Release

Ohio Family Child Care Home Business Workgroup announces ten things that providers in Ohio will want to know. This Top Ten List is intended to keep providers in the child care industry informed of major initiatives, proposed regulation and current developments in incentives and supports.

Ohio, October, 2006:  The Ohio Family Child Care Home Business Workgroup and the Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association creates this communication piece in order to keep providers informed of today’s issues regarding the child care industry. 

Top Ten Things Family Child Care Providers in Ohio will want to know:

1. Type B Rules Review:  Did you know that ODJFS’ 5-year rule review for Type B Certified Provider Homes begins in October, 2006?  ODJFS is seeking providers now to serve on the review committee.  To volunteer, contact Stephanie Shafer at 614-466-1043 or shafes02@odjfs.state.oh.us. 
   
   
2. T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship:  Did you know that you (any Ohio licensed Type A provider or any certified Type B Provider) now have the opportunity to earn a C.D.A. with a scholarship to help with the application fee? For more information contact Elaine Fencl at 1-877-547-6978 ext. 207 or efencl@occrra.org.
   
   
3.  Step Up To Quality: Did you know that a quality rating program for child care centers has been successfully piloted in nine counties in Ohio and is going statewide soon?  We hope this opens the door for a Family Child Care rating system to be developed.  A similar set of standards is being written for Family Child Care Home Businesses and if you are interested in helping with this work, join the Ohio Family Child Care Home Business Workgroup to develop the quality standards that will impact FCC businesses like yours.
   
   
4. House Bill 11 - New rules for child care: Did you know that as a result of HB11, enacted on May 18, 2005, Ohio is developing a system to identify those child care rules that create serious risk to children and to establish fines and sanctions for providers that are not in compliance with those rules?  “Serious Risk Rules” are currently listed on the ODJFS website for review (http://jfs.ohio.gov/cdc/RiskRules.pdf).  In addition, providers need to know that there are other mandates in this bill that affect your family child care home business (additional offenses, disclosure statement, etc.).  These rules are already in affect.
   
   
5. Market Rates: Did you know that child care centers and family child care home businesses in Ohio are surveyed regularly to assess the current rate that is being charged to families?  The survey should be used to determine if providers are reimbursed adequately for offering publicly funded child care services to eligible families. Providers need to know this process and participate when surveys are conducted to ensure fair and equitable subsidy for all providers. The 2006 survey was completed and ODJFS determined that no change in rates would occur at this time.
   
   
6. Restructuring the Office of Children and Families within the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services: The Office of Children and Families is currently undergoing a major restructuring that may impact how child care programs are administered. Stay tuned for more on this subject.
   
   
7. Ohio Connections: State Family Child Care Association: Did you know that Ohio Connections exists as a statewide group to offer networking, training, public policy, and advocacy opportunities for those who make family child care their career?  For more information on membership, please contact Amelia Rodgers at hoptownky@earthlink.net or 937-279-9152.
   
   
8. Family Child Care Home Businesses are the Preferred Care Settings:  Did you know that more families choose family child care home businesses over any other type of child care setting? In Ohio you are part of an industry of over 57,000 child care professionals.  As a professional in this career it is your  responsibility to provide children with safe, engaging, and nurturing care.
   
   
9. School Readiness Solutions Group:  Did you know that Ohio’s State Board of Education convened the SRSG to create recommendations for a comprehensive early learning system for 2015?  One of the recommendations requires family child care providers to possess an Associates degree by 2020.  For more information visit www.schoolreadinessohio.org. 
   
   
10. Licensing:  Did you know that licensing for family child care home businesses is being discussed in Ohio?  Quality standards promote the value of your work. You can participate in developing a licensing system that distinguishes your family child care home business from unregulated homes.

    In September, 2003 the Child Care Advisory Council of the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services and the Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association (OCCRRA) convened the Family Child Care Home Business Workgroup. Over the course of five months, a group of family child care home business professionals, state and county agency staff, child care resource & referral organization staff, early childhood professionals and parents met together and by phone to develop a set of short term (1 year), and long-term (5 year) recommendations. The twenty-nine workgroup members focused on protecting the health and safety of children in care and improving the quality of their early learning opportunities.

    The Workgroup developed recommendations to improve both the regulatory system and the supports and incentives of family child care home businesses. This meant reviewing the current system of certification, a registration process, or other states' legislation as well as creating a vision with possibilities not yet discussed or explored in Ohio.

    The workgroup was facilitated by the National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) which provides technical support to state agencies administering child care regulation and funding. NCCIC staff gathered resource materials, conducted research and facilitated Workgroup meetings. The Final Recommendations Report was completed and delivered in December, 2005 and was recognized and supported by the Child Care Advisory Council. The final report was passed to the Director of ODJFS for consideration, and now the work continues toward prioritizing and implementing recommendations.