Bloomington domestic violence shelter closes Rise and Shine childcare program

Editor's note: This story has been altered at the request of Middle Way House to remove the exact facilities the shelter has worked with to find alternative childcare due to concerns about client safety.

Bloomington's domestic violence shelter no longer offers in-house childcare, Middle Way House announced Thursday.

Rise & Shine Childcare served 12 to 15 students in recent months, Carrie Stillions, Middle Way House’s executive director, said. She added the number of children varied based on how many families were in transitional housing at a given time.

Stillions said the decision is part of the organization’s sustainability plan, a recent and ongoing effort to evaluate the “mission-alignment and sustainability” of Middle Way House’s programs.

“It has been a really difficult process,” Stillions said. “We have for a long time just continued what was set up in the beginning of Middle Way House, which was amazing, but we need to make sure that we’re staying current with funding options, as well as just what clients need.”

Stillions said the childcare program also had received less funding in recent years. In 2021, Middle Way House saw a decline in its overall revenue, grants and contributions compared to 2020, while the nonprofit generally had seen increases to revenue in previous years, according to its IRS Form 990 filing.

"So that plays into the equation, just making sure that we can afford to continue that care in a way that doesn't have disruptions," Stillions said.

Middle Way House, a nonprofit crisis center for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking, first opened its childcare center in 2010.

Carrie Stillions: She first used Middle Way House as a survivor. She's returned as its executive director

Stillions said the crisis center has been working to connect the families they currently provide childcare to with other providers in the area.

As Middle Way House accepts clients with childcare needs, the team will continue to assist families with finding local childcare options, as well as “continuing relationships with the aforementioned facilities,” the statement says.

Stillions said employees will also help families apply for a Childcare and Development Fund (CCDF) voucher, as well as access emergency funds through the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) to assist with voucher co-pays and other costs.

According to the statement, Middle Way House advocates toured the facilities with families and guided them to an informed decision based on their needs.

While the facility itself closed on Dec. 22, Stillions said they first notified staff of the closure in November, and continued to offer them hours through this week. Stillions said many childcare employees took on other roles at Middle Way House, and others have taken up work at other facilities.

In a statement Middle Way House invited “the support of the community” as it continues adapting and implementing its sustainability plan. Stillons said the plan is an ongoing effort to both sustainably maintain Middle Way House’s operations and best serve its clients.

“Myself and the leadership team are doing an analysis of each program and determining if we are doing things in a way that is the best for our team, and the best for our clients and the agency,” Stillions said. “I am really excited for what the future may hold, and how we are able to come back following this in a way that’s stronger than we have been.”

Reach Brian Rosenzweig at brian@heraldt.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington's Middle Way House closes childcare program