TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Indiana State University and Ivy Tech Community College are launching a childcare program from the west-central part of the state.

The program is titled Grow Up in West Central Indiana and is being supported partially through grant funding through the Lilly Endowment’s College and Community Collaboration Initiative. 

The goal of the program is to identify a strategic plan that will help to identify childcare needs through the communities of West Central Indiana and then work to develop recommendations and address the demand for childcare.  

“Indiana State University is committed to researching and tackling the issue of limited childcare availability in West Central Indiana, which has impacted our community for far too long. Through this collaborative partnership, ISU looks forward to addressing and resolving topics like childcare availability, cost, etc. We must be proactive to ensure our region’s employees have one less thing to worry about to help advance the State of Indiana economically,” ISU President, Dr. Deborah J. Curtis said.

To get a strong understanding of the community’s needs, ISU and Ivy Tech are collecting data from various local counties including Clay, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion, and Vigo.

One of the methods of collecting data will be through a survey called the West Central Indiana Child Care Strategic Plan Survey which will be focused on employers, employees, child care providers, and families and individuals both receiving and seeking child care.   

“As the community college, Ivy Tech strives to align our programs and work with the needs of West Central Indiana,” said Dr. Lea Anne Crooks, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Terre Haute. “I look forward to witnessing the impact this initiative will have on families, students, and employers.”

The survey asks a series of questions about individual experiences and the overall state of child care for Hoosiers. All the information collected in the survey is confidential and will only be used for the purposes of this program

To participate in the survey or for more information, visit the Childcare Strategic Plan webpage.