The return of the academic school year can provide a respite for working parents in terms of child care.
The classroom is far less expensive than the full-time child care many north central Ohio parents have to provide if they choose to work outside the home.
But for many, depending on their work schedules, there can still be issues before and after school for those youngsters.
According to AfterSchoolAlliance.org, for every Ohio child in an after-school program, five more would participate and are missing out, despite strong public support for after-school programming.
The organization said a 2022 survey found almost eight in 10 registered Ohio voters
said after-school programs are an absolute necessity for their community and want federal, state, and local leaders to provide more funding for them.
The Afterschool Alliance has been at the forefront of documenting how children and youth spend their after-school hours through their comprehensive national and state-specific reports since 2004.
Their 2020 America After 3PM report revealed a persistent demand for after-school programs, with three children waiting for every one enrolled. This translates to approximately 25 million children being unable to access after-school programs due to barriers such as program cost, availability and transportation/accessibility challenges.
(Below is a PDF of the Afterschool Alliance “America After 3 PM” report.)
In Ohio, unmet demand for after-school programs remains high, with more than 814,000 children who would be enrolled in a program if one were available to them, according to the Afterschool Alliance.
Afterschool programs, also known as out-of-school programs, have emerged as valuable resources that provide academic support, enrichment activities, workforce development opportunities, mentoring relationships and more.
These programs aim to enhance the overall development and well-being of children of all ages, according to childcare experts.
A new childcare related survey was released Tuesday on behalf of Groundwork Ohio and the Ohio Head Start Association, Inc. Done in partnership with First Five Years Fund, UpONE Insights conducted a statewide survey of 600 registered voters in Ohio between Sept. 8 and 13, 2025.
Here are the key findings:
Child care is in crisis. Nearly 80% of Ohio voters and voters across the nation say the ability of working parents to find and afford quality child care is either in a “state of crisis” or is a “major problem.”
Child care drives workforce participation. More than one-third (34%) of Ohioans – and 56% of Ohio parents – say they or someone they know would consider entering the workforce if quality child care were available.
Child care shapes voting behavior. By more than a two-to-one margin (36%), Ohioans say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate of the opposite political party if that candidate advanced policies to help working families afford quality child care.
“Ohio voters across the political spectrum recognize that the child care crisis fuels the workforce crisis,” said Lynanne Gutierrez, President & CEO of Groundwork Ohio. “Voters across party lines are willing to act on the recognition of this problem to support candidates who prioritize public investments and solutions.”
“This poll shows that Ohioans of every political background see affordable, quality child care as essential to our workforce and our economy,” said Julie Stone, Executive Director of the Ohio Head Start Association, Inc. “When nearly 80 percent of voters agree on the urgency of this issue, it sends a powerful message to policymakers that supporting child care and Head Start isn’t partisan—it’s common sense.”
Many parents would like latchkey programs available from their school system, such as is provided by the Madison Local School District’s Early Childhood Learning Center.
The district operates before- and after-school options for parents at Madison South, Mifflin and Eastview elementaries.
The centers open each school day at 6:30 a.m. and release the children for classes as the school day begins. Children can return to the centers after school and can be picked up as late as 6 p.m.
Call 419-589-7851 for more information on the Madison program.
The YMCA of North Central Ohio also offers before- and after-school possibilities through its “YMCA Kids Club,” serving children in Mansfield, Lexington, Ontario and Shelby schools, ages 5 to 12.
Call 419-522-3511, ext. 231, for more information and availability of the YMCA Kids Club program.
A Knox County mother, responding to Source Media Properties survey of more than 1,000 parents, grandparents and caregivers in north central Ohio, said childcare before and after the school day is crucial.
“(I) am very surprised and disappointed this is not an option with the Mount Vernon school system,” she said. “Knox County needs more child care options, especially for summer and before and after school.”
One successful latchkey program in Richland County is available through the Friendly House in Mansfield, which also operates a daycare center.
“The Friendly House does amazing things for the community,” said one Richland County survey respondent who said she was on waitlists for months at other places before learning of the 380 N. Mulberry St. facility.
“Their teachers and staff were amazing and it was the best experience for our family. My daughter is now 12, but still talks about how much she liked it there. Amazing program,” the woman said.
An Ashland County grandparent, who provides kinship care for her school-age grandchild said she has waited as long as three to four months to find part-time childcare.
The grandmother, also responding to the survey, said it’s difficult to find childcare that works with her work schedule and that she has had to quit jobs or reduce hours due to childcare needs.