All News & StoriesChild Care Answers, United Way of Central Indiana launch new initiative to increase sustainability of family child care homes
The Central Indiana Child Care Alliance will support 10 Marion County family child care homes in its first year
INDIANAPOLIS – A new initiative from Child Care Answers and United Way of Central Indiana will support family child care homes, allowing them to share resources, reduce costs and improve the quality of their programs, the two nonprofits announced Monday.
The Central Indiana Child Care Alliance is designed to increase the sustainability of family child care homes. By working together in a shared services alliance, members can tap into tools, expertise and services they couldn’t afford on their own, including business and administrative support. This approach is intended to help stabilize their operations, reduce administrative burdens and free up resources that can be reinvested into the program and staff.
“Shared services alliances are a powerful and proven strategy for addressing some of the most persistent sustainability challenges facing family child care homes,” said Julie Kilger, United Way’s impact senior director. “The Central Indiana Child Care Alliance is designed to positively impact the growth and sustainability of the Central Indiana landscape and to lead, over time, to increased access to quality early education for children and families.”
Professionals who care for children in their homes are a vital resource for working families. However, too many are struggling to grow and sustain their businesses. Oftentimes, family child care homes excel at caring for children and offering a high-quality learning experience, but they did not enter the child care profession with the business training necessary to efficiently handle the day-to-day operations of running a successful home child care business.
Child Care Answers will serve as the “resource hub” for the Central Indiana Child Care Alliance, offering members access to shared resources and expertise to create sustainable businesses and quality programs. An advisory council composed of community stakeholders will help monitor progress and inform key decisions.
“These professionals are small business owners doing some of the most important work in our community, caring for and educating young children. Through the Central Indiana Child Care Alliance, we are making sure members don’t have to do it all alone,” said Julie Carey, shared services director for Child Care Answers. “Through shared services, we equip members with the tools and supports that reduce administrative burdens, so they can dedicate more time to their essential work with children and families.”
This summer, 10 Marion County family child care homes were selected to participate in the initiative’s first year. The goal is to expand the alliance in the coming years to include family child care homes across the region.
In 2024, United Way of Central Indiana began bringing together a team of family child care homes, child care centers, nonprofit partners, consulting group Opportunities Exchange and systems-level partners including Early Learning Indiana and Child Care Answers – with the goal of developing a shared services model that would support family child care homes.
To learn more about the program, visit childcareanswers.org/alliance.
About Child Care Answers
Since 1985, Child Care Answers (CCA) has been a go-to resource for all things child care: an advisor, a collaborator, a guide, and, most importantly, a hand to hold. CCA’s goal is to work together to minimize any unnecessary hoops for children, families, child care professionals, and the broader central Indiana community, while creating seamless experiences in early care and education. It’s also about helping employers better understand the child care needs of their employees and working with policymakers to advocate and educate. It’s about agencies collaborating with one another and communities working together to streamline resources. CCA is here to support you and connect you to resources, partners, or information. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. Working together is how we will make the essential accessible to all.
About United Way of Central Indiana
United Way of Central Indiana is uniquely positioned to bring the resources of philanthropy, businesses, local government, nonprofits and neighborhoods together to tackle generational poverty. With a focus on basic needs, early care and learning, economic mobility, and safe and affordable housing, United Way helps people live the lives they are capable of living. United Way of Central Indiana serves Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan and Putnam counties. Visit uwci.org.
