The Child Development Council of Franklin County

What The Child Development Council of Franklin County does

The Child Development Council of Franklin County, Inc. (CDCFC) is a private, non-profit organization headquartered at 999 Crupper Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, that delivers federally funded Head Start and Early Head Start comprehensive early childhood education and family-support services to income-eligible families with children ages 0-5 (and expectant families) throughout Franklin County, Ohio. Its operations are organized around two core programs — Early Head Start (center- and home-based services for infants, toddlers, and expectant families) and Head Start (center-based preschool for ages 3-5) — supported by an integrated suite of sub-services: Education, using the research-based Creative Curriculum with individualized learning plans and kindergarten transition support; Health, including EPSDT-compliant medical, dental, vision, and hearing screenings and referrals; Nutrition, providing USDA-approved meals published through the Nutrislice platform; Social Services, including case management and a 51% parent-led Policy Council; Disabilities & Mental Health Services, ensuring IDEA-mandated 10% IDEA-eligible enrollment with behavior intervention planning and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants; and a Pregnancy Program offering home visits and case management for expectant families. Enrollment is managed through the ChildPlus online portal, and service delivery spans direct-operated centers plus a network of child care partners (e.g., A Child's Place, Amazing Kidz Learning Academy, Creative Child Care).

CDCFC's revenue model is government-funding-led: the primary funding stream is the U.S. Office of Health and Human Services, Office of Head Start grant (Grant Number 05CH012766-01-00), supplemented by City of Columbus Early Start Program funding, with secondary revenue from Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC) subsidies and sliding-fee-scale payments for families who qualify. Services to income-eligible families under Head Start are provided at no cost; full-day services are available to families with PFCC support or on the sliding fee scale. The organization supplements funding through donations (PayPal "Donate" integration on the website) and draws 420+ full-time staff, including Early Childhood Educators, Social Service providers, program support staff (bus drivers, cooks), and administrative support.

Go-to-market is community-led: CDCFC reaches eligible families through partnerships with Columbus City Schools (kindergarten transition), City of Columbus Department of Parks and Recreation, Nationwide Children's Hospital, OSU College of Nursing and Dentistry, St. Vincent Family Services, Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Franklin County Jobs and Family Services, churches and community organizations, plus a multi-channel marketing mix spanning social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram), the cdcheadstart.org website, email/newsletter sign-ups, and parent testimonials. Distribution operates through center-based programs, home-based Early Head Start services, and a child care partner network throughout Franklin County. CDCFC is governed by a Board of Directors representing families, corporate, and community leaders, alongside the parent-majority Policy Council, and is led by President & CEO Brenda Rivers.

Name

The Child Development Council of Franklin County

Legal name

Child Development Council of Franklin County, Inc.

Website

https://cdcheadstart.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CDCFC is a non-profit organization headquartered in Columbus, Ohio that delivers federally funded Head Start and Early Head Start early childhood education and family-support services to income-eligible families with children ages 0-5 throughout Franklin County, Ohio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs (EDACABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early Head Start & Publicly Funded Infant/Toddler Programs (EDACAGAH), Center-Based Infant Care (0–18 months) (EDACAGAA), Health Education & Parent Coaching (Sleep, Safety, Illness Management) (EDACAMAN)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Head Start programs
• Preschool education services
• Family support services
• Child development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Federal Head Start Funding: Primary funding from U.S. Office of Health and Human Services, Office of Head Start. Head Start services are provided at No Cost to income-eligible families.
2. City of Columbus Early Start Program Funding: Additional funding from City of Columbus, Early Start Program
3. Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC): Full-day services available to families with publicly funded childcare subsidies
4. Sliding Fee Scale Services: Sliding fee scale available for families who qualify for additional services beyond free programming

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CDCFC delivers federally funded Head Start and Early Head Start programs for income-eligible expectant families and children ages 0-5 across Franklin County, Ohio. Programs include preschool education using The Creative Curriculum, comprehensive health and nutrition services, social services, disabilities and mental health support, and a pregnancy program. Services are provided at no cost to eligible families or on a sliding-fee scale for full-day care.

