Franklin County has partnered with the City of Columbus and Action for Children to launch Franklin County RISE.

ARPA funding offers Ohio the means to bolster child care, early education

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Franklin County RISE knows that families need access to quality childcare.

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About RISE

Franklin County RISE is an innovative partnership between Franklin County, the City of Columbus and Action For Children, which administers the programs to provide access and opportunity for our early child care providers, educators, and their families.

The funds are made possible thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act.

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Sustainability is top of mind for us.

We don't ever want to say no to a provider, an educator, or a child's family.

~Erica C. Crawley,
Franklin County Commissioners

Why RISE

Why RISE

  • Only 40% of Franklin County children are Kindergarten ready (26% children of color & 28% children in poverty.)
  • Since the COVID19 pandemic 173 child care providers have closed, 50% are struggling to cover expenses, and 17% are unsure they will be open in the next 3 months.
  • Teachers, who are mostly women and women of color, remain chronically underpaid with average wages ranging from $11.39/hr to $12.22/hr creating the risk of a housing cost burden.
  • Close to 3 million women left the U.S. labor force during the pandemic, including in the 94% female-dominated child care industry, where a little more than half of the workers are mothers, according to USA Today.
  • Child care affordability: Average cost upwards of $10 - $11,000 per child can mean that a single parent with 2 kids under the age of 5 can be putting upwards of 30-40% of their earnings toward child care.