Governor DeWine Announces New Grant Program to Improve Child Care Access
 Analysis by the Bipartisan Policy Center found that an estimated 76,660 Ohio children are unable to access potentially needed early care and education due to a gap in availability of early care and education spots throughout the state. The Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) have budgeted $85 million dollars of federal child care discretionary one-time dollars to fund five competitive grant opportunities to improve access to early care and education for Ohio children.
Through this funding licensed early care and education programs can increase access by starting new programs, expanding current spaces to increase capacity, or making repairs to their existing spaces. Additional access for Ohio children can also be provided by licensed community-based non-profit early care and education programs. The application deadline closed April 26, 2024 with more than 5,300 applications received, To learn more about the five competitive early care and education access grants, please read Governor DeWine's News Release.
Child Care Choice Program
In Ohio, the burden of child care costs has long been a significant challenge for working families. The average cost of child care for a family with two children is over $22,600 annually, causing a substantial financial strain. This financial pressure forces families to make difficult decisions regarding their employment, often leading to job changes or even quitting to prioritize childcare responsibilities. Recognizing this dilemma, Ohio has taken a significant step to alleviate the burden by expanding its Child Care Choice Voucher Program. The Child Care Choice Voucher Program launched April 29, 2024, and provides support to working families with incomes ranging between 146-200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Approximately 8,000 families are expected to benefit from this enhanced support, allowing them to access affordable and quality child care services while maintaining their employment.
Governor DeWine Names Initial Communities Eligible for New Universal Nurse Home Visiting Program
The Department of Children and Youth is excited that Ohio will soon be offering a newborn home visiting program to all Ohio families who have recently had a child in an 11-county . Family Connects is an evidence-based program that supports families with newborns during this life-changing transitional period of a family’s life. The free, voluntary home visit is designed to support all families, regardless of income or background. Approximately three weeks after a child is born, home visits are conducted by nurses who receive extensive training and provide vital in-home clinical care for both moms and babies. Nurses are also able to provide support to families who have questions about caring for their newborn. Critical components to the program are the linkages that nurses provide to referrals and community resources that meet the needs of the whole family, including any mental health concerns or another on-going evidence-based parent support/home visiting program.
Ohio will begin the first wave of implementation this spring with three to five local communities, with the goal of eventually offering the program statewide.
For further reading, you can access the news release issued by Governor Mike DeWine.
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Step Up To Quality Proposed Changes
 In order to improve the readiness of Ohio’s children entering kindergarten, changes have been proposed to Step Up To Quality, Ohio’s quality rating and improvement system for early care and education and school age programs. Feedback on the proposed changes were received over the past two years, including from the legislatively convened, Step Up To Quality Study Committee. On Thursday, April 18, 2024, the Ohio Administrative Code rules to revise Step Up To Quality were filed to ensure a July 7, 2024 effective date.
Goals for the Step Up To Quality Changes:
- Ensure better outcomes for children and families.
- Create a system that is financially sustainable.
- Move from a five-star to a three-tier level rating system: Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
- Streamline and eliminate administrative burdens by reducing paperwork such as:
- Wage Structure
- Professional Development Plans
- Written Transition Plans
- Maintain the existing program exemptions outlined in Ohio Revised Code and existing educational requirements.
The new standards will be implemented by July 2024 with a year of transition for currently rated programs.
Empowering Communities: The Inspiring Journey of Jolinda Wesely and POP
 Partnering with Ohio Parents (POP) is a pioneering initiative under DCY. It serves as a resource for parents navigating the children's services system, aiming to reunify them with their children. Through the guidance and inspiration drawn from their own journeys, POP Parent Partners empower and assist the parents they support. They help establish both formal and informal networks within the community, encourage the development of new skills, and increase the confidence and ability to advocate for themselves and their children. POP extends its support to parents residing in Fairfield, Franklin, and Knox Counties.
POP is thrilled to introduce Jolinda Wesely, a dedicated Parent Partner serving in Knox County. Jolinda not only provides valuable support to mothers striving to reunite with their children but also actively engages in community involvement. Recently, she had the opportunity to meet with the mayor of Mount Vernon, and local law enforcement to discuss the POP program and her role as a Parent Partner. This meeting was a huge success, leaving a profound impression on the mayor and law enforcement officials, who plan to share this information with others in the community. Jolinda's journey, marked by overcoming 30 years of addiction and trauma, now sees her using her past experiences to uplift mothers in Knox County. According to Jolinda, “we cannot save them all, but we can start with one parent at a time to fight the good fight against drugs and help parents be able to be the parents they never knew they could be. All it takes is someone to care about them to see their greatness! We are not a program but a family that comes together to fight for the alone and build hope for the lost.” Thank you, Jolinda, for supporting those who need it most.
