Action for Children

10/02/2026

A little paint, a lot of possibility! 🎨✨

Unbox October’s Resource Room painting kit with Jenny! With colorful paints, creative tools, and inspiration from The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, this kit invites children to explore, experiment, and make their mark.

Whether they start with one tiny dot or fill the whole canvas, the fun is in creating together. 💛

Visit actionforchildren.org to learn more about our Resource Room and sign up for updates on upcoming kits!

10/01/2026

We’re grateful for the partnership and support of OneOhio Recovery Foundation through this new grant to FatherUp at Action for Children! No matter where they come from, each dad who joins FatherUp is working towards being there for his children. This grant investment allows us to reach more fathers in the substance use disorder recovery space and empower them as individuals and fathers. It’s an understatement, but we’re excited to put that investment to work!

We are excited to announce that the OneOhio Recovery Foundation Board of Directors has approved $5 million in grant funding for 15 organizations across Region 1, including:

🔵 Action for Children
🟢 Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio
🔵 Central Ohio Hospital Council
🟢 CRC - The Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center
🔵 Columbus Early Learning Centers
🟢 Compdrug
🔵 Cornerstone of Hope-Columbus, Ohio
🟢 Directions for Youth & Families
🔵 Franklin County CBCF
🟢 Franklin County Municipal Court
🔵 Hope Dealer Community
🟢 House of Hope
🔵 Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio
🟢 Mount Carmel Health System Foundation
🔵 Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital

Approved by the OneOhio Recovery Foundation Board of Directors, these grants will help advance projects aimed at saving lives, preventing addiction, expanding access to treatment, supporting recovery, and strengthening community resilience in Franklin County.

Regional Grant Cycle 2 will make approximately $45 million available across Ohio, building on more than $45 million awarded to 245 projects statewide through our inaugural grant cycle.

See what’s being funded in Region 1 and stay tuned for more Regional Grant Cycle 2 announcements: https://tinyurl.com/38rnkwj9

10/01/2026

Thank you, The Women's Fund of Central Ohio! The women who work in and operate childcare programs deserve this level of support and stability. We’re excited to keep expanding this work!

Access to affordable, quality child care is essential to women's economic success, and a strong early childhood workforce makes that possible.

That's why the Women's Fund has renewed its investment in Action for Children with a second-year grant of $265,000 to support child care professionals earning their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Together, we are helping educators advance their careers, strengthen the child care workforce, and expand access to quality care for families across Central Ohio.

Read more: https://womensfundcentralohio.org/action-for-children-grant-2026/

09/28/2026

Thank you for following these stories throughout September. Congress is making important funding decisions about child care now. Add your voice today. ➡️ https://bit.ly/4zk2JcC
Groundwork Ohio | Child Care Aware of America | Senator Jon Husted | Representative Marcy Kaptur | Joyce Beatty | Rep. Dave Joyce

09/25/2026

In recognition of the late singer and philanthropist, we're proud to celebrate Dolly Parton Day today! Since 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has been fostering a love of reading among the youngest children in her home community, and today, delivers millions of books to children around the world each month.

Here in Ohio, we've had the personal privilege of partnering with Imagination Library of Ohio, City of Columbus - City Hall, and Columbus childcare programs to get more children signed up for the Imagination Library. Children from birth to five receive free books every month, giving them an opportunity to fall in love with learning and develop critical literary skills. We've loved hearing from programs who participated in the campaign and are excited to highlight a few today!

You too, can honor Dolly’s legacy today! Here are three ways you can help:

❤️ If you work at or operate a licensed childcare program in Columbus Ohio, we want you to be a part of the campaign! Thanks to the City of Columbus, participating programs will be entered into a $1000 prize drawing at the end of October to recognize their efforts and support their classrooms. Sign up: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/5cJ6efyA4m

❤️ Encourage the little ones in your life along their reading journey! Make a habit of reading out loud together and spending intentional time together to foster their love of reading. BLOG - Why Reading Aloud With Your Child Matters: https://www.actionforchildren.org/blog/why-reading-aloud-with-your-child-matters/�

❤️ Support the work of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio! You can learn more on their website: www.ohioimaginationlibrary.org/

09/24/2026

Is your child getting ready for kindergarten? 🎒✨

You don’t have to prepare them alone.

SPARK helps families build the skills children need to feel confident and ready for kindergarten through fun, hands-on learning activities and support for parents and caregivers along the way.

From early learning and literacy to routines and social-emotional skills, SPARK helps turn everyday moments into opportunities to learn, grow, and prepare for the classroom.

Because kindergarten readiness starts long before the first day of school. 💛

✨ Discover what SPARK can do for your family.

👉 Learn more and see if your family is eligible: www.actionforchildren.org/SPARK

09/24/2026

Yesterday’s all-staff meeting was chock full of great things! Some of our favorite moments:
💐 Staff flowers and unparalleled poetry from our VP of Child Care Education and Initiatives
🍎 Hearing from Children's Hunger Alliance about the amazing work they’re doing to keep children fed and healthy
👩‍🍼 Learning about Family Connects Ohio and how it supports moms and babies at local Ohio hospitals
😋 Getting excited about our upcoming annual soup and dessert cook-off on October 21st!

09/23/2026

Being a public servant shouldn’t be so hard. Tell Congress to support child care. ➡️ https://bit.ly/4zk2JcC Groundwork Ohio | Senator Jon Husted | Joyce Beatty | Representative Marcy Kaptur | Rep. Dave Joyce | Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio

09/21/2026

Kindergarten readiness can start with just 10 minutes. 💛

Count the toys as you clean up. Ask your child questions about what they notice. Read a story together. Talk, play, explore, and be curious.

Those everyday moments help children build the language, thinking, and social skills they’ll carry with them into kindergarten and beyond.

Big futures start with small steps. Get ready for kindergarten with SPARK! ✨

Learn more about SPARK and kindergarten readiness at actionforchildren.org.