Child Care Cohort (Jasper, White, and Pulaski Counties)

We are excited to offer an opportunity to existing unlicensed child care programs and individuals that would like to open a new child care program in Jasper, Pulaski, or White County, Indiana. The goal of this learning cohort is to increase the capacity of licensed child care in the three county area. Participants of this cohort will be eligible for incentives meant to offset the costs of opening child care programs and to remove barriers to licensure.

This initiative is made possible by White County United Way and their partners, Community Foundation of White County, Community Foundation of Pulaski County, and the Jasper Newton Foundation through their generous funding from the Community Relief Fund (CRF). The CRF is made possible through a grant from Indiana United Ways' Economic Relief Initiative in partnership with Lilly Endowment Inc. For more information about the Community Relief Fund, read the press release.

REGISTER NOW

If you have questions about this learning cohort prior to registering, please email [email protected].

Program Scope

There are four main components to this initiative: reimbursement for onboarding costs, $500 worth of materials and resources to use in your program, a virtual learning community, and additional funds to help reduce other barriers to licensure.

Onboarding Cost Reimbursement: The cost of required health screenings and drug testing can present a financial challenge when opening a child care business. Participants will be reimbursed for the following items related to starting a licensed child care program:

  • fingerprinting/background checks
  • drug screen
  • physical examination
  • tuberculin skin tests
  • other expenses at the discretion of our staff

High Quality Resources and Materials: As a successful cohort participant, you will receive useful resources and materials valued up to $500 to use in your program. These will help prepare you to offer quality child care that promotes learning and social-emotional development.

Learning Community: Cohort participants will attend a series of virtual sessions meant to prepare them to open and operate a quality, licensed child care program. Through these sessions, you will learn from local experts how to be successful in your child care venture. 

  • Cohort Introduction, I-LEAD, Required Trainings
    • Meet your fellow cohort participants and learn about accessing I-LEAD and the training that is required for licensure. Training is offered online, live virtual sessions, and asynchronous sessions via I-LEAD.
  • Office Hours & Individual Support (Complete OT2)
    • Attend office hours and individualized support sessions to gain a better understanding of what is required to become licensed. Discuss barriers to becoming licensed. Time to complete required training.
  • SPARK Learning Lab/Townsquare, Licensing, & CCDF/OMW
    • Learn about the free resources available through SPARK Learning Lab including Paths to QUALITY coaching and Townsquare. Chat with an Indiana child care licensing consultant. Learn about funding opportunities like Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) vouchers and On My Way Pre-K.  
  • DAP & Play
    • Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP) are based on knowledge about how children develop and the role that play has in early learning. Learn from TCCRN staff     about how to implement these practices in your program to ensure the best outcomes for children.  
  • Environment & COVID-19 Safety
    • Learn how to promote learning and development in your program’s environment and how to implement safe practices to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Business Practices/Policies, Marketing, IN Early Learning Hub
    • Find out ways to develop sound child care business practices and policies for the children and families you serve. Learn about the Indiana Early Learning Hub and how it might benefit your program. 
  • CDA & Continuing Education
  • Family Engagement
    • Effective family engagement is tough as it is but in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many child care programs struggle to maintain relationships with the families of the children in their care. Learn how to excel in engaging your families with our expert staff. 
  • School Readiness
    • Quality early childhood programs prepare children to enter the K12 system ready to learn. Learn ways to prepare children for school and life success. 

Session dates and topics are subject to change. 80% attendance is required. Reasonable accommodations may be available if conflicts arise. 

Reducing Barriers to Licensure: We know that there are some barriers that prevent child care programs from becoming licensed. There is discretionary funding available to help cohort participants overcome these barriers. Funds will be dispersed at the discretion of our staff.

If you are interested in participating in this cohort, please complete the registration form at https://forms.gle/FuX2HvaQanXGbXu6A.