Groundwork Ohio Joins First Five Years Fund to Advocate for Federal Child Care Investments in Washington, D.C.
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Written by: Mary Jane Sanese, Communications Associate at Groundwork Ohio
Last week, Groundwork Ohio traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the inaugural First Five Federal-State Partnership Summit hosted by First Five Years Fund and First Five Action. President & CEO Lynanne Gutierrez, Managing Director of Communications Sara Loken, and I joined approximately 30 advocates representing 15 organizations from across the country for two days focused on strengthening federal advocacy to advance bipartisan child care and early learning policies at the federal level.
The first day of the summit focused on preparing advocates for meetings on Capitol Hill through workshops and strategy sessions centered on federal child care and early learning priorities.
Attendees also heard from Alex J. Adams, Assistant Secretary for Family Support leading the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about the importance of supporting children and families through federal policy and partnership.
The day concluded with the “Child Care Makes It Work” reception on Capitol Hill, which brought together lawmakers, congressional staff, advocates, stakeholders, and partners from across the country. The event featured remarks from Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), as well as recorded remarks from Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) — all co-sponsors of the bipartisan Child Care Modernization Act — illustrating the growing bipartisan momentum behind strengthening child care and early learning investments for families nationwide.
On the second day, we headed back to Capitol Hill to meet directly with congressional offices and discuss federal investments that support young children, working families, and local economies.
Groundwork Ohio met with 10 Ohio congressional offices to advocate for continued and expanded investments in child care and early learning programs as Congress begins work on Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations.
Supporting Federal Investments That Strengthen Ohio Families
Throughout our meetings with Ohio’s congressional offices, Groundwork Ohio emphasized that child care and early learning are not only critical for children and families, but also for Ohio’s workforce and economy.
We shared findings from Groundwork Ohio’s recent Ohio Voter Poll, released in partnership with First Five Years Fund and UpOne Insights, which found that nearly 80% of Ohio voters — and voters across the nation — say the ability of working parents to find and afford quality child care is either in a “state of crisis” or is a “major problem.” We also discussed how access to affordable child care directly impacts workforce participation, family stability, and economic growth across Ohio.
Groundwork Ohio also highlighted findings from Untapped Potential, released in partnership with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which found that child care challenges result in an estimated $5.48 billion annual loss to Ohio’s economy each year due to impacts on employers, working parents, and workforce productivity.
In addition, we shared Groundwork Ohio’s recently released resource, Business Innovation in Child Care: Case Studies Across Ohio, developed in partnership with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. The resource highlights how businesses, communities, and local partners across Ohio are advancing innovative child care and workforce solutions to better support working families and strengthen local economies.
These conversations are especially urgent for Ohio. The Ohio Department of Children and Youth has projected Ohio is going to face an estimated $375 million annual child care funding deficit beginning in July 2028, putting access to care at risk for thousands of families across the state.
Today, more than 100,000 Ohio children benefit from publicly funded child care, and this funding deficit could put approximately 30,000 children at risk of losing access to child care assistance.
During our meetings, Groundwork Ohio emphasized why protecting and strengthening federal early learning and child care funding through FY27 appropriations is critical for Ohio’s families, workforce, and economy — and why cuts to these programs would have serious consequences for children and working families across Ohio.
Below are some of the key federal early learning and child care programs Groundwork Ohio advocated for during our meetings on Capitol Hill:
Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG)
The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) is the largest source of federal funding dedicated to child care. CCDBG helps low-income working families afford child care while giving states flexibility to support providers and communities based on local needs.
Early Head Start and Head Start
Early Head Start and Head Start provide comprehensive early learning, nutrition, health, and family support services for eligible children and families. These programs play a critical role in promoting school readiness and supporting children during their earliest years of development.
Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5)
The Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5) program helps states strengthen, align, and expand early learning systems to better support children and families.
Together, these federal programs form the foundation of early learning and child care systems across the country and are essential to supporting working families, early educators, and young children.
Advocating for the Child Care Modernization Act
In addition to FY27 appropriations, Groundwork Ohio also advocated for support of the bipartisan Child Care Modernization Act.
The legislation would strengthen and modernize the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), helping states better meet the growing child care needs of families, providers, and employers.
The Child Care Modernization Act would:
Give parents more child care options through new supply and facilities grants
Support child care professionals through more accurate reimbursement rates
Provide additional technical assistance to in-home and rural child care providers
Continue supporting a mixed-delivery system that includes child care centers, home-based providers, and faith-based programs
During our meetings, we encouraged Ohio’s congressional delegation to support and co-sponsor this important bipartisan legislation.
Continuing the Conversation in Ohio
Groundwork Ohio invited members of Ohio’s congressional delegation to participate in our upcoming 2026 Groundwork Ohio Roadshow Tour as we travel the state listening to families, providers, business leaders, and communities about the challenges and opportunities facing Ohio’s youngest children.
Our time in Washington, D.C. reinforced the importance of partnership and collaboration in advancing policies that support children and families. Child care and early learning are essential to Ohio’s workforce, economy, and future, and Groundwork Ohio remains committed to ensuring Ohio’s youngest children and their families remain part of the conversation at both the state and federal levels.
The First Five Federal-State Partnership Summit brought together advocates from across the country around a shared goal: ensuring more children and families have access to affordable, high-quality early learning and care. We were proud to bring Ohio’s voice to those conversations.
Take Action for Ohio’s Youngest Children
As Congress continues negotiations around Fiscal Year 2027 funding, now is the time to speak up for Ohio’s children and families. Federal investments in child care and early learning help parents stay in the workforce, support local economies, and ensure young children have access to safe, quality care during the most important years of development.
Join us in urging Congress to protect and strengthen these critical programs by taking action through Groundwork Ohio’s advocacy alert.