As part of our ongoing efforts to advocate for policies that support women and families in Ohio, thank you for joining hundreds of other women and advocates across Ohio in signing onto a letter urging members of the Ohio Legislature to prioritize support of the child care and Child Tax Credit investments in Governor DeWine's Executive Budget Proposal.

Your support is critical in amplifying the voices of women and families across the state.

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Prioritize Child Care and the Child Tax Credit in the State Budget
An Open Letter to Policymakers
 

Dear Members of the Ohio General Assembly,
As women leaders, advocates, and organizations dedicated to the well-being of Ohio's families, we stand together in strong support of the child care and Child Tax Credit investments included in Governor DeWine's Executive Budget Proposal. These investments are critical to strengthening Ohio's workforce, supporting working mothers, and ensuring that every child has a strong start in life.

We celebrate Governor DeWine's proposal to expand access to affordable child care so that families up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level can access quality care through Publicly Funded Child Care and the Child Care Choice Voucher program. Additionally, we commend the proposal to establish a refundable state Child Tax Credit for working parents who have young children. This investment, totaling $890 million over the biennium, would provide much-needed financial relief to working families and help parents afford the high costs of raising young children.
 

While these proposed investments are a step in the right direction, Ohio's women and families still face persistent barriers to economic stability, with child care remaining one of the most significant challenges. Affordable, accessible, and high-quality child care is essential for working parents—particularly mothers—who often must choose between providing financially for their family and caregiving responsibilities due to the lack of viable care options.
 

The data is clear:

• Female-headed households are more than three times as likely as all Ohio households to live in poverty.

• Having young children in the household increases the likelihood of living in poverty four-fold.

• More than 6 in 10 Ohio mothers with children under five who do not currently work full-time (61%) say they would return to work if they had access to high-quality, affordable child care.

The lack of sufficient child care options not only impacts families but also hinders Ohio's economic growth. Women play a critical role in our state's workforce, yet too many are forced to scale back their careers or leave the workforce altogether due to child care barriers. When we invest in child care, we invest in the economic mobility of women, the success of children, and the prosperity of our communities.

We urge you to protect and expand these vital investments in child care and family economic stability during this year's budget process. The time to act is now. By prioritizing policies that make child care more affordable and accessible, Ohio can empower women, strengthen families, and build a more resilient economy.

We, the undersigned, call on Ohio's leaders to ensure that child care and Child Tax Credit investments remain a top priority in the final state budget. We stand ready to partner with you in advancing these critical issues for women, children, and families across Ohio.

Sincerely,
Your Name

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Thank you to these organizations that were among the first to sign on:

• Chamber of Mothers - Cincinnati
• Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
• Moms First
• Mother Forward
• National Association of Women Business Owners - Columbus
• Ohio Kids First
• Ohio Women's Coalition
• The Springfield Foundation Women's Partnership Fund
• Women for Economic and Leadership Development
• Women's Fund of Central Ohio
• Women's Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
• The Women's Fund Richland County Foundation
• YWCA Columbus