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Child Care

Action for Children

Provides free information on childcare and early development for parents and caregivers; and professional support for childcare providers. They offer year-round parenting classes for parents with kids of all ages throughout Central Ohio, information about choosing quality childcare, family-focused kindergarten-readiness program, and resources for co-parenting.

78 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 224-0222 in English & Spanish or (855) 302-4453
actionforchildren.org
afclearning.org

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Healthy Child Care

Provides resources and information for parents and providers on early education, child care, and safe sleep.
aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/healthy-child-care

American Red Cross Central & Southern Ohio Region

Offers disaster presentations, First Aid, CPR, AED, Basic Life Support (BLS) for health care professionals, babysitting and child care, swimming and water safety and lifeguarding classes/training to the public. Visit their website for a schedule of classes, pricing and registration information.

Central & Southern Ohio Regions:

  • Central Ohio
    995 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205
    (614) 253-2740
  • East Central Ohio
    143 South Thirtieth Street, Newark, Ohio 43058
    (740) 349-9442
  • South Central Ohio
    181 North Bridge Street, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601
    (740) 772-2014
  • Miami Valley
    370 West First Street, Dayton, Ohio 45207
    (937) 222-6711
  • Greater Cincinnati Tri-State
    2111 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45207
    (513) 579-3000

redcross.org/local/ohio/central-and-southern-ohio.html
redcross.org/take-a-class

BOLD Beginning! Ohio Early Childhood Programs

Anyone with young children in their life can use this website to learn about Ohio’s early childhood programs and agencies. There is helpful information about developmental milestones, screenings, emotional wellness tips, healthy pregnancy and more. Use the Child Care Search tool to find a quality program near you.
boldbeginning.org
Child Care Search: childcaresearch.ohio.gov
Ohio Department of Children and Youth: childrenandyouth.ohio.gov

Care.com

Allows parents to go online and find babysitters, nannies, child care centers, tutors, nannies and special needs caregivers in their area.
care.com

Celebrate One / Baby Bump & Beyond

Provides free information and support for pregnant / parenting women and teens, including help finding a doctor, free pregnancy tests, home visiting, and support groups. Baby Bump & Beyond connects families to support and resources through every stage of growth–for children, caregivers, and the entire family. Call for help with setting up the first prenatal visit and referrals to other resources.
1111 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205
(614) 570-3592 or (614) 656-3322
new.columbus.gov/government/mayors-office/initiatives/celebrateone
Community resource map: healthcare-access-columbus.opendata.arcgis.com

Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Program

Authorized by the Higher Education Act and administered by the U.S. Department of Education, this program provides childcare for children 6 weeks to 12 years old for parents who are low-income and enrolled at Ohio State University (OSU). Along with childcare, parents are provided with priority scheduling, mentoring/coaching, and referrals to connect your family to university and community resources.
84 North 17th Street, Columbus, Ohio 43203
(614) 292-0531
odi.osu.edu/ccampis

Child Care Aware

Provides information on how to find high quality child care in the community, including steps toward choosing quality child care, ways to help pay and budget for child care, state-by-state resources and more. The website also provides information and resources on starting and operating a successful child care business. Visit the website for additional contact information.
Child Care Referrals, Resources & Information Where You Live: (800) 424-2246
childcareaware.org
Ohio: childcareaware.org/state/ohio

Childcare Training Ohio (CTO)

Provides health and safety training (like CPR, first aid, communicable disease and child abuse recognition and prevention) for child care employees as well as the communities they serve. All training is conducted onsite and classes are open to the public. Cost is minimal.
PO Box 6292, Columbus, Ohio 43206
(614) 721-7222
childcaretrainingohio.com

Childhood League Center

Serves: Families with children under the age of 6, children with autism or developmental delays
Early childhood educational services for children including early childhood intervention, toddler classes, and home visits. Their preschool program serves a 50:50 ratio of children both with and without developmental delays, a research-based approach aimed at creating inclusive communities. The PLAY Project is an evidence-based, parent-implemented autism intervention for young children. The center also has educational resources for families, training opportunities for professionals, and community events. Find program and enrollment details online.
674 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 253-6933
childhoodleague.org

Children’s Hunger Alliance

Works with schools, community organizations, faith-based groups and child care providers throughout Ohio to increase participation in USDA child nutrition programs. Contact their office for help finding childcare centers, after school programs, weekend programs, and summer programs that offer free food for kids.
1105 Schrock Road, Columbus, Ohio 43229
(614) 341-7700
childrenshungeralliance.org

Coad4Kids

A free child care resource and referral agency serving families of all income levels within the 31 counties of Ohio in the Appalachian region. They have a list of child care programs, including Head Start Programs, public pre-schools, child care centers, family child care homes, school age programs, and infant care programs. Coad4kids is part of a statewide network of child care resource and referral agencies, so if you live outside their service area call them and they can direct you to an agency near you.
(800) 577-2276
coad4kids.org

Columbus Early Learning Centers (CELC)

Provides high quality early learning so that children are ready for Kindergarten and can achieve school success. CELC Centers are rated 5 Stars in the Step Up to Quality Rating System. They offer a home visiting program as well, which provides free books and toys for families with children ages 16 months through 4 years. They offer center-based care for families with children ages 6 weeks through 5 years. CELC also provides expectant parents and parents of newborns support through the Healthy Families America program. They have multiple locations throughout Columbus.

