ChildCareShare

ChildCareShare

“Ohio is facing dual crises: a workforce crisis and a child care crisis.”

Shannon Jones, President/CEO, Groundwork Ohio
The Columbus Dispatch, Feb 9 2022

ChildCareShare Marion

One of the biggest employment barriers facing parents and caregivers in Marion County is access to quality affordable child care. ChildCareShare, the cornerstone initiative from Marion County Child Care Coalition, is designed to remove that barrier, making pursuing – and keeping – a great job achievable for all.

The ChildCareShare framework shares the costs of child care between the employer, the employee, and outside funders.

The initial funding organizations in MCCCC’s ChildCareShare pilot program include:

  • United Way of North Central Ohio
  • Marion Community Foundation
  • Marion County Commissioners

66% of working families surveyed by Marion County Child Care Coalition reported unstable options if faced with the sudden loss of child care. Options included the risk of being fired and quitting a job.

The average cost of child care in Ohio for an infant is $808 monthly & $658 monthly for a 4-year-old.

A single parent family pays an average of 43.8% of its annual income for center-based infant child care for one child in Ohio.

Why ChildCareShare?

Why ChildCareShare?

Benefits for Marion County Employers

  • Reduces absenteeism
  • Major recruitment & retention benefit
  • Removes significant barrier to employment
  • Widens the talent pipeline
  • Flexibility in your commitment
    • You decide how many child care slots to offer to employees
    • You set a maximum dollar amount for your investment
  • Employee share can be collected through payroll deduction

Benefits for Marion County Employees

  • Reduces out-of-pocket child care costs by 66% (or greater, depending on employer’s commitment)
  • Improves work-life-family balance
  • Removes barrier to seeking and maintaining employment
  • ChildCareShare helps eligible employees find participating child care providers

Local Child Care Providers Benefit Also!

Participating child care providers also benefit from a reliable income, with regular payments made by the ChildCareShare facilitator enabling them to make longer-term hiring and expansion decisions. Before- and after-school care, summer care, and full- and part-time care from participating providers are all supported by ChildCareShare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Program FAQs

WHAT ARE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE CHILDCARESHARE PROGRAM?

In implementing ChildCareShare, the following principles will be used for all decision making:

  • Choice of provider will be made by employee;
  • Burden of determining employee eligibility will be assumed by the Coalition lead agency, not the employer or provider;
  • Limit child care concerns as a barrier to employment for employees working in Marion County.

HOW WILL THE PROVIDERS BE DETERMINED?

Providers will contact the Coalition lead agency to participate in the program. Parents will select a state-licensed or third-party accredited provider.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING CHILD CARE COSTS UNDER CHILDCARESHARE?

Payment for child care is shared between three or more parties, including the employee, the employer, and local grant funding.

Please see additional FAQ sheets below for more information and reach out to Beth Granlee, Marion Goodwill & ChildCareShare program administrator, at bgranlee@mariongoodwill.org with additional questions.

Marion County Child Care Coalition

Marion County Child Care Coalition

The MCCCC was first convened in early 2021 by local nonprofits with a vested interest in removing barriers to accessible, affordable child care for Marion County residents.

Founding organizations included United Way of North Central Ohio, YMCA, YWCA, Marion Matters, Marion Community Foundation, Boys & Girls Club of Marion County, and Marion Job & Family Services. The Coalition now also includes Goodwill and Marion Area Chamber of Commerce.

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Special thanks to our UWNCO Bold Goal Champions.