In September, 2003 the Child Care Advisory Council of the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services and the Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association (OCCRRA) convened the Family Child Care Home Business Workgroup. Over the course of five months, a group of family child care home business professionals, state and county agency staff, child care resource & referral organization staff, early childhood professionals and parents met together and by phone to develop a set of short term (1 year), and long-term (5 year) recommendations. The twenty-nine workgroup members focused on protecting the health and safety of children in care and improving the quality of their early learning opportunities.

The Workgroup developed recommendations to improve both the regulatory system and the supports and incentives of family child care home businesses. This meant reviewing the current system of certification, a registration process, or other states’ legislation as well as creating a vision with possibilities not yet discussed or explored in Ohio.

The workgroup was facilitated by the National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) which provides technical support to state agencies administering child care regulation and funding.  NCCIC staff gathered resource materials, conducted research and facilitated Workgroup meetings. The Final Recommendations Report was completed and delivered in December, 2005 and was recognized and supported by the Child Care Advisory Council. The final report was passed to the Director of ODJFS for consideration, and now the work continues toward prioritizing and implementing recommendations.