Groundwork Ohio Roadshow 2026: Greene County
Community leaders and early childhood professionals highlight growing needs, workforce challenges, and the power of local partnerships.
On October 22, 2026, Groundwork Ohio's statewide Roadshow visited Greene County for a day of conversations with early childhood professionals, educators, health care providers, and community leaders about what young children and families need to thrive.
The day began at the Greene County Educational Service Center (ESC) in Yellow Springs, where Groundwork Ohio joined the E Triple C quarterly meeting for a roundtable discussion. The team then visited Beavercreek Preschool Center and Mini University at Wright State University to learn how local programs are supporting children with developmental, behavioral, and emotional needs.
Across all three stops, participants highlighted a common challenge: The needs of young children and families are growing, but the resources, workforce, and systems available to support them are struggling to keep pace.
At the same time, Greene County demonstrated the power of strong community partnerships and a shared commitment to ensuring every child receives the support they need.
Growing Demand for Early Childhood Mental Health Services
During the morning roundtable at Greene County ESC, professionals working in early intervention, early childhood mental health, public health, and education discussed the increasing need for services that support children's social-emotional development.
Participants described how more children are entering early learning settings with significant behavioral and emotional needs, often shaped by experiences of trauma, family stress, and economic instability.
One challenge is that many people still do not recognize that infants and very young children can experience mental health challenges. Professionals emphasized that children absorb the stress and experiences around them, even when they are too young to understand or communicate what they are feeling.
As awareness of infant and early childhood mental health grows, so does demand for services. Participants described consultants being needed in multiple classrooms simultaneously, families struggling to secure appointments with developmental pediatricians, and mental health providers with waiting lists so long they are no longer accepting new referrals.
The conversation reinforced the importance of expanding access to infant and early childhood mental health consultation, strengthening the specialized workforce, and helping families recognize when additional support may benefit their children.
Participants also emphasized the importance of early intervention. Supporting children before challenges escalate can improve their long-term development and reduce the need for more intensive services later.
Supporting Children Before They Enter Kindergarten
Kindergarten readiness was another major focus of the discussion.
Educators described increasing numbers of children entering kindergarten without the developmental, behavioral, or self-help skills needed to succeed in a traditional classroom.
Participants questioned whether expectations placed on young children always reflect what is developmentally appropriate, particularly as kindergarten classrooms grow larger and academic demands increase.
They also emphasized that children develop at different rates and that early identification of developmental delays, disabilities, or emotional needs can make an important difference.
However, accessing these supports is not always easy.
Families may face lengthy waits for evaluations and specialized appointments, while educators often lack the staffing and resources needed to provide individualized attention.
Professionals also discussed the importance of approaching families with sensitivity. Parents may be hesitant to pursue evaluations or services because they worry about their children being labeled or treated differently.
Building trust, strengthening communication between families and educators, and helping parents understand available supports were identified as important steps toward ensuring children receive assistance early.
Beavercreek Preschool Center: Meeting Children Where They Are
The Roadshow continued to Beavercreek Preschool Center, where Groundwork Ohio met with teachers, administrators, and specialists to learn more about the center's approach to supporting young children with developmental delays and disabilities.
Staff discussed the importance of creating inclusive learning environments, providing individualized services, and working closely with families as children prepare to transition into kindergarten.
The team heard about the increasing demand for evaluations and specialized services. One longtime speech-language professional shared that the number of evaluations conducted at the center has grown substantially over the past two decades, reflecting the growing need for early childhood supports.
The conversation also highlighted the importance of relationships between families and educators, particularly when parents are navigating special education services for the first time.
For many families, preschool is their first introduction to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or the process of identifying developmental needs. Staff emphasized the importance of making those experiences welcoming, collaborative, and supportive rather than intimidating.
These relationships help establish a foundation of trust that can continue as children move through the education system.
The visit reinforced that high-quality early learning must include the staffing, expertise, and flexibility to meet children at their individual developmental stages.
