Early Matters NEO is a growing coalition of organizations advancing policies that increase access to quality, affordable child care in support of workforce and business growth in Northeast Ohio
Our Purpose
We activate employers to support workers’ child care needs and advocate for public and private policies that improve access and affordability of child care.
Our Aspiration
Every family in Northeast Ohio has access to quality, affordable child care so our workforce can grow, our businesses can thrive, and our region can reach its full potential.
Coalition Members
What We Know
In 2024, Early Matters NEO published Driving Growth: The Economic Value of Child Care in Cleveland & Cuyahoga County. We learned that 78% of Cuyahoga County parents surveyed indicated that finding child care is a challenge and a leading reason they reduce hours, change jobs or leave the workforce entirely. This report quantified for the first time the local impact of the child care crisis on families, employers, and the economy—and made clear that
our child care system isn’t working.
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Inadequate access to affordable child care reduces families’ earning potential.
Almost 1/2 of parents say that inadequate child care has impaired their career options.
44% reported they turned down a new job offer.
A third say that the hours they can work are restricted.
Parents miss out on $411 million annually from lower earnings, reduced productivity at work, and from job search expenses.
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When child care doesn’t work for families, employers bear the brunt of the consequences.
Lost productivity: More than 7 in 10 parents say that child care problems have caused them to be distracted, late, or to have missed commitments at work.
Reduced hours: 30% of parents changed from full-time to part-time work to accommodate child care needs.
Increased turnover: a third of parents quit a job since their child was born or adopted.
Northeast Ohio businesses lose $1,700 per working parent every year in lost productivity and recruitment costs — $121 million across Cuyahoga County annually.
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Child care challenges hurt the broader economy, too. They lead to lower labor force participation and reduced tax revenue.
An estimated 20,000 parents are on the sidelines of the labor market in Cuyahoga County.
Inadequate child care raises Cleveland’s unemployment rate by 50%.
Cuyahoga County loses $114 million annually in tax revenue, contributing to a GDP reduction of 0.4% to 0.8% due to child care challenges.
What We Do
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Build Awareness
We shine a light on the need for quality, affordable child care to propel our economy.
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Encourage Employer Innovation
We create space for employer and civic leader learning and engagement.
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Advocate
We activate employers to make child care a priority and advocate for more affordable, quality care.