This Town Square created resources explores how to calculate your time and space percentage. Knowing this percentage can help reduce your taxes by determining how much of your shared (household) expenses can be claimed as business exemptions.

Time/Space Percentage resource

As the Child Care Stabilization grants start opening up and distribute funds to providers. It is essential to understand how the fund can be utilized. The federal guidance gives broad categories for allowed expense, including 

Remember, this is a grant, not a loan; you do not need to repay it. Understanding ways to use  the funds and “pay yourself” will allow you to use the grant for a retirement plan, an emergency fund, additional staff, increase wages, insurance and so much more.

To learn more on how to Pay Yourself, please read Tom Copelands Article.

What Does it Mean to “Pay Yourself” with a Stabilization Grant?

 

Establecer claramente sus políticas y aplicarlas es útil para las familias, para usted como profesional y para mantener las condiciones necesarias para la licencia y el cuidado de alta calidad.

Este recurso de Town Square fue creado con la ayuda de profesionales del cuidado infantil familiar que compartieron lo que consideraron necesario en el contrato.

Ya sea que usted esté comenzando su programa o sea un veterano, este recurso puede ayudarlo a revisar y pensar más en su contrato.

Hoja de consejos de Town Square – Lo que debes incluir en tu contrato

As you think about your environment, you may find this checklist useful for self-assessing quality in your environment and making an improvement plan. The checklist is based on the NAFCC Accreditation Observation Checklist.

FCC Environment Checklist

 

 

Clearly defining your policies and following through on them is helpful for families, for you as a professional, and to maintain the standards needed for licensing and high-quality care.

This Town Square resource was created with the help of family child care professionals who shared what they thought was necessary to include in a contract.

Whether you are just starting your program or a veteran, this resource can help you review and think more about your contract!

Town Square Tip Sheet -Things to Include in Your Contract

 

Having a mission and philosophy statement is an essential part of any business; it sets the foundation for how you want to operate and why. Having a written statement can help in centering your business and effectively communicating with families. Use this Town Square-created resource to guide you in developing a mission and philosophy statement.

Mission and Philosophy Resource

Tener una declaración de misión y filosofía es una parte esencial de cualquier negocio; establece la base de cómo quiere operar y por qué. Tener una declaración escrita puede ayudar a centrar su negocio y a comunicarse eficazmente con las familias. Utilice este recurso creado por Town Square para guiarse en el desarrollo de una declaración de misión y filosofía.

Declaración de misión y filosofía

In response to the urgent need to stabilize the child care sector, the American Rescue Plan Act (Public Law 117-2), signed on March 11, 2021, included nearly $24 billion in child care stabilization grants for states, territories, and Tribes. The goal of these grants is to address the financial burdens that child care providers faced during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency. By offering much-needed, immediate economic relief to child care providers, this funding aims to help stabilize the child care market so that families have better access to child care that meets their needs.

The National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance and  Tom Copeland highlights tools to help you apply for the stabilization grants, potential uses for the stabilization grant funds, and information about how to access the grant funds.

 

To view the recording of this webinar register via this Web link.

 

Register for the “Build, Learn, Grow Scholarship Fund Information Session,” available now on Indiana Learning Paths!

 

What is the Build, Learn, Grow Scholarship? For families with qualifying incomes (128%- 250% of the federal poverty level), classified as essential workers, the state of Indiana can cover 80% of tuition fees for kids up to age 12, including early learning, before-school, after-school, and summer learning programs. As an example, a family of four earning $66,000 per year will qualify for a Build, Learn, Grow scholarship. 

 

Remember that early childhood education and care and out-of-school-time workers are essential, so those with qualifying incomes can also apply to receive this scholarship for their children!

 

During this 30-minute session, you will learn about the scholarship process, how to determine family eligibility, and the process for submitting a claim for reimbursement to support the children of essential workers in your program.   

 

This session is required for programs that wish to accept scholarship funds and is available 24-7, so you can complete it when it is convenient for you.

 

To Register:

  1. Login or create a free account at ilead.in.gov
  2. Click the green “Start Your Indiana Learning Path” button
  3. Choose “Courses” from the menu on the left-hand side
  4. Search “Build, Learn, Grow Scholarship Fund Information Session” to register and start the course

 

 Get started now at ilead.in.gov

 

To stay up-to-date as additional program initiatives roll out, sign up for text alerts by texting the word UPDATES to 465437.

 

One of the most significant challenges many providers face is ending the workday and giving yourself time off. Given your workplace is your home, it can feel like you are working all day and can’t take time off.

It is essential, especially during a stressful time, to take time for our mental health and be away from work. Having clear boundaries can help set the expectation of the importance of your time. Natalie Harrison, a family child care professional, and owner of Natty’s Treehouse Childcare in Muncie IN, shares the time boundaries she created for her business. She communicates these boundaries with families using her handbook; in doing so, families agree to her time limits.

Hours of operations – hours your business is open. Within that time, set time restrictions for how long a child/family can be in your care.

Natalie states in her handbook:

Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday 6:00am-5:30pm
(No child should exceed 10 hours a day unless previously discussed with Natalie.)

Another time restriction can be time for families to communicate with you. While families can message/call you during opening hours, you can also set limits on after-hours messages; restricting messages can help you end the day.

Lastly, give yourself time to take time off, adding information on the vacation policy gives you time to close your business along with holidays you would like to celebrate or need a break.

Holidays
Natty’s Treehouse Childcare will be closed on all major holidays. Holiday dates and times are subject to change!
• New Year’s Day               • Labor Day                         • Memorial Day          • Thanksgiving                   • Friday after Thanksgiving                         •Christmas                           • 4th of July

 

Provider Vacation Policy
The provider will take up to two weeks of vacation each year. Formal notification will be provided to families 30-60 days before the vacation.

Setting clear time boundaries within your handbook can help communicate your business’s value and the need for you to take a rest.