child care
How the new, expanded federal child tax credit will work
WASHINGTON — The most ambitious part of the pandemic stimulus package signed by President Joe Biden earlier this year is about to hit the bank accounts of millions of U.S. parents. Starting next week and ending in December, the vast majority of U.S. households with children will begin receiving monthly payments as a result of changes […]
Child care budget: Step Up to Quality remains, low-income care boosted
Child care in the state will still have one standard-making process that was nearly cut from the state budget, while other investments in broadband and publicly-funded child care come with praise from Ohio advocates. Leaders of child care facilities and policy advocates in the state were worried that Step Up to Quality, the state’s standard-monitoring […]
Survey: Ohio middle-of-the-road on education, child health and economic well-being
In a national survey on child well-being, Ohio was middle of the pack when it came to growth indicators. The data, collected through the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranked Ohio 31st nationally in overall child well-being, calculated using indicators of economic well-being, education, health, and family and community context. Compared to 2019 numbers, Ohio was […]
Child care leaders ‘outraged’ at state Senate’s removal of quality system in budget proposal
The removal of the Step Up to Quality child care standards system as proposed in the Ohio Senate’s version of the budget was not only against the wishes of some child care leaders, but also came without any warning. “It was calculated,” said Dawn Blalock, co-owner of the Little Miracles Early Development Center. “It was […]
U.S. parents pay nearly double the ‘affordable’ cost for child care and preschool
By Joya Misra, University of Massachusetts Amherst President Joe Biden wants to make child care more affordable across the U.S. Under his American Families Plan, proposed in April 2021, the federal government would subsidize the costs of child care to the tune of US$225 billion annually. Lower-income families could access child care free of charge, […]
Young farmers struggle with child care and health insurance
By Shoshanah Inwood, Andrea Rissing, and Florence Becot, of Ohio State University Kat Becker feeds hundreds of people with the vegetables she grows on her Wisconsin farm, and she wants to expand. But her ability to grow her business collides with her need for affordable health insurance and child care. She has had to make […]
Heartbreaking stories of Black maternal deaths, pregnancy complications, racism related at hearing
WASHINGTON — When U.S. Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri was pregnant with her first child, Zion, she saw a sign in her doctor’s office encouraging her to speak up about anything unusual she was feeling. She did so, telling her physician that she was having severe pains, but her concerns were swiftly dismissed. The doctor […]
Advocates see Biden’s families plan as step forward
As part of his plans post-State of the Union, President Joe Biden introduced the “American Families Plan,” targeting low-income families, child care and paid leave. Ohio advocacy groups say these steps would help move the country forward post-pandemic, and address issues they’ve been fighting for in the state for a long time. “For decades, state […]
Increase support for child care in Ohio. This is a no-brainer.
When I talk to my friends who have children and they tell me how much child care costs, I cringe. Often the figures they throw out resemble the price tag of tuition. According to Child Care Aware of America, the average price of center-based infant child care in Ohio is indeed nearly the same as […]
Columbus child care worker speaks with Biden about needs of essential workers
A child care worker in Columbus spoke directly to President Joe Biden about the struggles she faces as an essential worker and single mother. Carmen Palmer was one of four people who spoke with Biden and his domestic policy advisor, Susan Rice, during a recent roundtable about COVID-19 and Black worker struggles, along with legislation […]
With CARES Act funding drying up, Ohio joins nation in finding new sources of child care support
While child care centers are still in need of support to make it through the pandemic, Ohio was not alone in having to find more money beyond federal dollars amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Ohio’s methods of subsidizing struggling child care facilities were part of a national study done by the non-profit think tank Bipartisan Policy […]
U.S. House passes package to rescue child care industry
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House stepped in Wednesday to try to rescue the nation’s child care system from collapse under the weight of the pandemic. The chamber approved a pair of bills that backers say are needed to fully reopen the economy and shore up the child care industry in the longer term. The bills […]