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Business Investments in Early Learning

Employer
Business and Employer Resources

Action Steps for Business Investment in Child Care

You may have seen first-hand how lack of access to quality child care has a direct impact on your employees, and, therefore, your business. Issues with child care can affect recruiting, retention, and employee productivity. So, what can you do to help solve these issues? Take a look at our tips below and let us know how we can walk alongside you!

  • Understand your employees’ needs
  • Create a family-friendly culture
  • Incorporate family-friendly benefits
  • Invest in your community
woman on a virtual conference call with child running behind her

Why worry about child care?

With all the complexities and barriers to the success of your business, you may be wondering whether it's worth your company's time and money to devote to child care. The answer - you can't afford not to!
Read More
Employee Needs

Understand your workforce

While each business is different, you may be surprised to learn how your staff are being effected by inadequate access to child care and family supports. Let us help you get a pulse on what is truly going on behind the scenes with employee satisfaction and productivity. Our services are available at no cost to you.

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We support with

Employee Surveys

We will work with you to create, administer, and/or communicate an employee survey, with questions targeted to what you want to learn about your workforce.

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We support with

Data and Recommendations

Based on survey findings and local community data, we will provide a detailed and customized report with action steps and recommendations.

​​88% of women with children ages zero to five looking for a job said that having work flexibility, predictable hours, or child care support would make them more likely to choose an employer.
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“The Business Case for Child Care.” Moms First, August 10, 2022. https://momsfirst.us/childcare-report/.

Make an Impact on

Your Workplace Culture

When staff feel employers care about them as people, employee engagement improves. By championing a family-friendly culture, you show you care about the whole person: both as a parent and an employee.

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Family-Friendly Policies

Supportive Scheduling Policies

Parental leave, “bring your baby to work” programs, phased return-to-work, flex time, flexible scheduling, or working from home can allow parents to reduce child care costs or manage unexpected breaks in care due to illness or other factors.
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Family-Friendly Supports

Employee Resource Groups

By supporting Employee Resource Groups, also knowns as ERGs, you help working parents connect with one another, share resources, and create a space for communication with management about possible solutions for the organization.
Family-Friendly Facilities

Nursing Rooms and Time

Dedicated nursing rooms, sometimes known as new mothers' rooms, allow nursing parents a clean, private place to pump breast milk. By allowing new parents short breaks throughout the day, it ensures both their physical and mental health, as well as health of their baby.
86% of U.S. workers wish their employer offered child care benefits, but only 15% actually do.
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Paisner, Emily. “Back-to-School 2020: Care.com Survey Reveals What’s Really on the Minds of Working Parents.” Care for Business, August 5, 2022. https://www.care.com/business/workingparentssurvey/.

Think about your suite of

Family-Friendly Benefits

Workplaces’ care and benefits policies can improve work-life balance for parents, helping them support their families and, in turn, be better employees. Consider implementing these family-friendly benefits. We’re happy to walk alongside you every step of the way – our services are free to all employers in Marion, Hamilton, and Hendricks counties. 

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Dependent Care Assistance Plans

Employers typically pay a service fee for these plans, also called dependent care flexible spending accounts, and employees use them to help pay for the care of dependents.
early childhood education

Child Care Services

Employers can partner with local programs to have reserved seats at local programs, choose offices with near-site care locations, or, for large employers with a concentrated workforce, provide on-site care.
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Tuition Support

Through scholarships or direct reimbursement, businesses can alleviate some of the cost of care.
girl being held by adult

Back-up Child Care

Employers provide financial help for backup care or establish partnerships with backup care providers.
finding care

Child Care Search Support

Through human resources staff, families receive free help finding child care, through our services here at Child Care Answers.
boy in business suit sitting next to man in business suit, both on their own ipad

Employer Roadmap

The U.S. Chamber Foundation offers a number of child care solutions for working parents that employers can use to get started.
U.S. Chamber Roadmap
Comprehensive high-quality, birth-to-five early education realizes a 13% return on investment to communities.
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​​Solomon, Catherine. “13% ROI Research Toolkit.” The Heckman Equation, October 14, 2021. https://heckmanequation.org/resource/13-roi-toolbox/.

Make an impact

The Community and Beyond

Here are some ways you can get involved as an employer to help raise awareness of the importance of early childhood education.

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Advocate

Join a local, statewide or local coalition dedicated to early childhood education, or start one by talking to your employees who are parents.
child uplifted with loving hands

Corporate Philanthropy

As a company, consider your corporate philanthropy or volunteer options.
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Host an Expert

Host a speaker or training — such as a lunch and learn — about the link between early childhood education and economic growth.
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Serve on a Board

Donate to or join an early childhood education organization near you — or become part of the board of directors.
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Share Your Opinion

Write an op-ed or blog post in support of early childhood education as a way to boost economic growth and encourage other employers. Use research to build your case.
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Model and Share

In an industry group or in your community, share your workplace’s family-friendly practices and offer to mentor other employers looking to implement their own policies.
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Market Yourself as a Family-Friendly Employer

Share your family-friendly practices as an employer on your website and in your marketing when appropriate.
Featured Resource

Early Learning Matters

Get more insights into how child care impacts your bottom line and your employees. Learn how to make an impact. Hear from other employers leading the way. Find out your next steps. Act today!
Read More Download View in Spanish
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Webinar Series

Educating Business Leaders on Being Supportive in the Workplace with Child Concerns & Issues

This series gives business leaders the background on why child care is so important to both employees and businesses sustainability.

  • Understanding the Concerns of Child Care in Central Indiana: Watch.

  • Mental & Emotional Impact on Families Dealing with Child Care Related Concerns/Issues: Watch.

  • Connecting Employers to Vital Resources to Support and Aid Employees: Watch.

For business outside of Marion, Hendricks, and Hamilton counties

Indiana Child Care Resource & Referral Network Partners

Child Care Resource & Referral Network
geminus early learning connections
the child care resource and referral network
chances and services for youth
4c of southern indiana
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Employer Engagement Team

We grow with your business

Our team of specialists are in your corner, every step of the way. If you need help understanding your workforce’s child care needs, implementing family-friendly policies and benefits, or advocating for child care in the corporate 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.

megan day baby megan day bilingual family and community engagement specialist

Megan Day

Bilingual Family & Community Engagement Specialist
India Green as a child India Green

India Green

Relationship Growth Specialist
Picture of Jessica Carman as a child head shot of Jessica Carman

Jessica Carman

Community Engagement Specialist
tom taylor as a child tom taylor family and community engagement manager

Tom Taylor

Family & Community Engagement Manager
Newsletter

Early care and education news to your inbox

Count on our newsletters to get you the most important early care and education news, when you need it. We send a different newsletter each month to either families, child care professionals, or communities/employers. Sign up for one or all today!

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Contact Us

info@childcareanswers.org
Phone: 317.636.5727 Toll Free: 800.272.2937
1776 N. Meridian St., Suite 101
Indianapolis, IN 46202

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