Ohio Republicans Say Daily Photos Of Kids Are Necessary To Combat Child Care Fraud

The proposals, including live surveillance of day care centers, have alarmed child care advocates: "There has to be a better way."

Ohio Republicans are exploring different ways to crack down on what they suspect is widespread fraud in government-funded child care — from implementing mandatory state surveillance of child care centers to requiring that photos be taken of children each day so the state can verify their attendance.

Hatched amid a right-wing social media frenzy over fraud claims, the proposals have sparked alarm among advocates for child care providers who fear higher costs and the stigmatization of government-subsidized care. Many centers rely on federal and state dollars to serve the children of low-income workers.

In a sign of how contentious the proposals could be, the lead sponsors of one Ohio bill are already backing off their plan to require child care centers to install cameras in their common areas and provide the state’s Department of Children and Youth with live access to the feeds. That bill amassed 26 Republican co-sponsors before its lead sponsors decided to rework it.

“This is just an attempt to further defund the child care system,” said Tami Lunan, director of the Care Economy Organizing Project, an advocacy group representing Ohio child care providers. “What we’re really concerned about is that they will try to replicate these policies in other places.”

In a viral video from December, conservative YouTuber Nick Shirley purported to expose rampant scamming among Somali-born child care providers in Minnesota who receive government funds. The storyline was promoted by high-profile figures across the right, including Vice President JD Vance, even though state officials there said the video was misleading.