Ohio Department of Children & Youth Launches Early Childhood PROMISE Program

The newly established Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DYC) has announced the creation of the Ohio Promote Resources, Opportunities, and Meaningful Inclusion through Support and Education (PROMISE) program, a new initiative focused on increasing access to quality childcare and support services for children with special needs. Ohio PROMISE is supported through federal ARPA Discretionary Funds.

Ohio PROMISE includes the following components:

• New Provider Credential: The Professional Early Childhood Inclusion Credential will provide training and support for early childhood educators to create an inclusive environment for all children by increasing their knowledge, competency, and confidence when working with children with special needs and their families.
• New Program Designation: The Inclusive Childcare Program designation will signal to parents using the state’s childcare search tool, https://childcaresearch.ohio.gov, that an educator in that program has earned their Professional Early Childhood Inclusion Credential.
• New Center of Excellence: The Early Childhood Inclusion Center of Excellence will provide access to materials and equipment for childcare professionals and the families they serve, as well as, training and technical assistance to early childhood and education professionals. More information can be found at https://cycsuite.org/ec-inclusion.
• New Scholarship Pilot Program: A new pilot scholarship program will be launched for children with special needs whose families live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level attending programs that achieve the Inclusive Childcare Program designation. For more information on how to apply, visit https://childrenandyouth.ohio.gov/for-families.