OXFORD, Ohio — The need for child care is growing as more day cares shut down for good. 

What You Need To Know

  • Two years after the pandemic began, families are still feeling the impact of day care closures that are still happening

  • Recent data from Childcare Aware shows 16,000 day care programs permanently closed between 2019-21 

  • One recent college graduate is opening up her own home day care to try and help

Mary Piper has everything set up to turn her place in Oxford into Omnibus Early Learning Program, her home day care.

She has room for six that she’ll start taking in this school year after she noticed something when she graduated from Miami University last year. 

“There are a lot of amazing options around here but not quite enough that can meet every family’s needs,” said Piper. 

She said the need increased after an Oxford day care recently shut down adding to a long list of day cares closing up shop everywhere. 

A recent report from Childcare Aware shows 16,000 child care programs nationwide closed permanently between 2019 through 2021. 

According to a census survey, that means more than 26% of households in Ohio couldn’t access child care this year. 

That’s what inspired Piper to start something new.

“I was realizing that if we start at that really early, those first couple years, that’s where a lot of positive change can be made,” said Piper.