When child care works, so do you.
If you’re reading this, you probably already know how much child care affects your ability to work.
It’s not separate from your job. It’s what makes your job possible.
When care falls through, everything else gets harder—getting to work on time, staying focused, even keeping a steady schedule. Most parents are doing everything they can to make it work. But this isn’t something families are meant to solve on their own.
There’s a piece of this that often gets overlooked: employers can help.
Right now in Ohio, there’s a model that allows employers to offer child care benefits through a shared cost. Employers contribute, the State of Ohio matches that investment, and families cover the rest. For many families, that can mean a meaningful reduction in monthly tuition—and more stability overall.
The issue isn’t that these programs don’t exist. It’s that many workplaces haven’t been asked to consider them yet.
That’s where this can start.
You don’t need to walk in with a full proposal or know every detail. Most of the time, starting the conversation is enough.
Three Ways to Start the Conversation:
Send an Email to Human Resources
Use this email template to connect your human resources department to the Business Partnerships opportunity.
SUBJECT: Child Care Benefit Opportunity for Our Team
Hi [HR/Manager Name],
I wanted to share a resource that could support working parents on our team.
Ohio is offering employers a dollar-for-dollar match to help cover child care costs for employees. It’s a shared-cost model between the employer, the state, and families.
Programs like this can help reduce absenteeism and support retention, while making child care more affordable and reliable for employees.
Here’s more information:
https://starting-point.org/community/resources-for-employers/
I’d be interested in whether this is something we could explore.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
Start a Conversation with Human Resources
If email doesn’t feel like the right approach, it can be a quick conversation instead. You’re not expected to have all the answers. You’re just bringing forward an option. Something as straightforward as:
“I’ve been dealing with a lot of child care challenges and came across a program where the state matches employer contributions to help cover costs. Do you think this is something we could look into?”
Bring it up to your Manager
If going directly to HR feels like too much, start with someone you trust. A supervisor or team lead can often point you in the right direction or help move the idea forward.
“I’ve been dealing with a lot of child care challenges and came across a program where the state matches employer contributions to help cover costs. Do you think this is something we could look into?”
No matter how you start.
Remember, child care isn’t just a personal issue—it’s a workplace one. When employees have reliable child care, they’re more consistent, less likely to miss work, and more likely to stay.
There are organizations, like Starting Point, that work directly with employers to set these benefits up and manage the process. Your employer doesn’t have to figure it out alone.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start the conversation.
