, a series of monthly check-in calls to share and receive updates about key proposals, coordinate messaging and talking points and share resources for advocacy. View dates and register for a call here.

Ohio Child Care Licensing Requirements

Learn more about child care licensing requirements in Ohio.   

Learn more about Ohio early learning standards

Ohio Early Childhood Education Quality Ratings, Curriculum and Assessments

Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) 

Child care providers earn a rating when they meet quality standards. Many states require these quality standards in order to receive grants and additional funding. View more at Step Up to Quality.

State-Aligned Curriculum

Procare Solutions is partnering with Learning Beyond Paper to provide curriculum to our customers. No state approval is required, but you can be confident knowing your curriculum aligns to your state standards by implementing Procare Early Learning Powered by Learning Beyond Paper. This 100% digital curriculum addresses the needs of child care centers, daycares, preschools and early learning teachers. The curriculum provides 52 weeks of lesson plans that include learning tailored to seasons.

Assessments

Simplify the assessment process and meet Ohio state standards with a unique early childhood assessment framework that makes clarity a key strength of your child care center’s assessments and communications.

Average Cost of Child Care in Ohio

Understanding the cost of child care in Ohio is important for both parents and child care providers. 

Annual Child Care Costs in Ohio
Ohio’s annual child care costs are near the national average. Child care centers charge an average of $11,438 per year.

Child Care Affordability in Ohio

The median household in Ohio spends 11% of their income on infant care for a single child.

More Information on Ohio Child Care

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services manages licensing and certifications for child care providers, supports quality early education and helps connect families with child care payment assistance.

View child care costs in other states.

Ohio Professional Development Training Requirements 

In Ohio it is required that early childhood professionals complete 20 hours of professional development bi-annually. Training hours and continuing education units (CEUs) are documented in each person’s professional development record in the Ohio Professional Registry. Be sure to create and manage your registry profile to track and document your training hours to comply with Ohio state licensing requirements for ECE professionals. Visit the National Database of Child Care Regulations website to find licensing regulations and requirements in your state. 

Bertelsen Education, a Procare Solutions Company provides IACET-accredited courses that meet state licensing requirements. Visit BertelsenEducation.com to purchase. 

Professional Development Resources

Professional development programs are designed to encourage, support and recognize early childhood professionals seeking to expand their skills to raise the quality of their programs. View a list of professional development resources for child care providers here.