Communities
Each Indiana community is unique in its needs and opportunities.
One common thread across the state, in every community, is the importance of affordable, high-quality early care and education.
The first five years of a child’s life are foundational in their development. In fact, 85% of their capacity to learn is developed by age 5. Research shows that 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.
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Less than one-third of Indiana’s known child care programs rank as high quality
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Four out of 10 Hoosier children live in a child care desert where there is only one seat available for every three children
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Annual cost of care for one child is $9,000 – nearly equal to a year of in-state college tuition.
Brighter Futures Indiana Data Center
Want to learn more about the early childhood education market in your area? Our Data Center offers community-level data related to population, economics, supply and demand.
Community Leaders
Early care and education is a community-wide issue. Investments in early childhood education create sustainable, thriving communities. By bringing community leaders, organizations and businesses to the table, communities can create scalable, sustainable solutions that benefit them for years to come.
Here are some ways community leaders and organizations can get involved to advocate for affordable and accessible high-quality early care and education.
1) Understand your community needs
2.) Engage local stakeholders and leaders
3.) Create scalable solutions
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Montgomery County Community Foundation
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Monroe Smart Start
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LaunchPad, Kosciusko County
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First5, Rush County
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Appleseed Childhood Education, Jasper County
Resources for Communities
- Connect with the Child Care Resource and Referral network to learn more about local access and strategies to increase high-quality child care opportunities.
- Help families find care that meets their needs.
- Find resources to support families in making decisions in the COVID environment.