Community Help Guide

Each Indiana community is unique in its needs and opportunities. Child Care Answers is here to support you as a resident, leader, employee, or supporter of child care in Hamilton, Hendricks, or Marion Counties with community resources for child care.

One common thread runs throughout all of Indiana – affordable, high-quality early care and education is essential. Investments in early childhood education create sustainable, thriving communities. By bringing leaders, organizations, and businesses to the table, we can create scalable, sustainable solutions that benefit families and children for years to come, no matter where you live in Indiana. Covered in this guide:

Key facts about early care and education
Child care data in central Indiana
Case studies from across Indiana

Featured Resource

Early Learning Matters

The key to a thriving community is high-quality, affordable early care and education. Get facts about early care and education in Indiana as well as detailed data and action steps for Hamilton, Hendricks, and Marion Counties.

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Key Facts

Early Childhood Learning in Indiana

The first five years of a child’s life are foundational in their development. Investments in early care and education result in fewer investments later in the areas of K-12 remediation, health care, criminal justice costs, and more. Accessible and affordable high-quality early care and education creates a two-generational economic impact, allowing parents to participate in the workforce and provide for their families while engaging and educating the next generation workforce.

Brain development

In the first five years of life, children’s brains grow faster than they ever will again. These early experiences shape brain development and set a foundation for a lifetime of learning.

Head Start ECLKC

High cost of care

The average annual cost of care in central Indiana for one child is $9,673, nearly equal to a year tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis for the 2023-24 academic year.

BFIN Data Center

Return on Investment

Comprehensive, high-quality, birth-to-five early education realizes a 13% return on investment to communities.

The Heckman Equation

Few options

One in four central Indiana children who may need child care cannot access any type of regulated child care. This puts many parents who want or need to work in an impossible situation.

BFIN Data Center

Lack of quality

Only one third of central Indiana's regulated child care programs rank as high-quality. Barely one high-quality childcare seat exists for every three children.

BFIN Data Center

Child care data in

Central Indiana

In Marion County, 57,714 kids need care, but there are only 24,065 high-quality spots. A year of high-quality care in Marion County costs $13,191, which is more than annual tuition at IUPUI. Marion County families pay on average 22% of their income for high-quality infant care for one child.

Featured Resource

Central Indiana Early Care & Education Facts

Early childhood care and education not only affects future academic success. It affects community health, criminal activity, family incomes, and corporate bottom lines too. We have a lot of work to do in central Indiana - but, together, we can make the essential accessible to all.

Across Indiana

These case studies feature several child care efforts in local communities across the state of Indiana. Varying in size and location, they offer real-world examples of how communities can come together in support of high-quality child care. Get inspired to take action in your own community! Looking to take that next step? Connect with us in English or Spanish for guidance on how to get active in your community. Or, read ideas on our Get Involved page.

Providing Affordable Child Care, No Matter What

Hendricks County organization serves families experiencing homelessness

Julie Randall, Executive Director of Family Promise Hendricks County says, "We knew we had to do something on our own to help these families who had to work. This was what our community needed."

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More Than a Decade of Making a Difference for Monroe County Youth

Coalition is helping to create a community where children are
ready for school and ready for life

Tina Peterson, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County says, "We acknowledged we were not going to solve many of the challenges we faced as a community if we did not deal with early learning."

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Addressing a Child Care Crisis Together

Coalition encourages local businesses to invest in early childhood

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Establishing an Early Childhood Coalition Takes a Village

Montgomery County is in the beginning stages of addressing the importance of early learning

Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton says, "I was consistently hearing that the lack of available child care was causing problems for employees. When we looked at what was keeping people out of the workforce, child care was at the top of that list."

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Making Community Connections to Invest in Early Childhood

Rural Rush County comes together to support its youngest citizens

Jeri McCorkle, Coordinator of Early Childhood Coalition of Rush County, says, "Rush County Community Foundations looked at a a lot of data on addiction, unemployment, education, and more. Everything seemed to funnel back to the beginning and those first five years."

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Creating a Sustainable Model for Licensed Child Care Centers in Rural Areas

Rural coalition connects with experts to address need

Adam Alson, co-found of Appleseed Childhood Education, says, "The lack of child care availability in rural areas is not only the problem of young families. It's an issue that affects everyone."

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Community Engagement Team

We grow with your community

Our team of specialists are in your corner, every step of the way. If you need help understanding your community’s child care needs, creating community resources for families, or advocating for child care in your community, call on one of these caring experts. Fill out our Community Information Form in English or Spanish or call 317.636.5727 to get connected.

Proud member of the following chambers of commerce:

“Supporting Early Brain Development: Building the Brain.” Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center, September 2, 2021. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/publication/supporting-early-brain-development-building-brain.

Malik , Rasheed. “Examining the Powerful Impact of Investments in Early Childhood for Children, Families, and Our Nation’s Economy.” Center for American Progress, September 6, 2022. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/examining-the-powerful-impact-of-investments-in-early-childhood-for-children-families-and-our-nations-economy/.

“Data Center”, Brighter Futures Indiana, Accessed August 21, 2023. brighterfuturesindiana.org/data-center.

“Tuition & Fees.” MoneySmarts – Indiana University. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://moneysmarts.iu.edu/calculate-costs/index.html?page=tuitionAndFees.

“U.S. Census Bureau Quickfacts: Hamilton County, IN.” Median Gross Rent, 2017-2021. Accessed March 22, 2023. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045221.

“Average Annual (Mean) Expenditures and Shares for the U.S. and Regions, 2020–21.” Consumer expenditures for the U.S., regions, and selected metropolitan areas. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed March 23, 2023. https://www.bls.gov/regions/midwest/data/consumerexpenditures_selectedareas_table.htm.

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