By Taiwo Akinlami and Deba Uwadiae

At the 2025 Ohio Childcare Policy Summit, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce unveiled the “Untapped Potential: Ohio” economic report, a study conducted in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Groundwork Ohio. The report assesses the financial impact of insufficient childcare coverage on Ohio’s economy, revealing a $5.48 billion annual loss in economic activity due to childcare-related workforce disruptions. The findings emphasize the urgent need for innovative, scalable solutions to improve access to affordable, quality childcare across the state.

As Ohio ranks 30th in labor participation, many parents are being forced out of the workforce due to childcare issues. According to the report, 70% of parents of young children in Ohio have missed work or class in the past three months due to childcare challenges, with 33% of those parents leaving the workforce as a direct result. The study also highlighted the cost of childcare, with Ohio families spending an average of $572 per month, a significant financial burden.

A lot has been reported and analyzed about the summit, including the Keynote and Fireside Chat with Director Kara B. Wente of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, which was the final event of the day. This session highlighted key action points and how we can effectively contribute to addressing the seemingly insurmountable challenges concerning our precious children in Ohio. The Fireside Chat, conducted by Rick Carfagna, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, featured a candid conversation with Director Kara B. Wente, who shared insightful perspectives on the department’s initiatives and how the state is addressing the childcare crisis

Rick Carfagna (SVP of Government Affairs, Ohio Chamber of Commerce):
Yeah, so we’re going to get started. You want me to write it down? The director is experimenting with childcare policy at the summit. The director of the Department of Children and Youth served as the director of the government children’s initiative. She has over 20 years of dedicated state service and a wealth of experience in serving the most vulnerable children and families. She used data as an accountability tool for systemic change during her time as the assistant director of Health and Human Services, at the height of poverty job training services, and led several large-scale system changes as deputy director of the office of assistance education and MLA professions for the university. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Ohio State University.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Director Kara B. Wente, Director of the Department of Children and Youth in Ohio.

Rick Carfagna: It’s still relatively new in Ohio’s government structure. To start, can you share just a little bit about the department’s role, its mission, and what business leaders in this room should know about the work you’re doing?

Director Kara B. Wente: Absolutely. Thank you for having us here today. I know it’s a busy workday for all of us in this room as we track the biannual budget, but I’m excited to share a little more about where the department is and where we hope to go. I appreciate the chamber for helping us pull this together.

The Department of Children and Youth, as I love to highlight, is the work number because it gives us a little grace. We are building this department after pulling together programs from five legacy agencies to really serve our kids differently, from prenatal to age 21. And it’s prenatal to 21 because we focus on maternal and infant mortality. We also look at children’s services, childcare, and early intervention with the goal of better serving not only the child but the family. We want to stabilize families, give them resources, and meet their needs.

The mission of the Department of Children and Youth is simple: we start with what’s right for kids. That should be the first question we ask in any decision-making process. For many of you in this room, you’ve heard me say that we ask our team that same question when we’re starting something different: what’s the right decision for the kids? We may not be able to get there right away, but how do we start down that path?

As a new entity, we didn’t want to pretend to have all the answers. We asked for help, recognizing that those of us in the department don’t have all the answers because if we did, we would have already done it. So, we wanted our community stakeholders—many of you, our families, and youth with lived experience—to tell us what we can do better.

As a result, we came up with three goals. The first is focused on infant mortality. We are currently 640th in the country, and we want to compete for a top-10 spot. I’m proud to say that we just released our preliminary 2024 PM, which shows we’ve made significant progress since 2018.

The second goal focuses on school readiness. We want all kids to be ready emotionally, educationally, and developmentally for school. This means stabilizing families, providing access to affordable childcare, and ensuring a healthy learning environment.

Our third goal is focused on children’s services, specifically the regulation of children and families entering our child services space. Our role is to engage and try to reduce the number of kids entering the system. Our goal is to decrease that number by over 3,000, not by receiving fewer calls but through earlier intervention to make a real difference.

Rick Carfagna: So, let’s transition into the issue of the day that impacts every business in this room, and that’s childcare. We’re constantly hearing from employers that the lack of access to affordable, quality childcare is a major issue. We know there’s a demographic of educated, skilled, and hardworking people who are just simply not looking for work because when they factor in childcare costs, their paycheck goes right back out the door. How is the state responding to this challenge?

Director Kara B. Wente: You’re exactly right. For the first time, I can say—and I’ve worked in this space for over 10 years—that it’s not just a family issue. You’re hearing it from businesses. It’s a discussion happening in the chamber and beyond, about how we can do things differently to address this issue and improve our economy and business community.

The governor has really focused on expanding childcare in the 2024 State of the State. He proposed the expansion of the childcare voucher program, which allows us to assist families at 200% of the federal poverty level. Prior to this, we were the largest state in the country supporting working families. We’re excited to have expanded this program, and in less than 12 months, we’ve already served over 8,000 children and 4,300 families.

When we speak to these families, we always want to know what’s working and what’s not. We’ve received great feedback. Eighty-five percent of families report they’re able to work longer or more hours, which is crucial because, as we know, some people are working multiple jobs to make ends meet. When they have access to affordable childcare, they can stabilize their situation. Seventy-six percent of families say childcare support has helped their household, and 15% report less worry about their child’s safety during the day, allowing them to focus on their work.

Rick Carfagna: Now, shifting to the supply side—childcare costs are exacerbated by the scarcity of childcare options. How is the state supporting providers to reduce regulatory fees and improve capacity?

Director Kara B. Wente: First and foremost, the governor has invested in increasing the childcare base rate. This increase ensures that providers can support their employees. In the 2024 budget, we’re proposing an approximate 10% increase in rates. We know that this is just one step, but it’s an important one.

From a regulatory perspective, we’ve reduced the burden significantly. We’ve streamlined requirements and eliminated unnecessary paperwork. We’re also working on a licensing assignment project to align different departments that regulate childcare services. This will help reduce the complexity providers face.

We also want to work in partnership with providers, rather than taking a punitive approach. It’s about collaboration to ensure the system works for everyone. We’re looking at how we can support them in a sustainable way.

Rick Carfagna: What role can businesses play in this effort to improve access and affordability in childcare?

Director Kara B. Wente: We have a real opportunity for business right now through the Family Care and Education Partnership, which is funded through the federal preschool development grant. We’re looking for businesses, childcare providers, nonprofits, and the state to partner on innovative solutions. This could involve second- or third-shift care or addressing the needs in childcare deserts.

The state is willing to put up some funding, but we need businesses to match that investment. It’s not just the government’s responsibility, and it’s not just business’ responsibility. We all need to come together and figure out how to make this system work long-term. This is about finding sustainable, innovative solutions that will serve our community.

Rick Carfagna: Thank you, Director Wente, for your insights.

Final Thought: In the days ahead, we will bring you the legislative perspective on the issue, as discussed by legislators, who had a panel session at the summit and shared the efforts they are making to find lasting solutions, as well as the role of citizens in the same.

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