This Just In...
WANE TV Shares CCDF Concerns
Allie Sutherland, Director of the Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition, and local child care directors Madi McCloskey of Kiddie Prep in New Haven, Tina Lee of Kendallville Day Care, and Dani Svanter of Westminster Preschools (multiple locations) share the stories that detail why it's important for CCDF Vouchers to be fully funded.
21Alive Features CCDF Issue
We must support Gov. Mike Braun's budget for Child Care Development Fund Vouchers! Amber Targgart, Executive Director of Early Childhood Alliance, and Jenna Anderson, Director of Programs for the Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition talk about the effects of not fully funding child care vouchers. Thanks to 21Alive for sharing the story.
Greater Fort Wayne, Inc. Presentation
On February 26, 2025, NEIECC Executive Director Allie Sutherland shared a presentation with Greater Fort Wayne, Inc. on why investing in child care is critical to the local workforce. She also led a panel discussion on the issue. Panelists included Leslie Friedel of Stillwater Hospice, Denise Reeb of Sauder Manufacturing Co., and Amber Targgart of Early Childhood Alliance.
Stillwater and Sauder are both companies participating in NEIECC's Tri-Share + Pilot.
INAEYC Day at the Statehouse
On Tuesday, February 11, Northeast Indiana was well represented at the INAEYC Day at the Statehouse. NEIECC Executive Director Allie Sutherland spoke about the exciting initiatives happening in our corner of the state, while NEIECC board member and PNC Grow Up Great representative Corinna Ladd shared the work that PNC has been able to accomplish through their grants. Finally, Jeannie Owsley, co-owner of Imagination Station, shared her family child care home story, and how quality is so important in early education.
View Allie's speech on YouTube (closed captioning added due to poor audio quality, or read it here.
Read Jeannie Owsley's speech here.
Read Corinna Ladd's speech here.
Sliding Scale Discussion
Early Learning Indiana, Early Childhood Alliance, and the Kendallville Day Care Center joined the Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition on January 16, 2025 for a panel discussion on Sliding Scale Fees. It looks different for each program, and can be customized for yours, too.
A Critical Crossroads
Recently, the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced the reimplementation of a waitlist for new Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) applicants due to unprecedented demand and the tapering of federal funding. This decision marks a significant setback for families across Indiana, as child care subsidies will now be even more limited.
Read this article from the Journal Gazette, published December 20, 2024
PNC: $100,000 Grant
The Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition (NEIECC) announced the receipt of a $100,000 grant from the PNC Foundation. This funding will support the development of an “On-Boarding Program” designed to help high-quality early care and education providers in joining the NEIECC Shared Services Network. The network will bring increased financial stability, operating efficiency and enhanced administrative support to over 20 early care and education programs serving low-income families across the region.
NEIECC Featured in Input Fort Wayne
Input Fort Wayne featured the work of NEIECC and its director, Allie Sutherland, in November. The piece, titled From crisis to collaboration: Tackling Northeast Indiana’s childcare shortage, shared the innovative programs NEIECC is developing and how they will shape the future of early care and education.
NIPSCO: $10,000 Grant
The Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition (NEIECC) is excited to announce that it has received a generous $10,000 grant from the Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO). This gift will allow NEIECC to continue its mission of making sure every family in Northeast Indiana has access to affordable and quality childcare.
Don Wood Foundation: $75,000 Grant
The Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition (NEIECC) today announced the receipt of a $75,000 grant from the Don Wood Foundation. This funding will support the development of an advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping tool, designed to provide actionable data on childcare availability and its impact on the local labor force.
Strategies for Success
NEIECC's regional director, Allie Sutherland, joined Thomas P. Miller and Associates for an insightful discussion on employer-sponsored childcare models! These models offer several advantages for both employees and employers—creating a supportive workplace, reducing stress for working parents, and positively impacting overall company performance.
Video: Opportunity Knocks
In May, Allie Sutherland, director of the Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition, and Huntington Mayor Richard Strick appeared on 21Alive's Opportunity Knocks to discuss the $5-million grant awarded the childhood coalition by the development commission.
Early Childhood Investment: Opinion
We are grateful to the Strategic Development Commission for their investment in Early Childhood! There would also not be a Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition without Allie Sutherland.
Allie shared her thoughts on this investment recently in the Journal Gazette.
NEI Approves Funding for Working Families
On Friday, April 26, the Northeast Indiana Strategic Development (NEI SDC) approved investments in two projects to assist working families and accelerate economic development in the region, including nearly $5M for NEIECC.
Quality Rating Updates
The Governor's Early Learning Advisory Council (ELAC) heard plans to adjust the state's quality rating system, to move from Paths to Quality as we know it now to a more engagement-based rating system.
"They're not waiting for perfect."
During the final 2023 meeting of the Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition on December 6, coalition director Allie Sutherland shared initiatives that other states have started, and encouraged us to take those next steps.
TPMA 2.0 Presentation
In December 2023, Thomas P. Miller and Associates presented their latest study on Early Childhood in Northeast Indiana. This one examined the impact of early care and education on parents, children, employers, economic development, and the community as a whole.
"Work Willing Parents" Study
In late 2022, Ambassador Enterprises contracted national research consulting firm, Thomas P. Miller & Associates, to conduct a study to find the number of work willing parents, as well as the costs to create the child care necessary to get those parents back into the workforce.