Grace Armstrong is a family child care provider located in Butler County, Ohio. She advanced from a one-star Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) rating to a three-star rating all within one year! Read More about It’s About Our Children »
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Our 2018 Annual Report: Ramping Up For Quality
4C for Children is focused on leveling the playing field for children in our community, ensuring that every child receives the care and education they need to be successful in school and life. In 2018, we implemented innovative ideas and collaborated with our partners to help child care providers and families build a solid educational foundation for our community’s youngest children through quality care.
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Excited to Help Kids Learn!

Lisa Greene is the administrator for YMCA Batavia Heights Christian Child Care. While participating in 4C for Children’s Step Up Direct series in January, 4C coaches worked with her program to prepare for and then apply for a one-star Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) rating.
“Having a rating adds a depth of quality that wasn’t there before,” Lisa says. “It’s like a stamp of approval for parents to know that we have been through this process and it’s an opportunity for our teachers to shine and feel motivated to do more for the kids in their classrooms.”
Thank You For Answering the Call!
4C for Children wants to extend a heartfelt thank you to the community members who have helped us meet the needs of those impacted by the Memorial Day tornadoes that struck the Miami Valley.
Because of your support, 4C has been able to provide clothing, hygiene necessities, and art supplies to child care providers in the region as well as with the children and families they serve. Read More about Thank You For Answering the Call! »
Miami Valley Tornadoes—You Can Help!
This is a letter that was sent out by 4C for Children’s President/CEO Vanessa Freytag to the communities served by 4C. We are committed to supporting the child care providers and children in the Miami Valley region. See contact information below.
Dear Friends of 4C for Children,
The Memorial Day tornadoes that struck the Miami Valley region were devastating. Among those impacted by the devastation are many child care programs who are struggling to regain their footing. 4C for Children serves as the state designated resource and referral agency for all licensed child care programs for 15 counties in the Miami Valley and the Cincinnati regions. In that role, we are asking you today to help these programs in their moment of need. Read More about Miami Valley Tornadoes—You Can Help! »
Congratulations CDA Graduates!
Congratulations to this recent class of 4C Child Development Associate (CDA) Preparation Program graduates from Southwest Ohio!
This group of early childhood professionals not only finished this step on their journey to increasing the quality of their child care programs—each of the family child care providers in the class also completed registration for and received a Step Up To Quality rating! Read More about Congratulations CDA Graduates! »
4C President/CEO Gives Testimony to Ohio Legislators
“When we think about the economic growth of our state, the reality is that child care is one of the most fundamental components of our business infrastructure. A parent cannot go to work without a place for their child to be cared for.”
Those were among 4C President/CEO Vanessa Freytag’s remarks in testimony given April 10 to the Ohio House Finance Health and Human Services Subcommittee.
She and 10 other Ohio early childhood advocates gave testimony about the importance of investing in quality care at the state level and the impact of Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed budget on children and families.
“Every day we (Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies) work on ensuring that every young child in Ohio gets the educational grounding that will help children enter school ready to learn,” Freytag told legislators. “If they are ready to learn, they are likely to thrive and become successful adults who become parents, work at businesses, and maybe even run for office.”
Read More about 4C President/CEO Gives Testimony to Ohio Legislators »
Emily Fay Named VP of Agency Advancement
4C for Children is happy to welcome Emily Fay as the agency’s new Vice President for Agency Advancement. In her new role, Fay will lead the agency’s fundraising and development efforts and will oversee its communication functions.
Annetta Rutland Celebrates 40 Years With 4C
Annetta Rutland is 4C for Children’s walking historian. Not because she is an avid reader of history but because she has lived and contributed to that history over the past 40 years as an employee—a rare accomplishment in today’s world where the average employee changes jobs every five years. Read More about Annetta Rutland Celebrates 40 Years With 4C »
Loveland sophomores receive Champions for Children: The Next Generation Award
Every child should have access to books.
That’s a core belief of Alex and Hannah Laman and it’s what led them to found Adopt A Book, a local nonprofit organization that works to ensure children in need have access to books—and have books of their own. Read More about Loveland sophomores receive Champions for Children: The Next Generation Award »