NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

CHILD CARE ANSWERS

BY ANGIE ARLINGTON

Child Care Answers is a local child care resource and referral agency for families, including families with special needs children. They are a part of a statewide system known as the Child Care Resource and Referral Network. Specifically, they serve Hamilton, Hendricks, and Marion Counties. All of their services are in English and Spanish, and they support all languages through their partnership with Luna Language Service.

“Since 1985, Child Care Answers has been a go-to resource for all things child care: an advisor, a collaborator, a guide, and—most importantly—a hand to hold,” shared

Jamie Le Sesne Spears, the organization’s family engagement specialist. “Our goal is to create a seamless experience for families, providers, and community partners, working together to minimize any unnecessary hoops. All the services we provide to families, child care programs, employers, and community partners are completely free to anyone who lives or works in the counties we serve. Since we are a part of a statewide network, the same resources are available in every county across Indiana.” To learn more visit brighterfuturesindiana.org.

Child Care Answers helps families know what to look for in a high-quality inclusive childcare program. They provide parents with questions to ask and educate them on what to look for when touring these programs. They believe families are the first teacher and best advocate. They help families know their rights and direct them to organizations and systems that can support their child.

Jamie explained, “We are a starting point for families who have children with special needs. For many families, this is their entry into education services. It is overwhelming for any family, but when there are medical or additional needs to be considered, it can be exponentially more challenging.”

“We know that parenting can be challenging. We offer one-on-one support to help family’s advocate for and answer questions about quality child care or connect them to local resources as findhelp navigators.”

Jamie added. “As a navigator, we can refer families to local community organizations that can offer additional financial or social supports.”

“At the end of the day, the best way to support our work is to spread the news about our resources,”

Jamie said. “Apart from that, we are always looking for volunteers who know Central Indiana and/or the early care and education field. We also believe that your voice, along with others, can make a huge impact in early care and education.”

TESTIMONIALS:

One family navigating concerns with their daughter’s development and child care shared, “Child Care Answers went above and beyond helping with some difficulties we encountered. Between reaching out to my kid’s daycare provider and me, we got things figured out quickly! I can’t thank them enough for her help!”

After receiving a list of child care programs and specific questions to ask programs as they toured, another family shared, “Thank you so much for the information, especially the specific questions that I should ask related to my son’s disability.”

Another family highlighted the difficulty of finding care and how our services supported them: “Thank you so much for the information! You provide such an invaluable resource for the community. It’s daunting trying to find the right child care for our family - particularly because (all parents/we!) want what’s best for our child. Your services gave us direction and things to consider when looking for a suitable provider.”

Child Care Answers helps families know what to look for in a high-quality inclusive childcare program.