Product overview

The Child Development Council of Franklin County (CDCFC) operates as a unified early childhood education and family services organization offering two primary programs—Early Head Start (for infants/toddlers 0-3 and expectant families) and Head Start (for preschoolers 3-5). These core programs are supported by integrated sub-services including Education (using The Creative Curriculum), Health (EPSDT-compliant screenings and referrals), Nutrition (USDA-approved meals via Nutrislice), Social Services (family support and engagement), Disabilities & Mental Health Services, and a Pregnancy Program. All services are coordinated through CDCFC's network of traditional centers, child care partnerships, and family child care providers, with enrollment managed through the ChildPlus platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Head Start Comprehensive early childhood program for expectant families and children ages 0-3, offering center-based and home-based options with prenatal and postpartum support, parent-child activities, early literacy instruction, and nutritious meals. Provided at no cost to income-eligible families.
• Head Start Full-day or part-day preschool program for children ages 3-5 focusing on kindergarten readiness, including cognitive and motor skill development, health screenings, and family engagement services. Provided at no cost to income-eligible families.
• Home-Based Early Head Start Home-based option for expectant families and infants/toddlers ages 0-3, delivering services in the family home to support early development, prenatal education, and parent engagement.
• Education Services Classroom-based early learning using The Creative Curriculum with individualized learning plans, cultural activities, family involvement, and kindergarten transition support for children ages 0-5.
• Health Services Comprehensive health services including EPSDT-compliant screenings (medical, dental, vision, hearing), referrals, and coordination with community health providers for enrolled children.
• Nutrition Services USDA-approved meal program providing daily breakfast, lunch, and snacks with family-style meal service to support healthy eating habits and child development; menus displayed via Nutrislice.
• Social Services Family support services including case management, community resource referrals, family engagement activities, parent leadership opportunities (Parent Committee, Policy Council), and crisis intervention for enrolled families.
• Disabilities & Mental Health Services Specialized support ensuring 10% enrollment of IDEA-eligible children, with Disability and Behavior Specialists providing interventions, behavior plans, and mental health consulting in coordination with Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities and St. Vincent Family Services.
• Pregnancy Program Comprehensive maternal health program offering home visits, educational workshops, case management, and community resources for expectant families enrolled in Early Head Start.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ensures at least 10% of program total enrollment filled by children eligible under IDEA

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Columbus City SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with Columbus City Schools to support program planning and help children and families smoothly transition from Head Start to Kindergarten.
• City of Columbus Department of Parks and RecreationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with City of Columbus Department of Parks and Recreations to expand reach and enhance services for children and families.
• OSU College of Nursing and DentistrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity health provider partner that CDCFC coordinates with for health screenings, referrals, and follow-ups with identified health concerns.
• Nationwide Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing screenings, referrals, and follow-up services for children's health needs.
• Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities (FCBDD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks closely with FCBDD to facilitate referrals, services, and follow-ups for children with disabilities as part of IDEA compliance.
• St. Vincent Family Services (SVFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health partner providing Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants (ECMHC) for social-emotional supports, behavioral interventions, and behavior intervention plans (BIP).
• GigglesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity health provider partner for health screenings and referrals.
• Prevent Ohio Blindness (PBO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVision screening partner that coordinates with health services for children's eye health.
• Casa SpeechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpeech therapy provider partner for children's hearing and speech screenings and referrals.
• Columbus Public Health - Cribs for Kids ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily safety program partner providing safe sleep resources for infants.
• Franklin County Jobs and Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnects families with employment services, social services, and community resources.
• Franklin County RISE ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership providing additional family support services.
• Family Safety and HealingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily safety organization providing resources and support for families in need.
• Bottoms Up Diaper ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides diaper services to support family needs.
• Ohio State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing educational opportunities, community resources, and collaborative program support.
• Churches and Community OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal faith-based and community organizations that expand reach and enhance work through collaborations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• KinderCare Learning Companies: National child care and early education provider operating thousands of centers, including programs for income-eligible families; competes for the same preschool-age pool that CDCFC serves but at much larger, commercial scale.
• Primrose Schools: National franchise system of accredited private early childhood education centers for infants through pre-kindergarten; competes for tuition-paying families in the Columbus metro area.
• Learning Care Group: Operator of multiple child care brands (Childtime, Tutor Time, La Petite Academy, Bright Horizons competitors) with broad national footprint; an industry comparable for scale, curriculum differentiation, and tuition-based early childhood delivery.
• Childcare Network: Large multi-state child care operator with centers across the Southeast and Midwest; provides tuition-based and subsidized early childhood education to families in income brackets overlapping with CDCFC's target market.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Large publicly-traded operator of employer-sponsored child care and early education centers including Head Start-adjacent programs; competes for employer and government-subsidized slots but is a commercial incumbent rather than a Head Start grantee.
• The Learning Experience: National franchise child care and preschool brand with a heavy presence in Ohio suburbs; competes for preschool tuition-paying families in Columbus-area growth corridors.

Others

• National Head Start Association: National membership and advocacy organization representing all Head Start grantees including CDCFC; not a direct competitor but the principal industry body shaping policy, funding, and standards relevant to CDCFC's model.
• Ohio Head Start Association: State-level association providing training, advocacy, and coordination for Ohio Head Start grantees; a peer comparable on funding context, regulatory environment, and program design rather than direct service competition.

Direct peers

• Action for Children: Central Ohio-based nonprofit that provides child care resource & referral, early childhood advocacy, and direct services to families and providers in the same Franklin County market as CDCFC; overlaps directly on mission, geography, and government-funded service delivery.
• YMCA of Central Ohio (Early Learning): Operates early learning and before/after-school programs in the Columbus metro area, often with publicly funded slots; directly comparable non-profit child care provider competing for the same families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cdcfchs
• Facebookfacebook.com/cdcfcheadstart
• Instagraminstagram.com/cdcfcheadstart

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 The Child Development Council of Franklin County