Mini University: Building Strong Partnerships to Support the Whole Child
The final stop brought Groundwork Ohio to Mini University at Wright State University in Fairborn, where administrators shared how the center supports children's early learning and social-emotional development through partnerships with families, community organizations, and the university.
Mini University has served families at its Wright State location for nearly 40 years, prioritizing child care for university students while also serving the broader community.
The center's partnership with Wright State creates opportunities for students in fields such as nursing, education, and kinesiology to gain hands-on experience working with young children. These experiences benefit children while helping prepare the next generation of professionals.
Administrators also described how the center works with early intervention specialists and other community partners to provide services within the child care setting, helping reduce the burden on families who might otherwise need to take time away from work or arrange transportation to appointments.
The discussion focused on the importance of preparing early childhood educators to recognize and respond to children's behavioral and emotional needs.
Staff highlighted the value of infant and early childhood mental health consultation, professional development, and strong relationships with families in creating supportive learning environments.
The center also offers opportunities for parent education and works closely with local partners to connect families with additional resources.
Throughout the visit, one message stood out: Early childhood programs cannot meet every need alone.
As one participant emphasized during the day's conversations:
"Mini University would not continue without the partnerships in this room. It's too hard anymore without the strong partners that we have."
Family Economic Stability and Workforce Challenges Affect Every Part of the System
Beyond children's developmental needs, participants repeatedly returned to the financial pressures facing families and the professionals who serve them.
Child care costs remain a significant challenge, with some families making decisions about whether to send their children to kindergarten or keep them in preschool based on affordability rather than developmental readiness.
Participants also discussed housing instability, transportation barriers, and difficulties accessing health care.
In Greene County, professionals described limited affordable housing options, lengthy waiting lists for housing assistance, and transportation challenges that can prevent parents from attending medical appointments or accessing services.
These challenges are interconnected. A parent struggling to maintain housing, afford child care, or secure transportation may also have difficulty accessing the developmental and mental health supports their child needs.
At the same time, early childhood programs are facing workforce shortages, inadequate compensation, and increasing expectations for staff.
Participants emphasized the need for stronger professional preparation, including training in trauma-informed care, child development, and supporting children with disabilities or significant behavioral needs.
Without a stable and well-supported workforce, even the most effective early childhood programs struggle to meet growing demand.
Greene County's Greatest Strength: Collaboration
Despite the challenges identified throughout the day, Greene County's early childhood professionals expressed pride in the relationships they have built across organizations and systems.
Participants described partnerships that help children transition from Help Me Grow into preschool services, connect educators with mental health consultation, provide professional development, and support families navigating multiple systems.
The discussion highlighted the value of bringing together public health, education, early intervention, child care, and behavioral health professionals to identify gaps and develop solutions.
Rather than working in isolation, Greene County partners are sharing information, coordinating services, and looking for opportunities to better support children and families.
These relationships are especially important as organizations face growing demand and limited resources.
The Roadshow visit demonstrated that strong local partnerships can make a meaningful difference, but they also need sustainable state investments and policies that support their work.
Bringing Greene County's Voices to State Policymakers
The October 22 Roadshow stop reinforced that supporting young children requires more than addressing individual challenges one at a time.
Children's mental health, developmental needs, early learning experiences, family economic stability, and access to health care are deeply connected.
Greene County's professionals are working together to meet those needs, but their experiences also reveal opportunities for stronger statewide policies and investments.
Groundwork Ohio's statewide Roadshow is traveling across all 33 Ohio Senate districts to hear directly from families, early childhood professionals, community leaders, and policymakers. The perspectives gathered will inform a statewide report and policy recommendations for Ohio's next governor and General Assembly.
By listening to communities like Greene County, we can help build an Ohio where every young child has the opportunity to thrive.
Learn More
Explore Groundwork Ohio’s county fact sheets and resources from United Way to learn more about the data behind this Roadshow stop.
