child care

The lack of affordable and accessible child care means many parents are being sidelined from work, with significant impacts on tax revenues and workplace productivity, according to a new report.

Child care advocates and providers from across Ohio lobbied state lawmakers Wednesday to boost funding to the child care system in Ohio, which they say is facing a crisis with workforce shortages and parents unable to afford those services.

Officials with the nonprofit Starting Point say qualifying parents and child care centers can now contact it to access the assistance.

One reason might surprise you.

Gov. Mike DeWine says President Donald Trump's refusal to accept election results has created a situation that threatens democracy; Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown has joined the list of Democratic lawmakers calling on the Cabinet and Vice President Mike Pence to attempt to remove President Donald Trump from office after Wednesday’s storming of the U.S. Capitol; vaccines will become available to Ohio seniors in the general population beginning January 19; and more stories.

Many Ohio day cares have remained open for much of the pandemic, with protections in place to help limit the risk of an outbreak. Staff and children have to wear masks and wash their hands more frequently, many centers have taken additional steps to sanitize buildings, and the number of children in one room has been reduced. But all that extra work doesn’t erase Northeast Ohio parents’ concerns about sending children to day care.

The state is closing most daycares in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus and implement the stay at home order. However, special pandemic daycare…