OCCRRA

What OCCRRA does

OCCRRA (The Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association) is a private nonprofit organization incorporated in 1989 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, that operates as Ohio's designated statewide workforce registry and learning management system for early childhood, school-age, and child-serving professionals. The organization runs the Ohio Professional Registry (OPR), a web-based platform built as a Progressive Web App that captures individual professional profiles covering employment, education, credentials, and professional development activity, and includes modules such as an Organization Dashboard for program administrators, an Instructor and PD Events platform for training organizations, a background check review system, a Career Pathways Level Model, and an anonymous exit survey. Supporting the registry are multiple credential pathways (Ohio Administrator Credential, School-Age Endorsement, Ohio's PROMISE Professional Credential, Ohio Infant Mental Health, Trauma Informed Care, Early Childhood Mental Health, Early Intervention Service Coordinator, Early Intervention Developmental Specialist, Home Visiting) and a workforce development stack including the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood OHIO scholarship program (with CDA, Associate, and Bachelor degree tracks), POWER Ohio wage supplements, Career Compass for high school and college students, and family-facing resources like Ohio Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids.

OCCRRA's business model is primarily grant-funded through public-private partnerships with state and local government agencies. The principal funder is the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, which supports T.E.A.C.H. scholarships, CDA Assessment Fee scholarships, and Career Compass across all 88 Ohio counties, while Starting Point funds scholarships in Cuyahoga County and the Ohio Department of Health funds Ohio Healthy Programs. Some credential applications carry fees (e.g., the Ohio Administrator Credential), and Early Learning Resources Ohio (ELRO) operates on a subscriber basis, representing a minor non-grant revenue stream. Delivery occurs through a hybrid go-to-market model: a self-serve digital platform for individual professionals and programs, combined with a distribution layer of 12 regional Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) member agencies organized as Service Delivery Areas that provide localized technical assistance, training coordination, and outreach across Ohio.

Scale signals include 11,776 T.E.A.C.H. scholarship recipients since program inception in 2003, 550+ program graduates, 94% scholar retention (versus a 60-70% benchmark for child care workers), and coverage of all 88 Ohio counties through the regional CCR&R network. The organization employs 11-50 staff, is led by CEO Chris Angellatta with Holly Scheibe serving as Director of Quality and Innovation, and is not part of any larger corporate group. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, consistent with its nonprofit status.

Name

OCCRRA

Legal name

The Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association

Website

https://occrra.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OCCRRA is an Ohio nonprofit that operates the state's designated workforce registry (Ohio Professional Registry) and learning management system for early childhood, school-age, and child-serving professionals, delivering credentialing, scholarship, and professional development services across all 88 Ohio counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Workforce Development

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

ECE Leadership & Administration Training (Directors/Owners/Supervisors) (EDACAIAD), Training & Credential Compliance Tracking (PD registry alignment) (EDACAKAH), Inclusion, Special Needs & Early Intervention Training (IEPs/IFSPs, Neurodiversity) (EDACAIAF)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Workforce registry
• Professional development
• Credentialing services
• Child care resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: OCCRRA receives federal, state, and local government funding to operate its programs. Primary funders include the Ohio Department of Children and Youth which funds Associate Degree scholarships, CDA college credit scholarships, and CDA Assessment Fee scholarships across all 88 Ohio counties. Starting Point in Cuyahoga County funds Bachelor and Associate degree scholarships for Type B professionals.
2. Credential and Application Fees: Fees collected for credential applications and renewals, such as the Ohio Administrator Credential which requires payment via check to OCCRRA.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

OCCRRA operates Ohio's statewide workforce registry and learning management system for early childhood, school-age, and child-serving programs and professionals, centered on the Ohio Professional Registry (OPR) platform. It administers professional development, credentialing, scholarship programs (such as T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood OHIO and POWER Ohio), and technical assistance services delivered through a network of 12 regional Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) member agencies covering all 88 Ohio counties.

