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PARENTS

Child care is expensive. Two parent households average 10% of their income on child care. Single parent households often spend up to 25% of their income on care for their children. If you are having difficulty paying for the full cost of child care, here are some options.

Head Start: This government sponsored program is for children whose families are low income. Eligible children are three, four or five years of age. Care is usually part day but many programs now offer extended hours for working parents. Head Start does enroll children with special needs.

Public Preschool: Many school systems operate a preschool program for at-risk children. This can include children whose families are low income. These programs usually operate part day only. Children enrolled are three or four years of age when school begins in the fall.

Publicly Funded Child Care: Effective April 1 1998, families have a household income level under 150% of poverty may be eligible for publicly funded child care benefits. If your household income in below the levels indicated on the following chart, contact your County Department of Jobs & Family Services for more information.

Scholarship: Some child care programs have limited funds to assist families who are having difficulty paying the full cost of care. Most of these scholarships are for short term situations only.

PROVIDERS

The business of child care is a risky venture. To be successful, it requires both strategic and operational planning. Management and technical assistance is available through a number of resources:

Ohio Small Business Development Centers

One-Stop Business Permit Center

Local Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies

Current resources for financial assistance to Centers

Northwest Ohio Child Day Care Loan Fund: Loans available to plan, start and expand for-profit and non-profit child day care facilities. Funds may be used for working capital, salaries, inventories, equipment and minor remodeling. Loan amounts range between $2,500 and $25,000. The interest rate is below market. For more information in Lorain, Erie, Huron, Sandusky and Seneca counties call 1-800-775-9767 or visit www.wsos.org.

Child Care Resource Center Emergency Grants: The Child Care Resource Center has a limited amount of funding available to centers who are facing an emergency situation. Support cannot exceed $2500. Grants are one-time only. For more information in Lorain, Erie, Huron, Sandusky and Seneca counties call 1-800-526-5268.

USDA Rural Development Funds: Money is currently available to help rural towns build essential community facilities, such as child care centers, through the USDA's Rural Development Community Facilities Program. Funding through the program comes in three forms: direct loans, USDA guarantees of private loans, and grants. These facilities must be located in rural areas or incorporated communities of up to 50,000 population. For more information, contact the USDA's Rural Development office located in Findlay, OH at (419)422-0242 or visit www.rurdev.usda.gov.

Current resources for financial assistance to Family Day Care Home Provider

Child Care Resource Center Emergency Grant/Loan Program: The Child Care Resource Center has limited funds available to assist child care programs who are facing emergency situations. For more information in Lorain, Erie, Huron, Sandusky and Seneca counties, call 1 - 800 - 526-5268.