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A ‘State of Crisis’ for Parents in Ohio

Working mother caring for child at homeChild care staffing continues to impact programs, families

A recent 4C for Children survey showed due to the lack of teachers, there’s more than 4,000 children unable to be placed in child care programs in the Cincinnati and Miami Valley regions.

“The big problem is that we have a huge teacher shortage,” Vanessa said. “The survey results showed us that in this (Cincinnati) region alone, we’re missing more than 300 teachers. And of those teachers, each would serve six to 15 children, depending on what ages there are.”
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The Power of Quality Care at Fairfield Child Care Center

High-quality care for a developing child makes all the difference. It supports and nurtures the growth of early learning and emotional development and strengthens the relationships children make with other children and adults. 

An adult and four young children sit around a table, playing with colorful building blocks and wooden toys in a brightly lit room with a colorful checkered mat on the floor.

4C for Children lead specialist Tracy Schnirring recently coached a child care program that went the extra mile and increased their Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) rating to ensure that children in their care are receiving enhanced learning opportunities. 

Tracy shares the impressive journey Creative Beginning Learning Center and their staff have completed.

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Ways to Thank Your Child’s Teacher

When you are at work, school or other events, child care providers are there for your children, providing quality care and critical early education. Without their hard work and dedication, our lives would look very different.  

A teacher smiles and interacts with three young children playing with colorful building blocks at a wooden table in a bright classroom.

Celebrate and thank the early childhood educator in your life every day, but especially on the day set aside especially for them: National Provider Appreciation Day on May 12. 

Here are a few quick and easy ways you can show your gratitude:

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Survey Results Show Little Change in Child Care Landscape

A baby’s hands touch colorful wooden puzzle numbers on a green board, with a blue and white checkered cloth underneath.The data collected from a February 2023 4C for Children survey of local child care program administrators shows little change in the local child care landscape from similar data collected by 4C in 2021. Classrooms are still shuttered and a staffing shortage continues. These outages are resulting in more than 4,000 infant, toddler, preschool and school-age children in Southwest Ohio and the Miami Valley combined who can’t access quality early learning.

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Child Care Issues are Impacting Businesses

A woman works on a laptop while talking on the phone at a kitchen table, looking concerned. Two children sit nearby, one drawing and the other looking at her. Papers and a calculator are on the table.

Black working mother communicating over cell phone while reading an e-mail on laptop at home.

The U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey reported in August 2022 that nearly 870,000 women have left jobs to care for one or more child under 5.

In a recent blog post featured on the Workforce Innovation Center, 4C for Children president/CEO Vanessa Freytag shares current child care trends like this and how these trends are impacting local businesses.

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Supporting Families, Recruiting Child Care Providers

Finding an open child care seat is a struggle for local families. And finding qualified staff for child care programs in order to expand capacity is a struggle for local child care providers. When combined, these struggles have created a child care crisis in this region. 4C for Children in taking action by launching the unique Child Care Careers Program.   

Recently, Local 12 News highlighted 4C for Children’s new program to rebuild the workforce in the community. In doing so, families and parents like first-time mother Roxana Holland will find it easier to find child care for children. 

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Parenting Hot Topic: Lean into Literacy and Local Libraries

Adorable little child, boy, sitting in a book store, reading books

Public libraries provide families with a welcoming environment to learn, connect with other families and find community resources. Libraries also help families prepare for school success, even before the child enters kindergarten. The bonus is public libraries are free resources.

Inside a library you’ll find books, media and activities that help children begin their literacy journey and promote a lifetime of learning. Read More about Parenting Hot Topic: Lean into Literacy and Local Libraries »

Parenting Hot Topic: Talk About Teeth

February is for flossing—not the dance move but the dental hygiene activity! This month is National Children’s Dental Health month.  

 

Poor dental health can lead to pain and infection that may cause problems when eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Children who have poor oral health often miss school more and receive lower grades compared to other children. 

The good news is cavities are preventable! Daily dental hygiene routines at home and regular visits to a dentist can help. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), parents can support young children by developing good dental habits.   Read More about Parenting Hot Topic: Talk About Teeth »