Product overview

OCCRRA operates as Ohio's premiere workforce registry and learning management system for early care and learning, school-age, and child serving programs and professionals. The core platform is the Ohio Professional Registry (OPR), which integrates multiple modules including Organization Dashboard for program administrators, Instructor & PD Events Platform for training organizations, and mobile-responsive PWA access. Supporting the registry are workforce development programs including T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood OHIO (with CDA Credential, Associate Degree, and Bachelor Degree scholarship tracks), POWER Ohio wage supplements, and Career Compass for health and human services students. Credential offerings include Ohio Administrator Credential, School-Age Endorsement, Ohio PROMISE Professional Credential (OPPC), Ohio Infant Mental Health Credential, Trauma Informed Care Certificate, Early Childhood Mental Health Credential, Early Intervention Service Coordinator and Developmental Specialist credentials, and Home Visiting Credential. Program quality initiatives include Ohio Healthy Programs, Step Up To Quality support, CACFP sponsorship, and ABCs of Early Childhood Education. Family-facing services include Ohio Healthy Minds Thriving Kids (OHMTK) and child care search. Additional platforms include Early Learning Resources Ohio (ELRO) and Workforce and Program Analysis Platform (WPAP).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ohio Professional Registry (OPR): Ohio's workforce registry information system that promotes individual professional growth and development for early childhood, child serving agencies and school age professionals.
• TEACH Early Childhood OHIO
• POWER Ohio
• Ohio Healthy Programs
• Career Compass
• Early Learning Resources Ohio (ELRO)

Products and services

• Ohio Professional Registry (OPR) Ohio's workforce registry information system serving as the comprehensive data repository for early childhood, child serving agencies, and school age professionals, capturing employment, professional development, education, and credentials.
• T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood OHIO Compensation and retention scholarship program for Ohio child care professionals covering tuition, books, and related education expenses, with CDA Credential, Associate Degree, and Bachelor Degree scholarship tracks.
• POWER Ohio Wage supplement program paired with workforce development scholarships for early childhood professionals in Ohio.
• Career Compass Career exploration support and scholarship program for high school and college students pursuing health and human service careers, administered by OCCRRA for the Ohio Department of Children and Youth.
• Ohio Administrator Credential Pathway credential enabling professionals to meet ODJFS Licensing Administrator Qualifications, based on the Ohio Core Knowledge and Competencies Framework for Program Administrators.
• School-Age Endorsement Endorsement supporting school-age professionals in obtaining age-specific training and classroom experience to meet Step Up To Quality requirements and the needs of school-age children.
• Ohio's PROMISE Professional Credential (OPPC) Credential for professionals serving children with disabilities and their families, with three levels (Aware, Knowledgeable, Advanced) to build awareness, knowledge, competency, and confidence.
• Ohio Infant Mental Health Credential Credential implementing nationally recognized skills and core competencies that are developmentally appropriate and anchored in relationship-based practices supporting infants and caregivers.
• Trauma Informed Care Certificate Certificate based on completion of training meeting Trauma Informed Competencies as established by the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
• Early Childhood Mental Health Credential Credential supporting the social, emotional, and behavioral well-being of children birth through six years and their families, with ECMH consultants working directly with early childhood providers.
• Early Intervention Service Coordinator Credential Credential for early intervention service coordinators serving as key contacts for families through eligibility determination, IFSP development, and service access, provision, and monitoring.
• Early Intervention Developmental Specialist Certification Certification for developmental specialists trained to provide special instruction as part of an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) as members of the Early Intervention team.
• Home Visiting Credential Credential for Help Me Grow Home Visiting professionals — Ohio's evidenced-based parent support program encouraging early prenatal and well-baby care and parenting education.
• Ohio Healthy Programs Recognition program for early care and education and out-of-school time programs implementing healthy environment practices for children, funded by the Ohio Department of Health.
• Step Up To Quality Support Support for early care and education and school-age programs participating in Ohio's Step Up To Quality rating system via the Ohio Professional Registry, Ohio Approval Professional Development system, and training search.
• Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) USDA child nutrition program sponsorship for family child care providers providing meal reimbursement, materials, training, and support for serving nutritious meals.
• ABCs of Early Childhood Education Pilot program created with Relevant Workplace to assist early childhood education programs in identifying, interviewing, assessing, and hiring top talent, including marketing spots and hiring toolkits.
• Early Learning Resources Ohio (ELRO) Subscriber-based web platform providing an extensive knowledge hub of tools focused on supporting the needs of early childhood education and care professionals.
• Ohio Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids (OHMTK) Pre-K social-emotional learning program created in partnership with the Child Mind Institute, featuring educational videos teaching skills such as understanding feelings, using words, having big feelings, being brave, and being a good friend for children ages 3-5.
• Organization Dashboard Resource for program administrators and directors to manage program registry information, verify employment, manage current employees and their schedules and groups, and access Program Summary and Program Detail reports.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% retention rate for T.E.A.C.H. scholarship recipients vs. 60-70% typical child care worker retention
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ohio Department of Children and YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary state agency funder for T.E.A.C.H. OHIO scholarship programs. Funds Associate Degree scholarships, CDA college credit scholarships, and CDA Assessment Fee scholarships across all 88 Ohio counties.
• Regional CCR&R Member AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner12 regional Child Care Resource and Referral agencies across Ohio (SDAs 1-12) that deliver statewide professional development and technical assistance programs on behalf of OCCRRA.
• Ohio Colleges and UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Ohio-based colleges and universities offering early childhood education degrees. Includes Central Ohio Technical College, Cincinnati State, Columbus State, Cuyahoga Community College, Kent State University, University of Cincinnati, and 20+ other institutions.
• Child Mind InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with the Child Mind Institute to create Ohio Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids (OHMTK) Pre-K program featuring educational videos for children ages 3-5.
• Ohio Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded Ohio Healthy Programs to recognize early care and education programs for implementing healthy environment practices for children.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood National Center: National umbrella for the T.E.A.C.H. scholarship model that OCCRRA's TEACH Early Childhood OHIO program implements. Operates the same scholarship, retention, and wage-supplement framework across multiple state chapters and is a key reference point for OCCRRA's program design.
• Child Care Aware of America: National CCR&R membership and policy body that connects state-level CCR&R associations like OCCRRA to federal funding streams, advocacy, and national standards. Acts as OCCRRA's de facto national-level counterpart for the CCR&R network.
• NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children): Largest national professional association for ECE educators and programs. While membership-driven rather than registry-based, NAEYC sets the credentialing and program-quality standards (Power to the Profession, NAEYC Accreditation) that OCCRRA's credential stack aligns to.

