Program areas at Early Childhood Alliance
Childcare was provided from 6:30 am to 5:30 pm weekdays for 198 children in 2023. The nationally recognized high scope curriculum was utilized. More than 80% of the children we serve are part of low-income or at-risk families. In addition to the funds collected for direct service to children, eca received additional financial support from federal grant dollars, community grants, and contributions to fund this program.
Early Childhood alliances shared services network, started in 2022, is a program set to help childcare homes and facilities increase enrollment, reduce administrative tasks, and grow their business through the help of tools and coaching. Eca worked with 7 homes, 1 faith-based center, and 10 school systems in 2023.
The cacfp program monitors and reimburses 126 family childcare homes and 10 childcare centers impacting 2,335 children in 2023. The homes and centers prepare nutritionally balanced meals and snacks for children in 16 northeast Indiana counties. Early Childhood Alliance received federal grant dollars to fund this program and disbursed over 1.6 million in reimbursements to the home childcare providers and centers who participated in the program.
Eca provides classes and support to childcare providers across the region, assisting providers in obtaining a child development associate (cda) credential. In 2023, three individuals completed all coursework needed to earn their cda. Eca also provided an instructor to guide candidates through an internship process to earn their cda credential while also working in the eca childcare classes. Since the completion of this coursework, all three employees began as full-time teachers within the learning programs.