Groundwork Ohio Discusses Child Care Crisis and Workforce Impact in Ridgeway
Groundwork Ohio, a statewide nonpartisan nonprofit focused on children from prenatal through age five, recently held a discussion in Ridgeway as part of its Roadshow 2026 initiative. This event brought together community leaders from Logan, Hardin, and Union counties to address the challenges facing young children and families in Ohio. A primary focus of the discussion was the state's child care crisis and its significant impact on families, employers, and the overall workforce. Groundwork Ohio highlighted that the lack of quality, affordable child care is a major contributor to Ohio's workforce shortage. Statistics presented indicated that 55% of Ohio children have inadequate access to child care, with average annual costs reaching nearly $14,000 for infants, over $12,500 for toddlers, and more than $10,500 for preschoolers. The organization also noted that nearly half of working parents have reduced their work hours to care for their children, and one million Ohio working parents have cut back hours due ...
