Poll Data from 2024
“This poll highlights the urgent need to increase access to quality, affordable child care for working families”, said Lynanne Gutierrez, Groundwork Ohio’s President & CEO.
“Our policy agenda reflects the needs of working parents and voters by demanding increased state investment to expand access to publicly funded child care for working families up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and increase the capacity of quality programs to serve the growing needs of children and families.
If we listen to parents and voters, we can meet the needs of young children
and families and drive Ohio’s economic prosperity.”
Data Highlight 1:
For Ohio parents, child care is difficult to access and afford. Most parents with children five and under (51%) believe the availability of high quality and affordable child care has gotten worse over the last few years.
Data Highlight 2:
To most Ohioans – especially parents – the linkage between child care and the state’s economy is undeniable.
Overwhelming majorities of Ohio voters (86%) and parents with young children (90%) agree that increasing access to high-quality child care will help strengthen the state’s economy and workers.
Data Highlight 3:
Problems with child care are having an economic impact.
More than 4-in-10 working parents with children five and under (44%) say they have had to miss work, leave early or lose focus because of challenges with child care.
Data Highlight 4:
There is a clear connection between the state’s economy and child care. When parents without child care are asked what would they be able to do if they had it, the dominant responses are “work more” and “get a job.”