The early years of life are critical to the development of a child. In Jay County, we want to ensure that each child receives the developmental supports they need to grow into healthy adults. Access to affordable, quality Early Care and Education (ECE) also makes it possible for adult care givers to work, improve their standard of living, and fill local employers' talent needs. We will support children, families, child care professionals, and employers by providing high quality child care so adults can work, employers have the talent they need, and children are kindergarten ready.
Update from Meeting held Thursday, September 22, 2022, at 9am at The Portland Foundation Affordable, Quality Early Care and Education – Travis Richards presented a written report. He reported that The Portland Foundation has recently purchased the former Judge Haynes Elementary School building with the intent to renovate it into an early learning center. He also said that childcare is an important topic in the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) and Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI).
What common challenge are we addressing collectively?
The Goals
What are our common goals?
The Work
What are the catalytic projects?
The Metrics
What are the shared metrics we want to improve?
The Outcomes
What community level difference is made?
Jay County supports children, families, child care professionals, and employers by providing high quality child care so adults can work, employers have the talent they need, and children are kindergarten ready.
ECE capacity/access
Jay County families have access to child care so adults can work and so children can learn.
Create a child-care-for-all center and consider co-locating family services in or near the facility.
Number of children enrolled at the center
Paths to Quality Level
Address the needs of child care providers expressed in the Fall 2021 survey and their future needs.
Number of thriving child care providers.
Number of child care seats available.
ECE staff retention.
Affordable, quality care
Jay County ECE programs continuously improve their operating costs/effectiveness and level of quality they provide.
Form a cross-sector Early Childhood Coalition to sustain and improve access, affordability, and quality of ECE.
Increase in funding from all sources to support child care.
Increase number/level of programs on PTQ.
Explore ways to engage employers in investing time, talent, and treasure in the ECE ecosystem.
Number of employers supporting the ECE eco system
Amount of dollars, volunteer hours.
JJCL will create a pipeline of ECE talent.
Number of CDA grads.
More adults are enabled to work or pursue educational goals because of having child care.
Wages, benefits, and working conditions for child care professionals improve to attract and retain talent needed.
Jay County children have the support and opportunities they need to thrive and achieve success in school and life.
The stories residents and others tell to describe Jay County are positive.
The Grand Challenge
What common challenge are we addressing collectively?
Jay County supports children, families, child care professionals, and employers by providing high quality child care so adults can work, employers have the talent they need, and children are kindergarten ready.
The Goals
What are our common goals?
ECE capacity/access
Jay County families have access to child care so adults can work and so children can learn.
Affordable, quality care
Jay County ECE programs continuously improve their operating costs/effectiveness and level of quality they provide.
The Work
What are the catalytic projects?
ECE capacity/access
Create a child-care-for-all center and consider co-locating family services in or near the facility.
Address the needs of child care providers expressed in the Fall 2021 survey and their future needs.
Affordable, quality care
Form a cross-sector Early Childhood Coalition to sustain and improve access, affordability, and quality of ECE.
Explore ways to engage employers in investing time, talent, and treasure in the ECE ecosystem.
JJCL will create a pipeline of ECE talent.
The Metrics
What are the shared metrics we want to improve?
ECE capacity/access
Number of children enrolled at the center
Paths to Quality Level
Number of thriving child care providers.
Number of child care seats available.
ECE staff retention.
Affordable, quality care
Increase in funding from all sources to support child care.
Increase number/level of programs on PTQ.
Number of employers supporting the ECE eco system
Amount of dollars, volunteer hours.
Number of CDA grads.
The Outcomes
What community level difference is made?
More adults are enabled to work or pursue educational goals because of having child care.
Wages, benefits, and working conditions for child care professionals improve to attract and retain talent needed.
Jay County children have the support and opportunities they need to thrive and achieve success in school and life.
The stories residents and others tell to describe Jay County are positive.
