Executive Director's Blog

Families, Workforce, Future: Why Child Care Must Be a National Priority

By Julie Stone  |  February 26, 2026  | Dayton, OH |  State of the Union 

In this year’s State of the Union address, the President emphasized that hard-working citizens must remain the country’s first concern.

Affordability. Economic growth. Strengthening families.

Those priorities resonate deeply with those of us working alongside Ohio’s Head Start programs every day. But there was one issue sitting at the center of all three — even if it was not named directly: child care.

If we are serious about putting America first, we have to be serious about whether working parents can find and afford safe, reliable early learning for their children. This is not a partisan conversation. It is a workforce conversation. It is about economic competitiveness. And fundamentally, it is about whether families can remain stable and self-sufficient.

Across Ohio — in urban neighborhoods, suburban communities, rural counties, and Appalachian regions — child care costs continue to rise. For many families, care now rivals housing payments or college tuition. But cost is only part of the equation. Reliability matters just as much.
When care is unavailable, unstable, or inconsistent, parents miss shifts. They decline overtime. They turn down promotions. Some leave the workforce entirely. That is not just a family challenge — it is a workforce disruption.

Employers feel this every day. Businesses cannot expand production lines, staff health care facilities, or grow small enterprises if their employees do not have dependable care. Labor force participation, especially among parents of young children, is directly tied to whether child care works. When child care systems are strong, workforce participation rises. When they are fragile, businesses struggle to hire and retain talent.

The data reflects what we see on the ground. A recent national poll conducted by UpOne Insight on behalf of the First Five Years Fund found:
• 82% of voters believe federal child care funding will help lower costs for working families.
• 80% say finding and affording child care is a crisis or a major problem.
• 75% believe child care funding should be increased or maintained.
• 74% say funding for child care is an important and good use of tax dollars.

Republicans. Independents. Democrats. Families are united on this. And when voters across parties align this clearly, policymakers should pay attention — because the workforce and economic stakes are real.

Head Start has been part of the solution for more than sixty years. More than 40 million children and families have been served nationwide. In Ohio alone, nearly 25,000 children are supported each year across nearly 60 programs.

Child care and Head Start power Ohio’s workforce. When parents know their children are in safe, high-quality classrooms, they can work consistently. They can pursue credentials. They can accept promotions. They can contribute fully to their employers and communities. Head Start is not separate from economic development — it is workforce infrastructure.

Child care and Head Start strengthen families. Early learning, health screenings, developmental supports, and family engagement are delivered together. Research consistently shows that children who attend Head Start and receive early learning, health screenings, and developmental supports are better prepared for school and experience long-term benefits in educational attainment and social-emotional development. But just as importantly, through family engagement, parents are supported as partners and leaders — strengthening household stability and long-term economic mobility.

Child care and Head Start anchor communities. In many Ohio counties, especially rural and Appalachian regions, Head Start is one of the most stable early childhood providers. Programs create local jobs, partner with school districts, provide medical care, and serve as trusted community hubs. When Head Start is strong, communities are stronger — and local economies are more resilient.
At a time when affordability dominates the national conversation, sustained federal support for child care and early learning is not optional — it is foundational to economic competitiveness.
We urge bipartisan action to expand child care tax credits, incentivize employer-supported care, enhance dependent care assistance, sustain and grow Head Start funding, and ensure policies reflect the true cost of high-quality care.

This is not simply about budget lines. It is about whether parents can work, whether employers can hire, and whether Ohio can compete in the future.
If we want a strong economy tomorrow, we must build the workforce infrastructure families depend on today.

 

Head Start Works for Ohio — And We’re Showing Up to Prove It

The National Head Start Association’s Winter Leadership Institute came at an important time for our field.

Across the country — and here in Ohio — programs are managing workforce shortages, rising costs, and uncertainty about federal funding. Those aren’t abstract policy debates. They show up every day in our classrooms, our staffing plans, and the families who depend on us.

That reality shaped every conversation in Washington.

Being with other state Association leaders was a good reminder of what makes Head Start strong. This has always been a practical, roll-up-your-sleeves network. We share what’s working, learn from one another, and help each other solve problems. That steady, peer-to-peer leadership is how we keep moving forward, especially when conditions are tough.

What we heard consistently was simple: Head Start works.

It helps parents stay in the workforce. It gives children a strong start in school. And in many communities, it’s the only affordable, reliable option families have.

Seeing Parent Advocates meet directly with policymakers was a highlight for me. One mom shared how Head Start made it possible for her to reenter the workforce, knowing her child was safe, learning, and supported. Stories like that bring the work to life more clearly than any report ever could.

We also came prepared with the facts. Head Start programs are foundational in their communities — they are employers, early learning providers, and trusted anchors in every Ohio county. When we talk about funding or staffing, we’re talking about real classrooms, real jobs, and real families we know by name.

That’s why showing up consistently matters. Advocacy isn’t one trip or one meeting. It’s a steady relationship-building and clear, local voices helping policymakers understand what’s at stake.

I’m proud of how Ohio shows up in these spaces. Our directors, staff, and parents speak with credibility because they live this work every day.

As we move forward, our focus is simple: keep elevating local leaders and parent voices, keep sharing our results, and keep reminding and showing decision-makers why it’s so important to protect and strengthen Head Start.

Because we see it every day.

Head Start works for Ohio — and we will continue to boldly show up to make sure it stays strong for the families and communities that depend on it.