Sixty-five registered child care ministries in central Indiana have been selected to work with United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI) and the Family and Social Services Administration's (FSSA) Bureau of Child Care (BCC) to improve the quality of the child care they provide, the two organizations announced today.

 

The project will put the facilities on a path to prepare more than 1,100 children to succeed in school by improving the quality of care provided. The partnership will offer mentoring through Day Nursery's Child Care Answers, curriculum grants, training, and facility improvements to the 65 child care ministries to help them meet standards for participation in Indiana's Paths to QUALITY program. Paths to QUALITY is a free and voluntary quality rating and improvement system designed to help parents find and select the best possible care for their children.

 

"United Way is determined to help our community solve its dropout crisis," said Ellen K. Annala, UWCI's president and CEO. "That means getting involved long before a child starts school. This partnership allows us to advance our Marion County efforts to improve the critical, early learning environments to benefit children in all six counties."

 

In October 2009, FSSA awarded UWCI a $1 million federal grant to increase the quality of care provided by registered ministries in central Indiana as a part of its education priority. UWCI is contributing an additional $1 million in capital improvement funds to the effort. United Way's previous success in helping selected child care ministries in the Martindale-Brightwood and Near Eastside neighborhoods upgrade their quality prompted the FSSA expansion grant.

 

"Child care ministries are not required to meet the same regulations as licensed centers and homes. As a result, they often struggle with quality, as well as with financial challenges," according to FSSA Child Care Administrator Melanie Brizzi. "Our Paths to QUALITY program will provide supports needed to help curb the dropout crisis affecting the children served in these learning environments."

 

Central Indiana has more than 200 unlicensed registered child care ministries with the capacity to serve over 15,000 children. Many of these ministries, particularly in urban areas, serve low-income working families.

 

Of the ministries chosen to participate in the project, 55 are located in Marion County, with two in Boone, three in Hamilton, one Hancock, one in Hendricks, and three in Morgan. The majority of the ministries are Christian faith-based organizations; one Jewish and one Muslim ministry are also participating. 

 

 

Editor: A complete list of participating child care ministries and their sponsoring churches follow:

 

Registered Ministry	Sponsoring Organization	City
A Little Angel's Child Care, Inc.	Member of the Body of Christ	Indianapolis
Alpha Kids	Grace Chapel Christian Church	Indianapolis
Bethany Daycare	Bethany Lutheran Church	Indianapolis
Bethesda Temple	Bethesda Temple Apostolic Church	Indianapolis
Bismillah Childcare Ministry and Learning Academy	The Nation of Islam Mohammad Mosque 74	Indianapolis
Bridge of Hope Child Care Ministry	Bridge of Hope Ministry	Indianapolis
Bright Kids Developmental School and Ministry	Compassionate Angels Childcare and Ministry	Indianapolis
Charity Child Care Ministry	Charity Church Ministry	Indianapolis
Christ Church Child Care Ministry	Christ Church Apostolic	Indianapolis
Christ Temple Christian Academy	Christ Temple Apostolic Faith Assembly	Indianapolis
Crosslight Christian Daycare	Cicero Christian Church	Cicero
Dover Angels Daycare Ministry	Dover Christian Church	Lebanon
Excellence In Christ Child Care Ministry	Greater St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church	Indianapolis
Fairview Early Childhood Program	Fairview Presbyterian Church	Indianapolis
Fervent Care Child Care and Christian Academy	Fervent Prayer Church	Indianapolis
God's Kids Early Learning Ministry	East 91st Christian Church	Indianapolis
God's Shining Light	Mooresville Church of God	Mooresville
Guardian Angel Childcare	New Birth Ministries	Indianapolis
Hasten Hebrew Academy Early Childhood Ministry	The Hebrew Hastings Academy	Indianapolis
Heaven Sent Daycare Ministry, Inc.	Heaven Sent Daycare Ministry, Inc.	Speedway
Horizon Christian Preschool and Childcare Central	Horizon Christian Fellowship Central Church	Indianapolis
In God's Arms Child Care Ministry	Emmaus Lutheran Church	Indianapolis
In His Arms Child Care Ministry	Cornerstone Family Life Center	Indianapolis
International Kidz	New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church	Indianapolis
Jesus Fellowship Kidz Ministry	Jesus Fellowship	Indianapolis
Jewel Childcare Preschool	Eastern Star Church	Indianapolis
Kids at Geist	Geist Community Church	McCordsville
Kids Kastle	Trinity Wesleyan	Fishers
Lil' Saints Daycare Ministry	New Light Missionary Baptist Church	Indianapolis
Little Sprinkles from Heaven	Fountain of Truth Christian Church	Indianapolis
Lynhurst Baptist Church Preschool Ministry	Lynhurst Baptist Church	Indianapolis
Messiah Cares Child Development Center	Messiah Baptist Church	Indianapolis
Mini Blessings Childcare Ministry	Gethsemane Apostolic Church	Indianapolis
Montessori Garden Academy	Montessori Garden Academy	Indianapolis
Mt. Helm Child Care Ministry	Mt. Helm Missionary Baptist Church	Indianapolis
New Beginnings	New Beginnings	Indianapolis
New Generation Child Care Ministry	New Beginnings Ministry	Indianapolis
New Generation Training Academy	Living Word Fellowship	Indianapolis
Noah's Ark Christian Child Care/Preschool	Zionsville Presbyterian Church	Zionsville
Open Door Church Child Care	Open Door Church of Deliverance	Indianapolis
Our Place Child Care Ministry	Lawrence United Methodist Church	Lawrence
Perfected Childcare Ministry	Perfected Word Fellowship	Indianapolis
Precious Playmates Daycare Ministry	Prince of Peace Lutheran Church	Martinsville
Rays of Sunshine Child Care	Bethany Missionary Baptist	Indianapolis
Rhema Child Care Ministry	New Life Worship Center	Indianapolis
Rosie's Tiny Tot's Ministry	Rosie's Tiny Tots Ministry, Inc.	Indianapolis
Scribbles a Ministry of Pittsboro Christian Church	Pittsboro Christian Church	Pittsboro
Second Baptist Child Care Ministry	Second Baptist Church	Indianapolis
Shalom Daycare Ministry	Roberts Park UMC	Indianapolis
Shiloh Daycare Ministry	Shiloh Member Baptist Church	Indianapolis
Sonshine Kids Daycare Ministry	First United Methodist Church	Martinsville
St. Andrew & St. Rita Catholic Academy	Central Catholic Church	Indianapolis
Stepping Stones	Fountain of Truth Christian Church	Indianapolis
The Early Learning Academy at Chapel Hill Christian School	Hope Baptist Church	Indianapolis
Tiny Blessings Childcare Ministry	Cornerstone Hope Church	Indianapolis
Trinity Wesleyan Child Care	Trinity Wesleyan	Indianapolis
Unlocking Minds Childcare Ministry	True Tried Missionary Baptist	Indianapolis
Visions Child Care	Provisions	Indianapolis
Welcome Place Child Care	Southport Presbyterian Church	Indianapolis

 

United Way of Central Indiana

Serving six central Indiana counties, United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI) helps sustain vital human services by working exclusively with proven human service agencies that direct life-changing opportunities. UWCI also helps reduce the needs of future generations by helping ensure that kids enter school ready to learn and graduate ready to earn.

 

FSSA's Bureau of Child Care

The FSSA Bureau of Child Care provides Indiana parents with informed child care choices that promote their children's health, safety and future success in school.

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