Child pornographer preys on children in family child care home

4C responds, posts blogs addressing parent fears and urging state licensing

A Cincinnati Enquirer story (Jan. 20, 2011) reported that a Mason man was arrested and charged with molesting and photographing children at a home in West Chester Township where his mother ran an "unlicensed" family child care business. A search of 4C's extensive data base of child care providers in Southwest Ohio revealed that 4C had no record of this child care home and therefore had never referred parents to this provider for care. 
 

The story, however, raised additional concerns among 4C staff:

First, Laura Heuser, director of 4C child care resources and referrals, worried that this story would make parents leary of considering family child care as an option. Read her blogpost on why family child care can be a good option and what questions  parents need to ask--and keep asking--to make sure their child is in a safe environment.
 

Second, Sallie Westheimer, 4C president and CEO, worried that readers might think that the problem was that this provider was "unlicensed." She wants everyone to know that there is no licensing for small family child care in Ohio--only one of five states where this is the case. Read her blog post about why licensing is needed for small family child care homes--and why parents and lawmakers should do something about it!