  • 240 North Champion Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43203
    (614) 253 – 5525 ext. 4
  • 1150 East Main St., Columbus, Ohio 43205
    (614) 253 – 5525 ext. 6
  • 760 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205
    (614) 253 – 5525 ext. 5
  • 1350 Alum Creek Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43209
    (614) 253 – 5525
  • 1400 Mrytle Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43211
    (614) 365 – 7962

columbusearlylearning.org

 

Columbus Public Health (CPH) Injury Prevention Program

Provides services related to childhood injury prevention:

  • Low-cost car seats and booster seats to families in need (Ohio Buckles Buckeyes Program)
  • Free car seat checks at fitting stations and events throughout Central Ohio
  • Partner with coalition members on safety programs and outreach (Safe Kids Central Ohio)

240 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 645-7748
columbus.gov/publichealth/programs/childhood-injury-prevention

Conscious Community Collectives

Provides an online resource directory for families in Central Ohio to find consciously chosen local supports. Their resources include education and tutoring, childcare, pregnancy, mental health providers, adventures & fun, and more. Small business owners can join the Business Collective to be added to their directory and access professional support services. Families can call the number below for free concierge services to help them get connected to the resources they are looking for.
(614) 315-1851
villagefamilycollective.com/locations/central-ohio

Easterseals Central & Southeast Ohio

Serves: children and adults with developmental disabilities
Provides comprehensive health services for children and adults living with disabilities. Services include early childhood education, adult day services, in-home care, referral services, and outpatient therapies. They also offer afterschool programs and summer day camps for children.

  • Central and Southeast Ohio: 3830 Trueman Court, Hilliard, Ohio 43026
    (614) 228-5523
  • Cuyahoga Falls: 1212 Portage Trail Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44223
    (234) 417-0250
  • Chillicothe: 1855 Western Avenue, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601
    (740)773-1273
  • Lawrence County: 97 Private Road Eighty South Point, Ohio 45680
    (740) 894-7560
  • Medina: 5041 Victor Drive, Medina, Ohio 44256
    (330) 722-8558
  • Portsmouth: 3858 US Highway 23, Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
    (740) 716-7295

easterseals.com/centralohio

Franklin County Department of Job & Family Services (JFS)

Provides information about food assistance (Ohio Direction Card / EBT), cash assistance, medical assistance (like Medicaid), job training, emergency assistance (PRC), help with paying for child care and more. Each center serves certain zip codes. People outside of Franklin County should visit their local county Department of Job and Family Services. Refugees and immigrants should apply for services as well.

  • East Opportunity Center
    1055 Mount Vernon Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43203
  • Northland Opportunity Center
    1721 Northland Park Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43229
  • West Opportunity Center
    314 North Wilson Road, Columbus, Ohio 43204

Call (844) 640-6446 to apply for SNAP/OWF cash assistance/Medicaid benefits
Medical Transportation: (614) 233-2381
Workforce Development: (614) 212-1800
jfs.franklincountyohio.gov
Find Your Local ODJFS Office: jfs.ohio.gov/about/local-agencies-directory
Self-Service Ohio Benefits Portal: benefits.ohio.gov

Handouts & Links for Parents with Children in Child Care

Healthy LifeStars

Provides free programming to schools and youth serving organizations to support kids and families with the resources they need to make healthy choices, build resiliency, achieve goals, and to form healthy habits for life. The LifeStar Challenge motivates and educates kids on the importance of physical activity, proper nutrition, and setting and achieving personal health goals through three simple principles, “I Am Active! I Eat Right! I Can Do It!”. In addition, they offer resources and support for families that can be accessed any time.
1585 Neil Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43210
(614) 563-8926
www.healthylifestars.org

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

Has a national voluntary accreditation program for child care centers who wish to meet quality standards that go above and beyond basic licensing requirements. They also provide research-based resources, tips and ideas for families from child development to reading, writing, music, math and more.
1313 L Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20005
(800) 424-2460
naeyc.org

Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) Center for Injury Research & Policy

Their website provides information on a variety of safety topics, including bicycle safety, burns, poison, transportation, home safety, gun safety, sports and recreation, and more.
nationwidechildrens.org/injury-research-and-policy-injury-topics

Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) Education Classes

Offers a range of free and low cost classes for children, teens, adults and parents of infants and kids of all ages and abilities. Find courses on everything from babysitting and parenting to CPR training, autism and diabetes. Classes include:

700 Children’s Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43205
(614) 355-0662
nationwidechildrens.org/education-classes

Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles ID R Kids

Parents can apply for an Ohio ID card for their children at any Deputy Registrar BMV location. Parents of children who have an Ohio ID card can also add their contact information to their child’s record for use in the event the child becomes lost or is reported missing.
1970 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43223
(844) 644-6268

Ohio ID Card Info: bmv.ohio.gov/dl-id-card.aspx
Find a location near you: publicsafety.ohio.gov/local-office

Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association (OCCRRA)

Provides professional development and technical assistance to local child care, early learning, and out of school time programs.
2760 Airport Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43219
(614) 396-5959 or (877) 547-6978 Toll-free
occrra.org

Ohio Department of Education (ODE) Early Learning

Provides information, resources and services related to early learning and school readiness. Also, licenses preschool programs and school-age child care operated by schools and educational centers.
25 South Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(877) 644-6338
education.ohio.gov/Topics/Early-Learning

Ohio Department of Education (ODE) Food & Nutrition

Their website offers important information for families and professionals about state food and nutrition programs. Find guidelines for child and adult care food programs, the national school lunch program, summer food programs, and more.
education.ohio.gov/Topics/Other-Resources/Food-and-Nutrition

Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (ODJFS) Early Learning & Development

All child care centers in the state of Ohio are licensed by the ODJFS or the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). These websites also provide information on licensing rules, forms and training. Parents can search online for child care providers by location, type of facility and ages of children, its licensing status, its location and the number and ages of children served. Print out the two-page Parent’s Guide to Choosing Safe and Healthy Child Care checklist.
30 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
ODJFS Child Care Help Desk: (877) 302-2347
jfs.ohio.gov/cdc
Licensing Information: jfs.ohio.gov/cdc/providers.stm or education.ohio.gov/Topics/Early-Learning/Preschool-Licensing

Ohio Preschool Expulsion Prevention Partnership (OPEPP)

Helps licensed preschools and child care providers in Ohio with preschool-age children whose behavior poses challenges in the preschool setting, putting them at risk for expulsion. To access free on-site consultation services call the number below or complete their online request form. OPEPP is a collaboration among the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS), Big Lots Behavioral Health Services at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and local early childhood mental health providers.
(844) 678-2227
nationwidechildrens.org/preschool-expulsion-prevention

Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center

Provides training and educational resources for families to help support their child’s learning, emotional health, and plans for the future. They also build professional training and tools for school leaders, teachers, and community partners.
1900 Kenny Road, Suite 1036, Columbus, Ohio 43210
(614) 292-2805
ohiofamiliesengage.osu.edu

Project ADAM

Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adam’s Memory) helps schools nationwide implement programs to make automated external defibrillators (AEDs) readily available by preparing schools for a cardiac emergency through emergency response plans, staff CPR and AED training, student CPR education, and sudden cardiac arrest awareness education. Additional contact information and instructions on how to become a Heart Safe School can be found on their website.
nationwidechildrens.org/project-adam

 

Rapid Response Trainings

Offers CPR/AED, First Aid, ACLS, BLS for health care providers, and PALS classes through the American Heart Association. Classes are taught by nurses and paramedics. They serve all ages as long as the trainee can perform the necessary skills of CPR (approximately 12-90 years of age). Visit the website for schedules and prices.
1350 West Fifth Avenue, Suite 116, Columbus, Ohio 43212
(614) 949-9178
rapidresponsetraining.org

Reeb Avenue Center

Provides a variety of programs designed to strengthen families on the South Side of Columbus. Services include GED classes, adult education and workforce development, early education child care, youth and family services, in collaboration with community partners (Boys & Girls Club, House of Hope, Southeast Healthcare Services, Godman Guild, St. Stephen’s Community Center, Alvis, Community Development for All People).
280 Reeb Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43207
(614) 468-9280
reebavenuecenter.org

Safe Sitter

A nationally-recognized program developed by pediatricians that provides quality babysitting training programs for youth at many locations throughout Columbus and Ohio. Click to find program locations.
safesitter.org

South Side Thrive

A network of partners in the South Side of Columbus working to holistically improve quality of life for residents. Their website has helpful information and resources for finding healthcare and insurance, healthy eating, resilience, mental and physical wellness, and managing chronic conditions. Use their Resource Map to locate resources like food, childcare, healthcare, legal help, and more in the South Side. Go online to contact the organization.
southsidethrive.org

St. Stephen’s Community House

Faith-based community center serving the Linden-area community. Programs include rental and utility assistance, childcare for children 6 weeks to 5 years at Christ Child Early Learning Center, afterschool and summer programs, Kinship Aftercare, Family to Family empowerment program for families with open cases with FCCS, senior food and transportation, and more. They are also a Mid-Ohio Market site, providing a food pantry with Mid-Ohio Food Bank. Find program details online.
1500 East Seventeenth Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43219
(614) 294-6347
saintstephensch.org

The Ohio State University (OSU) Early Head Start Partnership Program

Provides early childhood education and additional supportive services for infants and toddlers ages six weeks through age four, and their families living at or below the poverty line. In addition to child care centers and family child care homes, they offer children onsite medical, hearing, dental, vision exams, developmental screenings, nutritional care and mental health access. They also connect parents to community resources including housing stability, workforce development, education, and financial security. There are no direct fees associated with enrollment in Early Head Start. However, families are required to pay their Publicly Funded Child Care copay to the child care center/family child care home, if applicable.
175 East Seventh Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43201
General Information: (614) 292-7680
Apply for Services: (614) 294-2661, ext. 2528
go.osu.edu/goodstart


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