Ohio Child Care Programs to Close
As anticipated, Governor Mike DeWine announced this afternoon that all Ohio child care programs will close beginning Thursday, March 26 through at least Thursday, April 30. This emergency action is among many that have been enacted statewide to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. An official order on this has not yet been released so the full details of this plan will be shared in the coming days.
What You Can Do Now
Here’s a guide with steps to help you think through steps to close your program temporarily and that addresses families, staff and financial needs.
In addition, you can help ensure that those who work in the health, safety and essential service fields during this extraordinary time have the child care they need by applying to serve as a Pandemic Child Care Center. A link to a document that defines what these essential services are will be posted here.
- ODJFS is initiating a temporary licensing application process. This will allow the creation of new temporary child care centers and the transformation of already existing child care centers into Pandemic Child Care Centers for the children of identified health, safety and essential services workers throughout the state.
- Child care centers can voluntarily apply to become licensed as pandemic child care providers.
- Pandemic Child Care Centers will be paid for all essential service staff children.
Please note that according to this plan, programs with Publicly Funded Child Care agreements with the state of Ohio will be paid during the mandated closure.
Click here for additional information from ODJFS. Questions can be directed to the ODJFS help line at 1-877-302-2347.
What 4C for Children Is Doing Now
4C for Children specialists can help assist health, safety and essential worker families in securing care at Pandemic Child Care Centers. If you need support during this time, you can email our specialists or call:
- Southwest Ohio | 513-758-1330
- Miami Valley | 937-220-9660, x1330
If a specialist is unable to answer your call, please leave a message and we will connect back with you as soon as we are able.
We continue to monitor this rapidly changing situation and will alert you to new information as it becomes available through email and our website. Remember to check our website frequently and follow us on social media, too, to find links to additional resources and information.