Advocacy

Taking Action for Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers

At Action for Children, we support a comprehensive and coordinated early learning system that is aligned with local, state and national efforts. In addition to our work with parents and providers, we also advocate for better and more accessible child care services, and offer a variety of tools so you can advocate for these important causes, too.

Our Advocacy Principles

Action for Children is committed to transforming the lives of young children by advocating for the adults who make the biggest impact on their lives. Learn more about the three principles that guide our advocacy work.

  • Advancing Children’s Well-Being

    Action for Children stands at the forefront of protecting and transforming the lives of children in central Ohio. Through active engagement with children and those who take care of them, we prioritize a child’s holistic development. By working on things like pre-K readiness and access to healthy food, we strive to ensure children in central Ohio are healthy physically, emotionally, and mentally, so that they can grow strong and achieve whatever they dream of.  

  • Championing Caregivers

    Our advocacy encompasses a broad spectrum of caregivers, recognizing the diverse ways individuals step into nurturing roles for children. Whether it’s through formal channels like child care programs, the intricate process of adoption, or any other unique circumstance that brings an adult into a caregiving role, we emphasize the importance of equipping these individuals with the necessary tools, resources, and support systems.  

  • Defending Families

    At Action for Children, we are committed to defending families’ ability to parent with dignity. We firmly believe that financial status should never be a barrier to a parent’s ability to nurture and provide for their children. To this end, we work tirelessly to advocate for policies and initiatives that ensure every guardian, regardless of their income level, has access to the resources, support, and opportunities necessary to raise their family in a nurturing environment.  

Advocacy in Action

Advancing Children’s Well-Being
Promotion of Safe Sleep: At Action for Children, we want to make sure children are safe when they go to bed at night. By requiring our staff to be Safe Sleep Certified, as well as continuously promoting Safe Sleep education and classes, we aim to help keep infants protected from harm.
We Wear Blue in Honor of National Child Abuse Month: To help spread awareness of May being National Child Abuse Month, our staff wore blue to the office. In doing this and posting about it on our social media, we spread awareness on child abuse and how to look for warning signs.  
Kindergarten Readiness: By equipping parents with the tools they need to teach their children, we help ensure that children’s minds are adequately growing at such a vital time before they enter kindergarten. To help parents have access to easy teaching materials, we consistently post teaching ideas on our social media accounts.  
Child and Adult Care Food Program: Through easing access to healthy foods for child care providers, we want children to have access to the nutrients they need to grow to be healthy and strong. During CACFP week 2024, we brought US Representative Joyce Beatty to a family child care home to see the impact the program has on providers and children.
The Hunt Institute Ohio Legislative Retreat: At a conference aimed to inform Ohio legislators on the education landscape, former Action for Children CEO Eric Karolak spoke of the state of the child care sector. While the focus was on all aspects of equitable child care, he made sure to emphasize the importance of quality care for a child at the beginning of their life.  

