Chances for input on child care in Valley coming your way

David Kronke, The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
·3 min read

Oct. 13—Grow Up in West Central Indiana, a childcare strategic plan launched by Indiana State University and Ivy Tech Community College Terre Haute, got off to a slow start Thursday evening when few turned out for a community forum in Tirey Hall on the ISU campus.

But there will be future opportunities for those concerned about childcare to offer their input at future forums — and via an online survey.

Krissie Pickering, program chair for childhood care at Ivy Tech, said, "What we're doing this evening and several times in the next couple of weeks is collecting information from all the communities in West Central Indiana, trying to determine what the needs are in each county in regard to childcare and affordable childcare and high-quality childcare. What any business owners, parents — everyone has a stake in their community and childcare is a critical piece."

There are six questions in the survey, involving challenges concerning childcare in the local community for both recipients and providers.

T.J. Collett of RJL Solutions moderated Thursday's forum. "I'm not here to talk — I'm here to listen," he told those in attendance.

The chief concerns regarding childcare are quality, cost, and accessibility — quality and cost are moot points if one can't obtain childcare in the first place.

Wait lists to access childcare can extend beyond a year. One attendee recalled being told she should have put her name on one facility's waitlist as soon as she knew she was pregnant.

"Most programs in our community — and ours is no exception — have extensive wait lists, particularly for those higher quality programs, Level 3 and Level 4," said Holly Curtsinger, Director of ISU's Early Childhood Education Center, which recently received American Rescue Plan Act funding to extend its services.

"There is certainly a lot of interest in opportunity at ISU, particularly in those additional services that may be available in the future," Curtsinger said.

"Programs like ours focus on supporting the entire family. It is much more than just childcare — [it's] getting a sense of developmentally appropriate practice and helping parents realize developmental milestones and things like that. There's definitely a lot of energy surrounding the project."

Some parents who have been unable to secure childcare have had to leave or turn down jobs in order to stay home with their children, which puts a more pronounced financial burden on families.

The biggest need is for childcare for infants and toddlers, since preschools are available at local schools.

Those who were unable to attend a forum can offer their input by visiting https://bit.ly/46vKFgC.

"There's a survey that we really hope that anyone who wasn't able to attend tonight could participate in that survey," said Pickering. "We have a lot of opportunities to share."

Future forums are scheduled for these communities and all are 5:30-7 p.m.:

* Putnam County: Oct. 16 at Putnam County Fairgrounds, Harris Hall.

* Sullivan County: Oct. 17 at Sullivan Civic Center.

* Clay County: Oct. 23 at Clay County YMCA.

* Vermillion County: Oct. 24 at Clinton Community Center.

* Parke County: Oct. 26 at Rockville Community Center.

David Kronke can be reached at 812-231-4232 or at david.kronke@tribstar.com.