According to a news release, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) Director Kara Wente announced the creation of the Ohio Promote Resources, Opportunities, and Meaningful Inclusion through Support and Education (PROMISE) program, a new initiative focused on increasing access to quality child care and support services for children with special needs. This initiative is a part of Governor Dewine’s efforts to, “make Ohio a place of promise, a place that cares, and a place that works.
Children with Special Needs a Part of Ohio’s Child Care Crisis
The governor’s office says that this initiative stems from the concerns of families across the state who have trouble finding childcare for children with special needs. Ohio is currently experiencing what many call a “Child care crisis” and this effort is an attempt to help those that are most vulnerable.
According to Governor Dewine, Ohio PROMISE includes the following components:
New Provider Credential: The Professional Early Childhood Inclusion Credential will provide training and support for early childhood educators to create an inclusive environment for all children by increasing their knowledge, competency, and confidence when working with children with special needs and their families.
New Program Designation: The Inclusive Child Care Program designation will signal to parents using the state’s child care search tool, https://childcaresearch.ohio.gov, that an educator in that program has earned their Professional Early Childhood Inclusion Credential.
New Center of Excellence: The Early Childhood Inclusion Center of Excellence will provide access to materials and equipment for child care professionals and the families they serve, as well as, training and technical assistance to early childhood and education professionals. More information can be found at https://cycsuite.org/ec-inclusion.
New Scholarship Pilot Program: A new pilot scholarship program will be launched for children with special needs whose families live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level attending programs that achieve the Inclusive Child Care Program designation. For more information on how to apply, visit https://childrenandyouth.ohio.gov/for-families.
Kara Wente is hopeful that this program will make a difference for families and children with special needs, ““Governor DeWine has made serving all Ohio’s children a priority and I thank the Department of Job and Family Services, the Department of Education and the Department of Developmental Disabilities for their partnership to make the Ohio PROMISE program possible.”