4C for Children - the pioneering leader, advocate and resource
for high-quality early education and care
in Southwest Ohio, the Miami Valley and Northern Kentucky.

Interested in starting a center?

There's more to starting a center than finding the right building to house your new program! Not everyone can play an instrument, drive a bus, or do many other things, nor should they try. Neither should everyone care for children! Ask yourself:

Do I view myself as a leader?
Do I have business experience (selling, managerial, bookkeeping)?
Do I have considerable experience caring for children?
Do I accept all children and feel a deep committment to children and their families?
Am I willing to work long hours when necessary?
Do I feel confident in my ability to delegate, budget, motivate, guide and coach staff?
Am I committed to establishing a child care center where professional training and growth will be encouraged?

Adapted from United States Small Business Administration. Quality Child Care Makes Good Business Sense, 1989. and Bloom, P.J. The Director's Toolbox: From the Inside Out, The Power of Reflection and Self-Awareness, 2007.

Download the Child Care Licensing Procedural Guide from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for more information on the application process in Ohio.

Have questions? In Southwest Ohio, contact Stephannie Kennedy, 513-758-1221. In the Miami Valley, contact Becky Evemy, 937-723-2726. In Northern Kentucky, contact Joni Aylor, 859-547-5087.