An Ohio law may prevent some families from receiving child care in the fall

An Ohio law could be the reason many families won't be able to get child care this fall. Barb Tamas, director of Jobs and Family Services in Lorain County, brought up her concerns with the law in a meeting with the commissioners Wednesday. In the Ohio Revised Code, section 5104.01 defines child care as administering to the needs of infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children, and school-aged children outside of school hours. Tamas said people have approached the agency looking for child care on the two or three days their child won't be in school. They cannot, Tamas said, because of the codified law. The agency has two child care units — one for inspections for licensing and the other approves publicly funded child care. Tamas said she appreciates everything Gov. Mike DeWine has done during the pandemic, but the child care piece is troubling to her. "It's a conundrum," she said. "And it's a conundrum for a number of my staff, a number of friends I have throughout the state." There's nothing Jobs and Family Services can do because it is a law, but rather something the Legislature would have to address. Tamas said parents have to tackle how they're going to be able to work on the days their child won't be in school. "I look for the governor to come out and say things about this and he doesn't," Tamas said. "… It's troubling to me. It is troubling to me." Commissioner Lori Kokoski said she will bring it up in front of the County Commissioners Association, and Commissioner Matt Lundy said they can bring the issue to the attention of local representatives. Although most representatives usually don't return to the Legislature until after the November election, Lundy said it's likely they'll have to return sometime in September to address other issues caused by the pandemic. He said this type of child care issue needs to be addressed. Tamas said not being able to receive child care is disadvantaging and affecting a lot of parents across the county. "What we're experiencing, likely everyone else in the state is experiencing as well," Tamas said. "And it's not anyone's intent, and it's not anyone's evil deed, so much as it's just an unanticipated consequence in the midst of a pandemic." Contact Laina Yost at (440) 329-7121 or lyost@chroniclet.com.