County offering funds for new childcare providers

A need for caregivers has led Hancock County Job and Family Services to offer monetary incentives for those who complete the licensing process to become a family childcare provider. The department, along with those of several other counties in the region, is participating in a state-led pilot program to create and retain licensed family child caregivers. Potential caregivers are being offered up to $3,750 to become a licensed family childcare provider in Hancock County. Payments will be made to the potential provider as they complete steps in the licensure process. Startup items for a childcare business also will be provided once the pre-licensing process is completed, including a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, smoke detectors, outlet covers, a free curriculum, and many other items. A childcare recruitment fair will be held from 6-7 p.m. Aug. 15 at Owens Community College for those interested in becoming a provider. To be eligible for the incentive payments, potential providers must become licensed and receive a 'Publicly Funded Child Care' authorization within eight weeks from the recruitment fair. To receive the 'Step Up To Quality' monetary incentive, providers must earn their SUTQ rating within 16 weeks of the fair. "We have lost centers and providers the last few years," said Randy Galbraith, director of Hancock County JFS. Galbraith said the pandemic created an issue for smaller childcare centers. "When the pandemic started, day cares — I think they closed at first. Then they went to, as I recall, sort of modified enrollment, (and) they could only have so many kids," Galbraith said. "If you're running a business, that doesn't work really well." Galbraith said kids are being put on wait lists for day care because the demand for childcare providers outpaces the amount that are licensed. Almost 50 children are without day care services in Hancock County currently, according to research conducted by Hancock County JFS. For those worried about the complex nature of becoming a licensed childcare provider and starting a childcare business, JFS and their partners, YWCA of Northwest Ohio and Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission, will be there every step of the way for potential providers, Galbraith said. "We have a contract with Northwest Ohio Community Action Commission. They work with the potential provider to make sure that they have everything they need and that they're meeting all the qualifications," he said. "And YWCA provides a technical point of contact for the daycare provider." Galbraith says childcare is a hot topic in the community, and he urges anyone interested in childcare to attend the recruitment fair. "I'm hoping that anyone that's interested, has even thought about it, will come out because we do have some money to help them out. With the demand we're seeing right now, this could be lucrative," he said. "We're seeing and we're hearing about the need for childcare, and our numbers support that."