From Foster Care to Success: Kayla's Journey of Resilience and Achievement
Kayla came into the Bridges program in 2022 and she finished the program in 2023 when she turned 21. Kayla is now a proud mother of two and doing really well. On April 16, Kayla was presented with the Rising Up and Moving on Award from Trumbull County Children Services (TCCS). Kayla was recognized for all the hard work she has accomplished since emancipating foster care. Kayla was able to invite those she considered to be part of her support team. Kayla was not only supported by her team at TCCS, but she also invited Chrishyra Whitfield (Bridges Supervisor) who Kayla said played a big role in supporting her in her journey to adulthood. Kayla continues to work hard to be able to support herself and her children through working and completing school. Kayla states that she wants to be an inspiration to show others what is possible. Kayla is excited about her new job and hopes to make a difference.
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On the Move: DCY Month In Review
Ohio Chamber Hosts Child Care Summit Featuring Director Wente
Director Kara Wente had the honor of participating in a fireside chat at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce's Access and Affordability to Childcare Summit on April 16. This summit brought together passionate panelists, including childcare providers and business leaders, to delve into solutions for the challenges surrounding accessible childcare in Ohio. What an incredible opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and explore actionable strategies to ensure every family has access to quality care.
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Community Screening of The Right To Read
Director Wente and members of the DCY Senior Team attended the community screening of the literacy documentary The Right To Read. National, state, and local literacy advocates discussed the importance of ensuring every child has the right to read.
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Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disability Symposium
Director Wente was invited to be the kick-off speaker at the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Symposium in Columbus on April 11. During the event, Director Wente discussed the current work and future initiatives of DCY, highlighting the strides being made to improve Ohio’s youth.
LEND is an interdisciplinary training program of The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) in coordination with Nationwide Children's Hospital. The program engages graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and community leaders in an interdisciplinary training initiative aimed at enhancing the well-being of children with autism and developmental disabilities, along with their families.
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2024 Ohio Legislators Retreat
Director Wente addressed the 2024 Ohio Legislators Retreat, outlining the goals, principles, and pillars of the Department of Children and Youth. She highlighted feedback from recent family listening sessions, emphasizing the families desire for transparency and accountability. She discussed the launch of Family Connects, the expansion of the Child Care Choice Voucher Program, and a collaboration with state partners assisting families in navigating program eligibility and the K-12 journey. Director Wente went on to thank legislators for their support and commitment to improving the lives of children and youth across Ohio. Also present was Director Stephen D. Dackin of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, who discussed the Science of Reading and grants for training equipment in Ohio schools, showcasing his passion for education.
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Southwest Ohio Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition
DCY Director, Kara Wente, Chief of Staff Jeff Van Deusen, and Deputy Director of External and Government Affairs Joel Potts were invited to Southwest Ohio to meet with child and youth mental health advocates. They spent the day on Friday meeting with advocates and partners at the Ohio Mental Health and Advocacy Coalition, Interact for Health, and the Regional Behavioral Health Workforce Coalition discussing ways that DCY can partner to improve youth mental health and the behavioral health workforce.
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Tiered Foster Care Highlight
In the State of the State address, Governor Mike DeWine highlighted several Ohio counties who partnered together to improve the lives of Ohio’s youth. Sandusky, Seneca, Ottawa, and Wyandot counties collaborated to both reduce the number of children in congregate care and placement costs. Their efforts are known as the ‘Northwest Treatment Foster Care Partnership (NWTFCP). “By providing intensive support and tailored treatment for foster parents, the NWTFCP were able to find homes for children who might otherwise have been placed in group homes or residential facilities. Their findings showed some positive changes including the recruitment and licensing of eight new treatment foster homes since 2022 and an estimated savings of more than $580,000 in one year of congregate placement per diem costs!
DCY is providing an opportunity to public children services agencies (PCSAs) to participate in a Treatment Foster Home Pilot Program, modeled off the NWTFCP. This program is focused on recruiting and supporting treatment foster homes willing to support higher acuity children with additional one-on-one support, on-call 24/7 casework and counseling for crisis response, training, and marketing. We are excited to share that the treatment foster home pilot received 30 applications from PCSAs forming 10 regional partnerships.
