To educate and support the adults who care for young children and advocate for public support for quality early education and care for all children.

4C for Children was founded in 1972 in Cincinnati, Ohio, by a coalition of agencies and funders with the purpose of coordinating, planning, and advocating for quality child care for working families. Early work included planning studies, training, and technical assistance. In the 1980s, a strong focus on assisting families in finding and choosing child care and to increase the supply of quality care was added to the agency’s mission. Subsequently, 4C for Children has built its services to families along with a concentration on improving the quality of early learning and care for all children.

In the 1990s, 4C for Children established a Northern Kentucky office along with branch offices in outlying Ohio counties. In 2006, we expanded to 10 counties in the Miami Valley with an office in Dayton. Today, 4C for Children is the state-designated child care resource and referral agency for a 15-county area that includes Southwest Ohio (five counties with a regional office in Cincinnati) and the Miami Valley (10 counties, with regional office in Dayton). Over the years, 4C for Children’s approach to delivering services has changed in services and scope. One of the results of this continued evolution included closing branch offices in Ohio and the Northern Kentucky office.

4C for Children continues to be a hub for families searching for quality child care. We are also the largest local provider of training and technical assistance for child care providers in the region. More than 100,000 children in our community are impacted every year through our delivery of support and resources to families and child care providers.

4C is governed by a Board of Trustees and is led by President/CEO Vanessa Freytag. A new strategic plan for the agency was adopted by the Board in 2024.