Advocacy groups noticed a gap in Gov. Mike DeWine’s State of the State speech last week, as they worry about his failure to mention accessible, affordable child care as a priority for the year.

To be fair, if the governor had mentioned everything he wanted to get done as his tenure wraps, we might still be listening to him speak.

Still, it is important for DeWine and lawmakers not to drop the ball on an issue that is immensely important to many Ohio families.

“Tell me how you can be pro-growth, and pro-business, and pro-Ohio when you are telling parents you should stay home rather than have us invest in your child care,” said Ohio House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati, according to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal.

While that’s not QUITE how DeWine might put it, it’s true there must be a sense of urgency in supporting Buckeye State families with policies that promote affordable child care options.

“When we invest in child care, we aren’t just helping parents afford it — we are fueling the engine that allows every other industry in Ohio to operate,” Tami Lunan, director of the Care Economy Organizing Project told the Capital Journal.

Ideas range from state-provided child care assistance vouchers and tax credits to sliding fee scales and perks for employers who help their workers with child care.

And even if those ideas don’t come from DeWine, there are 132 lawmakers in Columbus who could get the ball rolling and develop law and policy that genuinely supports Ohio families.

Advocates are right about one thing: It’s time for SOMEONE to step up and do just that.