Regional players

• California Child Care Resource & Referral Network: Statewide network of California CCR&R agencies coordinating professional development, training, and resource referral for California's ECE workforce. Comparable in scale and CCR&R-network structure to OCCRRA's 12-SDA Ohio model, but operating in a much larger state.
• NYC Early Childhood Professional Development Institute: New York City's centralized ECE professional development, credential, and scholarship body, with comparable registry, scholarship, and credential functions to OCCRRA but scoped to NYC's universal pre-K workforce. Strong operational analogue.
• Pennsylvania Key / OCDEL: Pennsylvania's statewide early childhood professional development organization operating under the Office of Child Development and Early Learning. Delivers comparable PD, credential, and registry services to Pennsylvania's ECE workforce — a structural regional equivalent to OCCRRA.

Direct peers

• National Workforce Registry Alliance: National alliance of state ECE workforce registries (of which OCCRRA's OPR is a member). Provides cross-state recognition of credentials and shares registry standards, making it a peer in the same professional-development infrastructure category.
• INCCRRA (Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies): Illinois's state-level CCR&R association and workforce registry, structurally identical to OCCRRA — operates a professional registry, T.E.A.C.H. scholarships, regional delivery network, and statewide credential programs for ECE professionals. The closest functional analogue to OCCRRA in a different state.

Others

• Council for Professional Recognition: National body administering the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential referenced throughout OCCRRA's scholarship tracks. Functions as an upstream credentialing authority that OCCRRA's training and scholarship infrastructure directly supports.

Emerging players

• iPinwheel (and other ECE workforce data platforms): Workforce and data platform vendor serving ECE and early-intervention programs — a potential technology alternative or successor to in-house state registry systems like OCCRRA's OPR, illustrating the competitive technology landscape OCCRRA's platform must defend against.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ohioccrra
• Facebookfacebook.com/OhioCCRRA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/occrra

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OCCRRA