With the combination of State support and the Northwest TFC Partnership, additional counties from five districts across Ohio hope to replicate the success of the NWTFCP. For questions or to submit an application to the Treatment Foster Home Pilot, please contact the Tiered Foster Care team at DCY-Tiered-Foster-Care@childrenandyouth.ohio.gov.
Early Childhood Mental Health Expansion
Infant and early childhood mental health consultation is a multi-level mental health strategy that encompasses the care continuum from promotion, prevention to intervention, and wellness. Infant and early childhood mental health consultation supports, and when needed, strengthens caregiving practices, thereby promoting optimal development for children. Infant and early childhood mental health consultants support young children at risk for exhibiting social-emotional and mental health challenges.
DCY will be expanding Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation services to Ohio’s Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, providing direct support to early learning providers to assist children from birth to age six with behavioral, social, and emotional needs.
This expansion will provide 18 new full time mental health consultants for licensed early learning centers in each of Ohio’s 88 counties. We are pleased to share that 12 consultants have already been hired.
Approximately one in six children, ages two through eight, has a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder. This increase in consultation is the first step to expanding services to Ohio’s youngest citizens, showing promising outcomes in reversing the toxic impact of poor social- emotional skills and strengthening the positive impacts of early relational experiences.
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Second Round of Family Listening Sessions
The Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) remains committed to ongoing engagement efforts throughout the state of Ohio. In line with the overarching goal of keeping children and their families at the center of every decision made, it is imperative that DCY has a physical presence in communities. In the late summer/early fall of 2023, DCY partnered with the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&R) to hold listening sessions in five major regions. The CCR&Rs helped recruit families who had exposure and experience with state and local programs and services. Families invited and present at these sessions included biological parents, foster and adoptive families, childcare providers, parent partners, foster parents, grandparents, and community partners. Several themes emerged from the five listening sessions, including a general lack of awareness of programs and supports, child care accessibility, and preventative services support for families, to name a few. At the conclusion of these sessions, DCY vowed that the department’s presence would continue to be felt in communities and there was an intentional effort to establish strong partnerships with those who have lived expertise. We are pleased to share that during the month of April, DCY, once again, is traveling the state to visit the five major regions, holding the second round of listening sessions! We look forward to sharing more insights in the near future.
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OCTF Honored: April Designated Child Abuse Prevention Month with Senate and House Resolutions
Ohio Children’s Trust Fund (OCTF) staff rounded out the month of April by receiving resolutions in both the House and the Senate recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. OCTF was also recognized in the Senate by its Board Chair, State Senator Stephanie Kunze, in celebration of its 40th anniversary of providing primary and secondary child abuse and neglect prevention services to Ohioans. Several OCTF staff members’ children were able to be in attendance for these special events given they also participated in DCY’s inaugural Take Your Child to Work day.
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Take Your Child to Work Day at DCY!
On April 24, DCY held our inaugural Take Your Child to Work Day event. Take Your Child to Work Day is a special opportunity for parents to bring their children to the workplace, giving them a glimpse into the world of work. It was a day filled with learning, exploration, and bonding, as our kids engaged in various activities and gained insight into their parents' professional lives. This annual event celebrates the importance of family, education, and the values of hard work and career aspirations. A big shout-out to all the incredible individuals who made our first Take Your Child to Work Day at DCY a smashing success! From dedicated planners to enthusiastic participants, your efforts made this day unforgettable for everyone involved.
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Celebrating Early Childhood Education Commitment
Stevie Romano, Deputy Director at the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, along with colleagues Kristen Burgess and Sunny Hannah, spoke at a celebration for individuals committing to careers in early childhood education. They emphasized the importance of professional development, passion, and continual improvement in the field. Romano highlighted the impact educators have on children's lives, stating that though they may not remember specific moments, the love and support provided will stay with them. They applauded the attendees for their bravery and commitment to shaping the future, expressing gratitude and excitement for their choice to invest in the well-being of children.
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2024 Ohio Early Childhood Conference
DCY was honored to participate in the 2024 Early Childhood Conference. We connected with passionate professionals, gained fresh insights, and explored innovative tools and resources. Participants engaged with our team and explored how DCY is empowering educators to make a difference in early childhood education. Explore additional images on our YouTube channel for more glimpses of the event!
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