Protecting Military Children: Ohio Bill Seeks Safe, Regulated Child Care Access for Families on the Move

Ohio Senate Bill 218 is being positioned as a child-centred response to a deepening child care crisis, with a particular focus on safeguarding the children of military families who face frequent relocation and unstable access to care.

At its core, the bill seeks to ensure that military children are not left in unsafe, unregulated, or inconsistent care environments simply because their families move every two to three years in service to the nation.

From a child protection standpoint, the proposal emphasizes continuity, safety, and quality assurance. Child care providers certified by the U.S. Department of Defense already operate under strict safeguarding standards, including mandatory background checks for all adults, liability insurance, intensive training requirements, and unannounced home and safety inspections.

Senate Bill 218 would recognize these safeguards as equivalent to Ohio’s licensing requirements, preventing unnecessary delays that can leave children without care or push families toward informal and potentially unsafe arrangements.

The bill also acknowledges the vulnerability of military children whose parents face deployment stress, housing transitions, and disrupted routines.

Reliable, regulated child care plays a critical role in protecting their emotional well-being and developmental stability. By removing duplicative licensing barriers, the legislation aims to expand access to trusted care settings without lowering safety standards.

Importantly, the bill supports military spouses who operate child care facilities, many of whom are forced to shut down services during relocation. These disruptions not only affect family income but also reduce the availability of safe child care for other children in the community.

As child care systems nationwide struggle with funding gaps and workforce shortages, Senate Bill 218 reflects a broader safeguarding priority: ensuring that increased access does not come at the expense of child safety.

Instead, it promotes a model where mobility, protection, and quality care coexist, placing children’s safety and best interests at the center of policy reform.