Child Care and Development Block Grant
Helping parents stay in the workforce so children can learn and grow.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is the largest source of federal funding for child care in Ohio. It helps low-income working families afford safe, reliable child care so parents can stay in the workforce and children can learn and grow in quality settings.
CCDBG dollars are used to pay for child care assistance through Ohio’s Publicly Funded Child Care program,
to improve the quality and safety of child care programs, and to make sure more families can access care.
In recent years, these funds have supported efforts to cap what families pay for care, pay providers more fairly, and expand infant and toddler care in communities that need it most.
This funding is critical because child care in Ohio is often hard to find and too expensive for many families.
Without assistance, a family can pay over $13k/year for infant care—more than in-state college tuition.
Yet many families make just slightly too much to qualify for help. When parents can’t find or afford child care, they have to cut back on work hours or leave the workforce altogether.
LEARN & SHARE THE DATA:
CCDBG is an investment in Ohio's economy, helping:
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PARENTS keep their jobs.
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CHILDREN get a strong start.
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CHILD CARE PROVIDERS stay in business.
2026 OHIO POLLING DATA:
On behalf of Groundwork Ohio and the Ohio Head Start Association, Inc.—and in partnership with First Five Years Fund—UpONE Insights conducted a statewide survey of 600 registered voters in Ohio. The survey was conducted August 3-6, 2026.
Key Findings...
1. Ohioans agree there is a child care problem.
76% of Ohio voters say the ability to find and afford quality child care is a crisis or major problem. Eight in 10 voters say child care costs are part of the nation’s broader affordability crisis.
2. Child care matters to Ohio's workforce.
74% of voters agree that increasing access to high-quality child care will strengthen Ohio’s economy and workforce. Parents agree at 77%.
3. Child care shapes voting behavior.
72% of Ohio voters say a candidate’s plans to support working families with young children will be important when deciding how to vote for governor.
RESOURCES:
