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As you know through the Preschool Development Grant, we created a child care public private partnership to expand access to child care services through a partnership with private industry that supports workforce stability. This approach focuses on working families who struggle with child care access and costs, employers seeking to improve employee retention, and the state aiming to boost workforce participation. We are very appreciative of the work and interest our partners have created in Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton, Licking, and Montgomery counties.
In an effort to make this opportunity available statewide there will be a new application for grant opportunity made available. The Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) is excited to continue development of a partnership to bring together businesses, child care providers, and government to find new ways to support employees and child care programs benefitting families, programs, and businesses.
The application for grant opportunity will be available to non-profit and government entities seeking to partner with a private business and child care provider to expand access to child care for employees. Through this opportunity, non-profit or government organizations may enter into partnerships with local businesses fostering collaborations with local child care programs. These partnerships are tailored to meet community needs and encompass flexible and diverse models supporting wage increases, access prioritization, cost sharing, and more.
We know that insufficient child care choices negatively impact parents, employers, and taxpayers. When families do not have the child care they need, parents’ work productivity falls, resulting in costs to parents, employers, and ultimately taxpayers. We know that government alone cannot address the child care challenge. Through this partnership, we anticipate increased employee attendance, productivity and reduced turnover rates; enhanced access to consistent, high-quality child care for more children; and greater financial stability for child care programs.
I wanted to make you aware of this opportunity since it is another important tool in the toolbox to support child care programs, businesses, and families to ensure access to quality child care for working families in Ohio.
The application will be available on January 29, 2025. Interested non-profit and government entities can join us for additional information at 1 p.m. on January 29 through a Live Teams event at: Teams Live Link
We hope you will join us to learn more about this opportunity as we all work to DO WHAT’S RIGHT FOR KIDS.
Thanks for your continued partnership.
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 Kara B. Wente
Director, Department of Children and Youth
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