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Childcare (ages 2-6)|Emergency Services

Monroe County United Ministries provides full-time, full-year affordable childcare for children ages 2.5-6. We have the capacity to care for 97 children at one time. Parents must be Monroe County residents and be working full-time or working part-time while attending school. A few spots are available for children of full-time students.

The Cost of Care

Although the program is open to households of all income levels, low-income families receive first priority for enrollment. Fees are determined on a sliding scale based on family size and income. Providing high-quality childcare in our center costs $205 per child, per week, the average family on our sliding fee scale pays $45 and a discount is available to families with more than one child enrolled. Eligible families are asked to apply for support through the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), administered by the Community Alliance and Services for Young Children (CASY).

Why MCUM's Childcare Program?

Our program is a licensed childcare center, licensed by the State of Indiana. For more information about licensed childcare centers versus other provider options, visit Indiana's Family & Social Services Administration (FSSA) web site. The FSSA site also provides a service called Carefinder, which allows parents and other concerned community members to search for care options and see the results of provider inspections and complaints filed against providers. FSSA administers a voluntary assessment program for care providers called Paths to Quality, which is another tool that helps parents assess the caliber of the programs available. MCUM's program has achieved Level 4 in Paths to Quality, the highest level available, which indicates that the program has national accreditation. MCUM has been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) since 2004.

This program provides two meals and a snack each day, uses a play-based curriculum that prepares children for success in school, provides basic health services (flu shots, lead screenings, dental clinics, etc.), provides a parent resource room with employment and parenting resources, and works with many community partners to provide the best possible care.

For enrollment information, contact Traci Mehay, Childcare Director, at (812) 339-3429 x40 or complete the form below.

Why Quality, Affordable Childcare?

Numerous research studies have shown that high-quality early childhood education can have a long-lasting impact on the child, the family, and the broader community. Research indicates that quality early childhood education is one of the best investments a community can make because it:

Creates successful students by... increasing high school graduation rates. helping children do better on standardized tests. reducing grade repetition. reducing the number of children placed in special education programs.	Creates responsible adults by... reducing crime and delinquency. lowering rates of teen pregnancy. leading to better employment and higher wages as adults. increasing family stability.
Creates stronger communities by... returning up to $7 on every $1 invested. reducing demand on welfare services. reducing rates of incarceration. increases rates of civic participation and voting.	Allows for better employment of parents by... removing a major barrier for parents seeking employment. providing consistent, dependable care that allows parents to be consistent, dependable employees. allowing parents to continue their education and improve their employment prospects.

For more resources on the importance of early childhood education, visit our Helpful Links page.

Families seeking childcare might also be interested in the resources provided by Childhood Connections. Call 1-866-693-0672 for more information. [Tal vez les interesan los recursos proveído por Childhood Connections.  Llame 1-866-693-0672.]

For Current Parents

The current issue of MCUM's Working Together newsletter includes your child's classroom's calendar.

The calendar for July 2012-June 2013 includes holiday and closing information for the Childcare Program.

The Childcare Program Parent Handbook (revised in 2012) can answer your questions about a wide variety of policies and procedures.

Online resources for parents are available at our Helpful Links page.

Winter Weather Policy: Remember that if MCCSC closes due to winter weather, MCUM closes as well. If there is a weater-related delay, MCUM operates on a normal schedule.

Family members are reminded that they are always welcome in our classrooms. Feel free to visit anytime. If you would like to eat a meal with your child, please let the staff know in advance so that the kitchen can plan ahead.