3 hours of FREE training for licensed providers in Allen, Hamilton, Johnson, Lake and Marion Counties

DoD-Funded Military Child Care Liaison Initiative is offering online professional development opportunities through the Child Care Aware Training Academy ™ Indiana is one of 13 states selected to participate in the Military Child Care Liaison Initiative, a U.S. Department of Defense-funded project in partnership with Child Care Aware® of America (formerly NACCRRA) to expand the availability of quality, affordable community based child care for military families. There is an opportunity for no-cost professional development through this initiative.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is funding a series of three online trainings for

licensed child care providers in Allen, Hamilton, Johnson, Lake and Marion Counties.

➤➤ Developmentally Appropriate Practice

➤➤ Planning Language and Literacy Experiences

➤➤ Mathematics and Science Experiences for Young Children

These trainings count toward licensing requirements and the professional development clock hour requirements for Paths to QUALITY.  A certificate indicating that the participant has completed three training hours will be awarded upon completion of all trainings.

All trainings must be completed by December 31, 2012.

Register now and be part of this exciting professional development opportunity.

To register, send your name, email address, county, and state to:

 providertraining@naccrra.org

Please watch for an e-mail from “Smart Horizons.”

Space is limited – Register today

FREE Marketing Tool for Child Care Providers

Child Care Answers is excited to announce a new, FREE way to market your business. This is an exclusive benefit that is available only to child care programs who are rated a level 2, 3 or 4 on Paths to QUALITY.

Child Care Online highlights your child care site on Child Care Answers website. More then 350 parents a month visit our site to find care for their children, by participating in Child Care Online your program will stand out to these parents.

Child Care Online will launch May 11 around the state with lots of MEDIA attention. In fact Kara Kenney from WRTV Channel 6 news will be in our office next week to have a sneak peak at this exciting new way for parents to choose their child care.

Don’t let Child Care Online go live on May 11 without having your child care program highlighted.

Need more information? Watch this short video then call Crystal Givens at 317-926-3401 to find out how to get started.

Paths to QUALITY Marketing Training!

Are you a Level 2, 3 or 4 Paths to QUALITY Provider? If so join us on Monday, March 19th from 6:30pm till 9pm to learn more about the FREE online marketing tool available! Child Care Online offers Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 programs an exclusive opportunity to showcase their achievements with an online profile made up of pictures and text. Participants will learn the benefits of Child Care Online for providers and families and learn how to create an online profile that will highlight their professionalism and commitment to quality. Eligible programs must complete this training prior to signing up for Child Care Online. .It's a great opportunity to showcase the high quality care you are offering. Call Emily at (317) 636-5727 to register TODAY!

Child Abuse and Neglect in Child Care

For the Second time this week I have turned the television on to discover news reports of Child Abuse and Neglect in 2 separate Central Indiana Child Care programs. You can read the latest story here. This greatly saddens all of us here at Child Care Answers! Training and Technical assistance can greatly reduce incidents like what we have seen this week.
Please remember that Child Care Answers is here to be your resource to help you through the stressful situations that often occur in child care. On April 16th Child Care Answers will hold our second annual Cherish the Children: Preventing Child Abuse Conference. This is a wonderful conference that will have several experts providing break out sessions. Are you looking for a specific type of training? You can find our latest training calendar by visiting us on our website. What about some advice for your child care classroom? You can receive mentoring for you and your program FREE of charge by joining Paths to QUALITY. Child Care Answers also has an Inclusion Specialist and an Infant and Toddler Specialist that can visit your program to help you work through some of your most challenging situations.
Child Care Answers is just a phone call away! You can reach us Monday - Friday by calling 317-631-4643. Together we can ensure that ALL children are in SAFE, Developmentally Appropriate child care sites!

Paths to QUALITY banner displayed

Day Nursery Clarian Center Directors Jesse McCloud (left) and Rene Withers show off their new Paths to Quality Level 4 banner.

Paths to QUALITY

As of today there are 1,769 providers enrolled statewide in Paths to QUALITY. Of that number 358 providers serve children in Marion, Hamilton, Hendricks, and Johnson Counties. So we would like to extend a big hearty THANK YOU to all of the Paths to QUALITY providers for participating and for caring for the children of Indiana.

For more information on how to participate in the Paths to QUALITY system call (317) 926-3401 ext. 300. For information on how to contact a provider participating in the Paths to QUALITY system call (317) 631-4643.

United Way Kindergarten Readiness Program Is Accepting Applications

ATTENTION: Do you operate a child care ministry, center, or home within the Martindale-Brightwood or Near Eastside Neighborhoods (46218 or 46201)? Would you like to have regular visits from a child care mentor who can help you move up the Paths To Quality levels? If so, you are invited to apply for participation in a new project supported by United Way of Central Indiana. United Way’s Success By 6 initiative has committed to improving the education of the youngest residents of these two neighborhoods.

This project, called “Kindergarten Readiness,” works with schools, parents, and childcare programs in their efforts to prepare children to be ready to succeed in school in the following ways:
Supporting schools by helping them become more “ready” for children entering kindergarten,
Providing parents with tools and tips to teach their children at an early age through programs like Born Learning and Imagination Library, and
Partnering with childcare programs by providing free mentoring, training and supplies. In some cases, resources for building repairs and enhancements may be available (registered ministries only).

To be considered for this program, please contact Ginger Caylor, Mentor Specialist at Child Care Answers 317-926-3401 Ext. 306 or gingerc@childcareanswers.com to get an application or more information.

If you are not within the 46218 or 46201 zip codes but feel that you provide service to several families who live within those zip codes, please feel free to call or email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Child Care Mentors Available

Hi All,
I was just speaking with Marisa, one of Child Care Answers Mentors, who stopped into my office. She had just been out to a child care providers home helping with setting up learning centers. She was sharing how excited she is to be helping child care sites improve their services to children and families. Did you know that all licensed child care sites (home and centers) and some unlicensed registered child care ministries qualify to participate in our FREE mentoring program. If you operate one of these sites and would like to find out about participating in our mentoring program you can attend a FREE Paths to QUALITY informational training. Contact Lynn, our Office Manager, to register 317-636-5727 x 238.