In-home providers eligible for free training
U.S. Census data showed that last year, there were 300 children under age five in Logan County whose families would qualify for state aid to pay for child care. But an astonishing 80 percent of those families were not utilizing the available state funding, primarily because there are not enough providers in Logan County to accommodate the need.
“Logan County is a desert, in terms of licensed childcare programs,” said Lisa Babb, 4C for Children Miami Valley strategic director. “But we are working to change that with the start of new pilot program in the county. We couldn’t be more excited about the way that local organizations are embracing this program. It is an all-hands on deck approach.”
A United Way of Logan County partnership with 4C for Children – the state’s designated 
childcare resource and referral agency for a 27-county area in Southwest Ohio and the Miami Valley – is opening up a new affordable child care option that aims to begin to fill that void. At the same time, the initiative provides current and new in-home childcare providers with the chance to become licensed.
The Logan County pilot program is currently offering eight spots for in-home child care providers to undergo a six-session training this month, free of charge.
Annie Ferrara, who operates an in-home day care in Bellefontaine, is one of the applicants for the new program. The single mom of three teenagers finds being an in-home child care provider the best way to raise and support her family.
“When they were younger and I did work out of the home, I put them in a daycare center and I hated it,” she said. “When I picked them up, I would go home and cry. I just wanted to be home with my kids. This opportunity for me, to stay home with them and to get paid to be doing what I want to be doing, just seemed like the best fit.”
But the impact only begins with the quality of service those providers would be able to offer. After completing the training and becoming licensed, the in-home providers also would be eligible to accept state funding for their services, meaning income-eligible families who struggle to afford child care will have new options to have their childcare paid for.
“The ripple effect of this pilot program can be enormous,” said Dave Bezusko, United Way of Logan County executive director. “Quality, affordable child care is one of a family’s biggest monthly expenses. How many times do you hear a parent say it seems like they go to work just to pay for child care?
“With this program, a low-income family can end that vicious cycle, and keep their paycheck for other expenses while they lift themselves out of poverty. They can be assured that they are sending their child to a safe, top-quality provider. Meanwhile, the provider earns top-dollar despite a family’s ability to pay.”
For example, Ferrara typically charges $100-$125 per week per child. She knows others who charge less. Once she is licensed, she’ll be able to receive up to $143 per week per child.
While the eight spots for the upcoming training are quickly filling up, Babb encouraged any interested individuals to contact her, as there will be other training opportunities this year. Anyone interested in starting a child care program, whether as a day care center or an in-home provider are encouraged to call her at (937) 723-2713.
Babb related that the sessions cover business practices, CPR and First Aid, early childhood education, and prepares providers for their state visit for licensing requirements.
“The program is completely personalized and after the sessions are completed, we have coaches who come out to meet with our clients and provide mentorship to them,” she said.
This year, the United Way of Logan County is investing $35,000 in the initiative so 4C for Children can train these providers. As a result, up to 54 child care slots eligible for state funding can open up, leveraging an additional $300,000 in state child care to Logan County that is currently going unclaimed.
Leaders from the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, Logan County Commissioners’ Office, Logan County Job & Family Services, Logan County Family & Children First Council, and the Logan County Libraries joined United Way and 4C for Children last month in collaboration to promote the program.
“Logan County is owning the issue of a lack of childcare options for families in an amazing way,” Babb said. “They realize that it’s impacting families when there isn’t quality care available, and when that happens, people aren’t able to go to work, and that affects our businesses and having a healthy work force as well.”
“The need is dire here in Logan County, especially for third shift,” Ferrara said. “There’s nobody who wants to do that. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been contacted on Facebook for someone looking for third shift and I’ve had to turn them down just because I don’t have what I need here. I would need more sleeping space. I need baby proofing so I can get more infants in the house.”
Through an additional limited time grant from the state, 4C’s program can eliminate those barriers too, covering costs for new providers licensed in the next several months to obtain furniture, educational materials and office supplies for their business.
Ferrara has high hopes that the training will help expand her business.
“It’s going to give me a great sense of pride in my business, number one,” she said. “To be able to say I have certification. I have training. I know what to do in case something happens. And it gives my families that much more security, for them to have faith in me and my business, not that they don’t already, but it is an incentive.”
4C for Children also can assist Logan County families with childcare referrals and researching childcare options. For more information, visit www.4cforchildren.org