Second Shift Work

I know that a lot of the providers I speak with provide care outside of the "6 to 6" time frame. I also get questions on how to drum up business for second shift. After speaking with a provider today I want to offer my suggestions to all of you who read the blog:

• Pass out your business cards at area restaurants. Give your card directly to the manager and your server. Let them know that if they are ever in a pickle and need care that you are available. Involve the management staff so that if they have a server they know is having child care issues they can recommend you as well.


• Be on the look-out for businesses that are open after 6 PM. When you are out doing errands keep your eyes peeled. Besides the traditional businesses of healthcare, police, fire departments, look at gas station convenience stores, fast-food establishments, retail workers, any business that is open past 6 PM. Again deal directly with staff and management, they know the people that work for them and what their needs are.

If you have successfully launched your second shift - let us know what you did to succeed - post in the comments section. We look forward to hearing and passing your ideas along!

Business Ownership Initiative of Indiana

BOI and its Central Indiana Women's Business Center Program is pleased to announce that their course catalog is available.

New this year, they will publish thier workshop offerings in a comprehensive course catalog three times annually. The catalog for January through April 2009 is available online, or you can pick one up the next time you visit their office. In addition to their Core Business-Development Programs, they are excited to offer you a wide range of classes in topics such as Financial Management, Legal and Tax, Sales and Marketing, Technology, Caregiver Businesses, and Life Skills, including more than 10 new and revised workshops for 2009!

Review the course catalog, or if you prefer, their workshop calendar, to identify the upcoming workshops that will best meet your personal- and professional-development needs. We encourage you to meet with one of their business counselors to plan the curriculum that’s best for you. Workshops fill up fast, so get your registration in early. Call (317) 917-3266 ext. 100 or e-mail now to register!

It's Tax Season

It's tax season and this is a time a lot of individuals and small business owners alike dread. Fortunately there are free and inexpensive resources available to assist with your tax needs. Somerset CPAs will hold two complimentary "seminars for women by women," in which the basics of income taxes will be discussed.
-Income and Adjustments- Tuesday, January 13, 2009
-Deductions and Credits - Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Time (both days): 11:15 AM to 1:00 PM
Location: Somerset Conference Center 3925 River Crossing Parkway, First Floor Indianapolis, IN 46240

Business Ownership Initiative of Indiana and Central Indiana Women's Business Center, a local non profit that helps people create, develop, sustain, and grow small businesses hosts a variety of business workshops but will hold:
-Small Business Taxes- Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Time: 6:00 PM- 8:30 PM
Location: Business Ownership Initiative of Indiana 4755 Kingsway Drive, Suite 314 Indianapolis, IN 46205
Cost: $10

For additional information on Somerset CPAs contact them at www.somersetcpas.com or 317.472.2200 and for information on Business Ownership Initiative they may be contacted at www.businessownership.org or 317.917.3266. Good luck this tax season.

Provider Updates

As we are starting out the New Year, I wanted to pass along a little information on how we administer the referrals database. Our database has over 1,400 active providers: LLEP homes, licensed and exempt centers, licensed home providers, and unlicensed registered ministries. Most of our information comes from the state list of providers and CCDF eligible LLEP's. There are a some of you out there who are not on any list other than ours and we appreciate that! What differenciates Child Care Answers from other referral services is that we are free for parents and providers. We are required by our funders to update this database twice a year. That is why I call every six months. If for some reason we are unable to update your record, meaning I have tried to contact you at least three times, then the record is marked as "No Intake" and "No Referrals". We do our best to make sure you are aware that it is time to update, by calling you, emailing you (if we have your address), and if all else fails we send out a letter. Once a record is marked as "No Intake" and "No Referrals" the child care will not be included on any referral lists, either online or from call ins. We will still attempt to updat the record on a regular basis.

If you think that your business is NOT receiving referrals from us, please email me and let me know, I will look up your information and get back to you. If you would like to update your record in our database click this link and fill out the form.