40. Community Need It’s unknown how many home-based or center-based child care providers closed permanently in the Dayton region between January 2020 and March 2023. But the number of providers licensed by Ohio Job and Family Services declined during that period, according to data collected by 4C for Children. Disproportionately in communities of color. A child Care Desert is defined is any census tract with more than 50 children under age 5 that contains either no child care providers or so few options that there are more than three times as many children as licensed child care slots. The Homefull Healthy Start Childcare and Preschool will be located in West Dayton, 45417 zip a child care desert with population of approximately 31,000 people, and median income at $24,623. Approximately 80% Black with 40% single family households with children.
Kids who are economically disadvantaged are more than two times less likely to demonstrate kindergarten readiness than kids with no economic disadvantage. (Source: Groundwork Ohio 2023 Early Childhood Dashboard) In Montgomery County, only 22%-27% of children who are economically disadvantaged are ready for kindergarten. Of the 8 PreSchool Promise Partner Sites in zipcode 45417, 2 are at DPS Schools, 3 Buildings, and 3 In-Home. Homefull is working with PreSchool Promise on this project and promotes targeting the Dayton community's resources to the highest-need young children.