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We hope you're back in the swing of things with the carefree days of summer behind us. If you're having trouble reestablishing routines or finding a child care program, let us know how we can help!
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FEATURED NEWS
We are all immigrants – learning about ourselves and our neighbors
The U.S. is truly a melting pot. Central Indiana is becoming more diverse each year, bringing richness of experience and culture to our lives. What does your own immigrant heritage mean for you and your family? What can we learn from our immigrant neighbors?
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Unless you are of Native American heritage, you are either an immigrant or descended from immigrants. Perhaps your ancestors entered Ellis Island in the 1800s from a distant European nation hoping for more freedoms and financial security. Or, your abuela moved from Mexico to the United States with hopes of opportunity and choices. Perhaps you fled violence and economic insecurity in Haiti and moved to the U.S. for a better life. Or, your ancestors were brought here from Africa with no choice in what their new country would look like. No matter the circumstances that made you an immigrant, you are one, nonetheless. Recognizing that we are all immigrants or descendants of immigrants helps us to empathize with the challenges of those who recently arrived here. What do you know about your immigrant history? Read more on our blog...
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FAMILY FUN IN CENTRAL INDIANA
Our Family Fun webpage is now updated with all the fall favorites like festivals, orchards and pumpkin patches, and farmers' markets. Download activity sheets, get playground tips, and gather ideas for trips within your county or across Indiana. Read more...
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UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
NEW! Workshops at the JCC!
Join us in-person at the JCC at 6701 Hoover Road, Indianapolis.
- A Parent’s Guide to Infant and Toddler Behaviors. October 13, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Register.
- Infant and Toddler Play and Learning. November 17, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Drop by with your little ones - no need to register! More info.
- Winter STEM Make-and-Take. December 15, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Drop by with your little ones - no need to register! More info.
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Can't make it in-person? We still have a number of virtual workshops on Zoom - join us!
Homeschool Hacks
- Early Writing. October 7, 10:00 - 10:30 a.m., Zoom. Register.
- Early Math. November 3, 10:00 - 10:30 a.m. Zoom. Register.
- Early Reading. December 6, 10:00 - 10:30 a.m. Zoom. Register.
Holiday Gift Guide: Top Toys for Young Children. November 22, 8:00 - 8:30 p.m. Zoom. Register.
See the full list of our free workshops on our Events Calendar.
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FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES
Firefly: Your Resource for CCDF Vouchers
If you need assistance applying for CCDF vouchers or you have questions about your current voucher, Firefly (formerly Children's Bureau) is on-hand to help! You can connect with them through:
- Phone: 866-287-2420
- Email: ccdfvouchers@fireflyin.org
- Office: Fay Biccard Glick Family Place, 3801 N. Temple Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46205
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Additional child care financial assistance
Looking for additional ideas for child care financial assistance? We can help! Our resource center has a number of ideas for you to either get help paying for child care, or, connect to resources to help ease your budget in other ways. Learn more at our Paying for Care page.
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CATCH UP ON PARENTING WORKSHOPS
We love having you attend our workshops so we can answer questions and you can share and learn from others in your same situation. But, as a busy parent, we know that you can't always attend at the day or time of the workshop. No need to worry - you can always find recordings over at our YouTube Channel. Here's a glimpse into what you might have missed!
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Ready, Set, Potty Time! Learn the signs of readiness and how to make potty training a success
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Other recent webinars to check out:
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"SOCIAL"IZE WITH US!
Don't forget to like or follow us on our social media channels - we share tons of great information for families!
Recently shared on our social media channels:
- From National Eye Institute: Healthy vision tips. Read more...
- From the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline: 24/7, free and confidential support for mental health. Read more...
- From The Milk Bank: How to receive or donate breast milk. Read More...
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Short-form videos coming to a mobile near you!
CCA has joined the world of short-form video through its new TikTok channel and expanded our YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. While we can't promise we won't get swept away by the latest dance craze, we can promise quality content and ideas to help you navigate parenthood!
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A POWERFUL NEW TOOL THAT EXPANDS HOW WE CAN HELP YOUR FAMILY
Child Care Answers is proud to partner with Find Help (formerly known as Aunt Bertha) to serve as a family navigator to economic, social, career, and health resources, in addition to our core suite of child care and early education resources. If you need assistance beyond child care, connect with us so we can direct you to the organizations that can best serve your needs.
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SIGN UP FOR TEXT ALERTS
Want to stay in the loop with Child Care Answers' services? Text care to 1-833-222-1221 to receive CCA's text alerts directly to your mobile phone. Don't worry - we'll text no more than once per month.
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NEED RESOURCES IN A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH? ¡NO HAY PROBLEMA!
You can read this entire email in your own language. Just click here to view this email in your browser, then click the "Translate" button in the upper right corner. We're thrilled to be able to offer services and resources for families for whom English is not their first language. Learn more on our blog or in this short video in Spanish.
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Website
We continue to add more languages to our website, including Burmese, Pashto, Greek, Gujarati, and Ukrainian. Is your language not listed? Let us know!
Live Virtual Workshops in Spanish
Bilingual family & community engagement specialist Megan Day delivers workshops and answers questions in Spanish. Upcoming workshops, in partnership with Early Learning Connections, include:
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TEAM UPDATES
We are looking for volunteers with experience in marketing, finance, fundraising, HR, and/or non-profit expertise to join our board. If you or someone you know would be interested, please contact executive director Mollie Smith at mollies@childcareanswers.org.
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WE'RE HERE TO HELP!
Need additional support with topics such as breastfeeding, parenting a child with special needs, or finding child care? Complete our Family Information Form.
We are also available Monday through Friday, from 8:00am to 5:00pm at 317.636.5727. Please note that our offices will be closed November 24-25 for Thanksgiving, December 23-26 for Christmas, and December 30 - January 2 for New Year's.
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Megan Day supports families, organizations, and communities where English is not the primary language. ¿Necesita ayuda an español? Por favor llene el formulario español .
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Lauren George provides one-on-one support and educates families on parenting topics such as breastfeeding, toilet training, challenging behaviors, and supporting a child with special needs.
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Jamie Le Sesne Spears helps families like yours find and understand what makes a quality child care program. She also helps you stay connected to your child's program to ensure the best experience for your child.
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Tom Taylor leads Child Care Answers' Family & Community Engagement team. His influence reaches to businesses and employers, policymakers, community agencies, and, of course, central Indiana families like yours.
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