When it comes to raising young children in rural Ohio, the challenges can look a little different and local leaders want state policymakers to understand those differences. Sept. 23, Groundwork Ohio hosted its Roadshow in Ridgeway, bringing together leaders, educators, childcare providers, health professionals and community organizations from Logan, Hardin and Union counties to talk about what young children and their families need to thrive.

Groundwork Ohio is a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on improving outcomes for children from the prenatal period through age 5. The Roadshow is part of the organization’s effort to gather input from communities as it develops its state policy agenda. For those gathered in Ridgeway, one message came through clearly: childcare is not simply a family issue. It is a workforce issue. Families across the region are finding that the cost of childcare can be difficult to manage. Some families earn too much to qualify for assistance but still cannot comfortably afford the full cost of care.

“Middle class can’t afford the full price, but also don’t qualify for subsidy,” one participant said. At the same time, local employers are dealing with workers who need childcare outside traditional business hours. That challenge is particularly significant in communities with large manufacturing workforces, where second- and third-shift schedules are common. “We struggle for second and third shift options,” another participant said. “Manufacturers cannot offer flexibility.”…READ MORE…