The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio has renewed its $265,000 grant to Action for Children for a second year. The grant aims to expand access to quality child care and strengthen the economic stability of women who work at and operate licensed child care programs in Ohio.
“This grant simultaneously supports women’s economic success and removes a barrier that prevents parents, primarily women, from fully participating in the workforce,” said Kelley Griesmer, President and CEO of the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio. “We are proud to invest in a trusted organization that has continued to demonstrate such a positive impact on the early learning community.”
The early childhood education workforce in Ohio is composed of 95% women, yet these essential professionals often earn significantly below a living wage, leading to high turnover in the industry. Action for Children’s Child Development Associate (CDA) licensure program offers a solution by providing the tools and credentials needed for child care professionals to grow sustainable careers and small businesses, while ensuring families have greater access to quality, affordable child care.
“Improving access to child care begins with empowering the educators who work with children every day,” said Tasha Booker, President and CEO of Action for Children. “Action for Children helps them turn what is often a passion into a career path they can thrive in.”
Since receiving the original grant in 2025, Action for Children has supported over two dozen Spanish-speaking and family child care early learning professionals with specialized CDA tracks to better serve central Ohio’s diverse communities. The grant has also made it possible to expand support and one-on-one coaching to a total of 160 educators in their general cohorts, hosted from August through June each year.
Lifesteps Childcare Center Director, Katherine Lamus Adams, and staff members are participating in AFC’s grant-funded cohort this year. Getting their CDA credentials will allow Katherine to complete Ohio’s application for the program to become Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)-rated. “We’re doing something important with these kids, and it would mean a lot that the hard work with the children is being rewarded,” Katherine said. “I want every single one of the teachers here to know the reason that it needs to get done; most importantly, to help the community and serve the kids the way they need to be served.”
As a nonprofit public foundation, the Women’s Fund serves as a trusted steward of philanthropic resources, leveraging support from funding partners to invest in organizations advancing meaningful change for women and girls. This grant reflects that role by directing resources to a proven solution that strengthens both women’s economic mobility and the child care infrastructure families depend on.
Action for Children is the local child care resource and referral agency for Central Ohio, and is committed to assuring quality early learning experiences for all children. Its services focus on transforming the lives of children by supporting the everyday heroes who most influence our children’s early growth: caregivers, educators, parents, and guardians. Learn more at actionforchildren.org.