Register now for the March 9th Child Care Provider Fair.

This is a 2-part experience where you may attend one or both events for FREE! CCRR is collaborating with child care directors in Madison County to also bring you a Children's Expo. Both events will be held at Anderson Intermediate School.

Keep reading to learn how both will benefit you and your staff.

There are 2 separate registrations for these events. If you have any interest in either event, we encourage you to go ahead and register. More details to come as the event date approaches.

Providers from all across the state are welcome. Whether you are just getting started or have an established child care business, if you are staff, or simply interested in the childcare field, CASY CCRR's Child Care Provider Fair is a great opportunity to connect with other providers and staff, meet state support agencies, connect with community organizations, and access resources that will support your business. Providers across the state are invited to attend. There will be an opportunity for you and staff to receive free fingerprinting from IdentoGo. Visit the CASY website to view the list of state partners that will be there. While this is not a training event, it will provide opportunity for networking and meeting other child care provider professionals like yourself. Register for the Provider Fair and/or free fingerprinting here.

Madison County providers are invited to set up a table to showcase their child care program to families. If you have vacancies or need to hire staff, take this opportunity to showcase those openings. Invite your current families to the Pre-K Expo so they may gain resources from local community members for their children. Child care providers in Madison County will be asked to choose a favorite book to pair with a child's activity for the families at the Expo. Register to have a free booth at the Pre-K Expo here.

Home providers play a vital role in Indiana’s child care landscape. Family Child Care Networks provider a supportive community, professional development and introduce new opportunities.

Learn more here.

Update your program anytime with this link or the QR code below.

Ask your INAEYC Workforce Coordinator about their 4-part series, plus a one-on-one session aimed at taking on turnover. In this series you will learn:

• What is turnover?
• Organizational culture and climate
• Belonging and trust
• Job descriptions, interviewing, and marketing

Connect with your Workforce Coordinator today to learn more.

Using Narration to Identify and Promote Prosocial Behaviors (LIVE Virtual)

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

1:30 PM ET

Visit the SPARK website to learn more or to register for a session that meets your needs!

Register for a Cohort

Get to know Town Square

Paths to QUALITY support

Where to get help and other resources

View the Training Calendar, including Lakeshore's in-person trainings

The new year has brought a new tax season! As a child care business owner are you confident you’re leveraging every deduction and credit available to minimize your tax bill? This live webinar led by small business tax experts from Civitas Strategies will walk you through tax preparation strategies designed specifically for child care providers. Learn why it’s important to understand how your business is taxed, how to properly track revenue and document expenses, and how to avoid tricky – and costly – missteps. Join us for clear instruction on recordkeeping requirements, best practices for child care business deductions, plus tools and guidance to ease the pain of filing. This session will help you face tax time with confidence.

Learning Objectives:

1. Articulate the benefits of better understanding business taxes.

2.Be able to track revenue and expenses to maintain organized records.

3.Increase understanding around a few tricky tax topics and key deductions.

4. Gain additional tips, resources, and tools to help effectively prepare for tax time.

Register HERE.

Episode II: Advocating for Systemic Change
Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 12 PM ET

This webinar will provide an overview of innovative state and regional approaches to family-friendly policies, highlighting how citizen advocacy made a difference. We will also dive into the process of redistricting; gerrymandering and why it matters to family-friendly policies and programs; and how to advocate and organize around these issues in your community.

Episode III: It Takes a Village
Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at 12 PM ET

This webinar explores strategies and methods for implementing an advocacy plan and being the most effective advocate you can be, including:

• Spreading your message through social media channels and the press
• Understanding the influence and impact of unexpected advocates
• The roles of community leaders and influencers
• Ways to leverage voting cycles and elections to deepen your impact

Wednesday, March 20th

1:30 - 3:00 PM

Virtaul Event via Zoom

You will learn about resources available for you to complete your CDA. Someone will walk through the whole process with you, including accessing training and preparing for the visit. You will learn how to apply for the credential with T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship assistance. A CDA Navigator will help you put your portfolio together and prepare for the exam.

If you are not sure if you should attend, email one of the Indiana CDA navigators at cmccall@inaeyc.org and prichard@inaeyc.org for more information.

Register for the event HERE.

The Million Girls Moonshot is inspiring and preparing the next generation of innovators by engaging one million more girls in STEM learning opportunities through afterschool and summer programs over the next five years. The Million Girls Moonshot will not only allow girls to envision themselves as future innovators, but it will increase the quality of out-of-school STEM learning opportunities for all young people, particularly underserved and underrepresented youth. It provides resources, support, mentorship, and expert guidance to help educators deliver hands-on STEM experiences in afterschool, out-of-school time, and summer learning programs.

STEM Next Million Girls Moonshot Toolkit

The Million Girls Moonshot provides a collection of resources and tools for partners and programs to utilize when participating in the Million Girls Moonshot Initiative. All transformative practice resources have been vetted using a culturally-responsive and equity lens to foster inclusive STEM learning spaces for all youth, particularly girls.

Click Here to access the Million Girls Moonshot Toolkit to get started!

How many times have you caught yourself saying “stop that’s enough glue” when the Elmer’s glue bottles are fair play, and a project is in full swing?

Here’s an art activity that will let your young artists squeeze uninhibited. Put the brushes aside and apply this 3-ingredient paint through a tiny hole in a sandwich bag.

Looking for a way to talk with your child about warm weather? Heat up your day with these stories and warm weather activities! They focus on playing outdoors, cooling off in the water, and visiting relatives. Vivid illustrations show children playing in city and country settings. No matter where they live or travel to, children can relate to these stories. Click here for more information.

(Note: Many of these books are available in Spanish.)

Families, teachers and children are better together. That’s why the Child Care Resource and Referral Network is proud to serve as a navigator for families, expertly assisting them in finding high-quality child care and connecting them with additional opportunities to meet their needs.