By J.D. Davidson
The Center Square

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is defending the state’s child care spending, saying longtime safeguards are in place that help prevent widespread fraud uncovered in Minnesota.

DeWine’s defense came after fellow Republican Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Township, spearheaded a letter from lawmakers calling for an investigation into the state’s child care facilities he says are suspected of fraud.

Allegations of fraud in Minnesota surfaced in November, when reports stated that millions of taxpayer dollars had been stolen from the state’s welfare system and sent to a Somali-based terror group.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday announced it would freeze $185 million provided to Minnesota day care centers annually.

Ohio received more than $800 million in federal taxpayer funds for child care services in fiscal year 2024, and the state set aside a total of $1.1 billion on child care.

Jodi Norton Trimble, chief communications officer for the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, responded to TCS with a comment from DeWine.

“Since its inception, the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) has worked toward stronger accountability, smarter oversight, and responsible stewardship of public funds, while preserving access for eligible families and compliant child care providers,” DeWine said in the statement. “This work began long before recent headlines through thorough data review, unannounced visits, ongoing monitoring, along with making necessary changes to policy and practice to ensure the integrity of our program. But with any system, fraud has the potential to exist. It’s important to note that when fraud is reported, or suspected, DCY investigates with a strong sense of urgency, sending representatives to centers to collect attendance and employment documentation, initiate investigations, complete safety reviews, and when necessary, act immediately on our findings.”

In a news release, DeWine outlined a series of safeguards that have been in place for years to combat potential fraud at the nearly 5,200 child care facilities in the state that receive taxpayer funds.

He noted that Ohio pays facilities based on attendance, not enrollment, unlike some states. The Biden administration required all states to pay by enrollment by August 2026, but Ohio has not made the switch. DeWine said the Trump administration is currently reviewing the requirement.

Ohio verifies attendance by requiring a personal identification number with photo confirmation or a location-specific QR code.

The state uses cross-department data studies to find fraud, waste and potential misuse of taxpayer funds. Those reviews are done monthly or on a case-by-case basis.

“People are rightfully concerned about what is happening with state-funded childcare facilities in Minnesota. These are the essential facts about what we do in Ohio,” DeWine said. “There are almost 5,200 state-funded childcare facilities in Ohio. With that number of facilities, there is certainly the potential for fraud.”