Parents Call for Reform of Ohio Unlicensed Daycare Laws After Infant’s Death
Parents in Ohio are calling for stronger regulations and greater transparency after the death of a six-month-old infant at an unlicensed home daycare in Delaware County.
The infant, identified by family as Smith Slatcoff, suffered a severe brain injury in September 2025 and died two days later. His parents say they believed they had found a safe childcare arrangement before the incident occurred.
According to the family, they were later informed that the caregiver had been found responsible for a substantiated case of child neglect by child protective services. However, no criminal charges have been filed at this stage.
The case has raised concerns about the lack of public records for unlicensed childcare providers in Ohio. State officials say providers caring for fewer than six children in a home are not required to be licensed, meaning they do not appear in official childcare databases.
Experts explain that because these providers are not registered, there is no system to track incidents, inspections or safety records. This has left parents without access to information that could help them make informed childcare decisions.
The Ohio Department of Children and Youth stated that it does not maintain a database of unlicensed providers and said current law does not allow for one to be created.
Child welfare advocates argue that while unlicensed care can be common, the absence of oversight creates potential risks and gaps in accountability.
The family is now calling for policy changes to ensure greater transparency and access to records involving childcare providers in the state.
