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Gesher Agudath Israel of Ohio Benefits & Referral Center A division of Agudath Israel of Ohio
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Child Care

Publicly Funded Child Care

Ohio helps working and studying parents pay for licensed child care — you pay a co-payment based on income and family size.

Information last reviewed July 2026

What it is

The Publicly Funded Child Care program provides parents who are working or in school with financial help paying for child care. You choose a licensed provider, and the county pays them directly; you cover a weekly co-payment based on your income and family size (the co-pay is the same regardless of how many children are in care).

Timing rules that matter

  • The county must determine eligibility within 30 calendar days of a completed application — apply as soon as you know when care will be needed.
  • Redetermination is required every year; co-pays rise gradually as income grows, up to 300% FPL.
  • Over the initial limit? The Child Care Choice Voucher Program helps families with income between 146% and 200% FPL — see its own page in this section.

How Gesher helps

We time the application correctly, assemble proof of hours and income, and handle annual redeterminations. If your income is near a limit, we’ll calculate whether you fall under initial or ongoing eligibility before you apply.

Official resources

Not sure where to start? Start with us.

One conversation with a case manager can uncover programs you never knew you qualified for. Free, confidential, and judgment-free.