A Day Without Child Care
A Day Without Child Care: An Invitation to Be Seen
On May 11, child care providers across Ohio will take part in A Day Without Child Care.
This effort is being organized and led by providers through the CEO Project, who have been working to bring visibility to the realities facing child care across our state.
I am sharing this in support of that work, especially to help connect and engage center-based programs who may not yet be as closely connected.
We Know What This Asks of You
Closing your doors may mean lost income and disruption for families you care deeply about. For many, it may feel like one more thing on top of everything you are already carrying.
If this feels hard, it’s because it is.
What This Day Represents
This is not just about one day.
It reflects what has been building over time. Programs are doing everything they can to stay open. Educators continue showing up while stretched thin. Directors are carrying constant decisions. Families are struggling to find and afford care.
The strain is real, and it is being felt across every part of the field.
Why This Moment Matters
Too often, the story about child care gets reduced to compliance, isolated problems, or short-term fixes.
And in that story, it is easy to miss what is actually happening:
A system under pressure, everywhere.
When only one part of the field speaks up, it can be overlooked. When all of us show up, it becomes much harder to ignore.
This Is Not About Doing Something TO Families
One of the most common concerns we hear is, “I can’t do this to my families.”
And the truth is, you are not.
This is an opportunity to do something with families. To share what it takes to keep your program going and why change matters for all of us.
Families are already feeling the impact. This moment simply brings it into the light.
If it’s helpful, the CEO Project has provided a sample parent communication you can adapt for your program: Download the sample parent letter
https://storage.googleapis.com/mailerlite-uploads-prod/1745138/ckCCUK9V39ywxh8TDKPnhMn4lINSX5ThqBdTroOP.pdf
A Moment That Calls for Collective Action
This effort is already underway, led by providers who have been organizing and advocating over time.
For the entire field to stand together.
Family child care, centers, Head Start, and public programs.
Not separately. Not quietly. But together.
A Respectful, Honest Invitation
There is no one right way to participate.
Some will close for the day. Some will adjust hours. Some will show up in other ways.
Every situation is different.
If not now, when?
Because what we are navigating is not sustainable, and carrying it quietly has not led to the change we need.
Why Your Voice Matters
When providers across settings show up, it changes what people see. It shifts the story from a few struggling programs to a system that needs attention and investment.
What This Could Make Possible
This is about more than one day.
It is about creating the conditions for fair wages for educators, affordable care for families, and a system that is stable, respected, and sustainable.
To learn more and access the full toolkit, visit the CEO Project toolkit here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x3pDU58mjkqe7e5exQ_UyDa0tm0tmhKR/view
A Final Thought
You have been showing up for children and families every single day, often without the support you deserve.
This invitation is not asking you to do more.
It is asking you to be seen.
To stand in what you already know is true, and if you are able, to stand alongside others who are doing the same.
If you are considering participating, start with a conversation:
- Talk with your families
- Talk with your team
- Talk with other providers
This is how collective action begins.
We hope you’ll consider being part of it.
SIGN UP NOW AND JOIN US AT THE OHIO STATEHOUSE.