By: Lynn Hulsey Access article
Child care costs can be eye-popping.
The average annual cost in Ohio for one infant is $10,009 at a child care center and $7,592 in a home, according to ChildCare Aware of America.
The cost for an infant and one 4-year-old averages $18,267 at a center and $14,038 for in-home care.
In the Dayton region the price range for full-time, center-based care is $10,000 to $15,000 annually for one child, said Robyn Lightcap, executive director of Preschool Promise.
“Certainly the affordability is a huge issue,” said Warren County Commissioner Shannon Jones, president and CEO of Groundwork Ohio, a Columbus-based nonprofit child advocacy group.
She said it cuts across all income groups and impacts the business community if they cannot retain or attract employees because of their difficulty finding affordable, quality child care.