Groundwork Ohio is among the organizations that has signed on to a letter from child care groups across the country, asking the federal Administration for Children and Families to continue funding the Child Care Development Block Grant and other resources.

Though a federal judge has temporarily blocked a funding freeze to Minnesota, California, Colorado, Illinois and New York, there are still worries other states will have to defend their own child care systems and oversight.

According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, the letter says fraud “at any level is unacceptable and takes valuable child care away from eligible families,” and any funding should be used “wisely and as intended.” And that, “Simultaneously, it is essential that the strong oversight and internal controls already in place to govern these resources are ensuring the funding is being used properly, and that it continues to reach hard-working, eligible families.”

Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Children and Youth have also stepped up to defend the verification process used by the state, as well as investigation methods.

While it is to be hoped that the judge’s block of the funding freeze will hold, and that the effort will not be expanded to other states, Ohio organizations and officials are right to be concerned.

“Any delays in funding would be catastrophic to a sector already in crisis,” Ali Smith, of Policy Matters Ohio, wrote in a research brief, according to the Capital Journal.

Research shows higher rates of “material hardship” for families now than during the pandemic, with child care funding being among the many challenges.

“And yet, we know that policy, from what we saw during the pandemic, can take a big bite out of these issues if we show the self-discipline to really make sure that things happen,” Phil Fisher, director of the Stanford Center on Early Childhood, told the Capital Journal.

Advocates and state officials must continue their effort to stand up for Ohio’s child care system, even as they work to improve it. Families must not doubt they have someone in their corner.