Instagram Post, October 2023

Instagram Post, October 2023

Instagram Post, October 2023

Instagram Post, April 2023

Action for Children’s SPARK program

For the Love of Learning Free Resource, February 2024

Instagram post, February 2024

Joyce Beatty interview, March 2024

Action for Children’s Child and Adult Food Care (CACFP) program

Championing Caregivers
The Village Staffed Family Child Care Network: We helped create the first staffed family child care network in Ohio. This network allows family child care providers to learn from and grow with each other because we know that advocacy is stronger together.
The BOSS (Business and Operational Support Services): We recognize that child care homes and centers function just like other businesses, and like many businesses, the person in charge needs help and guidance. Through The BOSS, we help child care providers run their businesses smoothly through connecting them with local professionals and offering informational workshops.
The Early Childhood Educator Awards: We are committed to giving child care providers the recognition they deserve, which is why we organize our yearly Early Childhood Educator Awards. Early childhood educators are able to attend this event and are celebrated by the community through food, awards, and a night of acknowledgement.
L.E.A.D. Conference: Action for Children runs a yearly conference aimed to enhance child care providers leadership skills. Through breakout sessions and speakers, FCC and child care center professionals can bring positive change to their programs.
Columbus Metropolitan Club – Understanding the New Landscape of Child Care: In an event open for anyone to attend, former CEO Eric Karolak spoke alongside the new Director of the Department of Children and Youth, Kara Wente; the Director of Government Affairs at COTA, Aslyne Rodriguez; and Carol Haynes, the Executive Director of Kiddie Academy. While this event advocated for child care and its all around benefits, equity for providers was significantly highlighted.
Provider Appreciation Day Cards: We gathered volunteers to create over 1,200 handwritten cards to distribute to every licensed child care provider in our service delivery area. We wanted to show them we are appreciative for and recognize all their work.
Marketing Class for Women about Web Design: Through a workshop exclusively designed for child care program owners and administrators, Action for Children helped providers improve their businesses and learn about the power of marketing.

Action for Children’s Village program

Instagram Post, July 2023

Instagram Post, November 2023

Action for Children’s BOSS program

BOSS Business Accelerator

Instagram Post, October 2023

Instagram post, November 2023

L.E.A.D Conference Video, April 2024

Instagram Post, February 2024

LinkedIn Post, February 2024

Instagram Post, May 2o24

Women, Wix & Web Design email, May 2023

Defending Families
Positive Parenting Support: Parenting isn't always easy, but Action for Children empowers parents and guardians through workshops designed to help them bond with their children, enrich their communication skills navigate co-parenting situations, and engage their children in new and positive ways.
CHIPS and Child Care Report: Published a report following the passage of the federal CHIPS act on how businesses can invest in the child care ecosystem and support the needs of working families.
Back To School Family Fair: Every year, we host a community event where children and families are provided with resources from Action for Children and vendors. In 2023, we were able to partner with organizations like the Columbus Back to School Project to give out backpacks and New Directions Beauty and Barber who provided hairstyling vouchers.
Ohio Department of Children and Youth Feedback Session: As Ohio has been executing its new Department of Children and Youth, Action for Children has been making sure its creation keeps in mind children and their families. Partnered with the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities, we gave Franklin County families a chance to listen to what’s in store and give their feedback.
Mothers Matter Online Group Classes: Parenting is stressful. By offering accessible online classes, we help moms of all types learn healthy parenting techniques and offer them the opportunity to learn how to advocate for themselves through stress relief and co-parenting.
Foster Care Expo: Our Children Services Hub team headed a booth and spoke to families about the foster care system. The goal was to get more loving and courageous adults to consider becoming a foster parent and helping children and families who need support.

Action for Children’s Parent Education programs

Instagram Post, August 2023

Instagram Post, September 2023

Instagram Post, December 2023

Action for Children’s Mothers Matter program

Instagram Post, May 2024

Advocacy Efforts

In addition to our local advocacy endeavors, we contribute to statewide and national advocacy efforts that contribute to a better future for children, families, and child care professionals.

Statewide Advocacy

Action for Children partners with statewide advocacy organizations, including:

National Advocacy

Action for Children also partners with organizations at the national level, including:

Advocacy Toolkit

Join Action for Children in being an advocate for children, families and educators. Take a look at these helpful resources for further reading!

  • Ohio Voting Resources (Polling Locations, ID Requirements and more!)
  • Franklin County 2024 General Election Schedule
  • Find Ohio Legislators and Legislation
  • Contact Your Legislator About Child Care Funding (National Women's Law Center)
  • Child Care Aware of America Election Advocate Toolkit
  • Child Care Aware of America How to Talk to Candidates Guide
  • Child Care Aware of America Social Media Post Templates
  • Child Care Aware of America Ohio Data
  • Ohio KIDS COUNT 2023 Data Profiles

Follow Our Advocacy Work on TikTok

Statements & Updates

We frequently release statements in response to public decisions, such as budgets and court rulings, that will affect children and their opportunities for care. You can also keep up on our advocacy and outreach via our blog.

Reach Out

To find out more or support the advocacy work we do at Action for Children, reach out to us today.

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