Ohio Families Can Access Free Child Care Support as Agencies Connect Parents With Local Resources
Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs) provide free assistance to families throughout Ohio to locate safe, affordable and quality child care.
The community-based agencies collaborate with families, child care providers, early childhood professionals, businesses and local communities to improve access to child care and address the needs of children and working families.
CCRs can assist parents and caregivers in locating child care and accessing resources to support their families. Parent and Youth Ambassadors (PYAs) also offer local support to families and children in the event of a challenging situation, assisting them to find answers and access support before, during or after the situation. Families do not have to pay for the service.
CCR&Rs also provide child care providers with training, coaching and technical assistance. Areas of support include licensing and recruitment, curriculum implementation, classroom and behaviour management, Step Up To Quality and business development.
Early childhood professionals can receive help with professional development, training, credentials, educational funding and career pathway opportunities.
The agencies also collaborate with businesses and community groups to consider child care as a workforce problem. CCRs can assist parents in balancing work and family responsibilities by assisting employees in finding child care solutions.
Foster, adoptive and kinship care families may also be supported in navigating foster care licensing and accessing peer and community support.
The goal of Ohio’s CCR&Rs is to enhance the child care system and to provide children and families with services that are available in their local community.
