Trusted Childcare Services Across Indiana

Indiana has made significant strides in early childhood development through comprehensive quality improvement initiatives, expanded pre-kindergarten programs, and childcare support systems that help Hoosier families access quality care while parents work to support their families. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), through the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning, licenses and regulates childcare facilities throughout the state, ensuring providers meet health, safety, and program quality standards established in Indiana licensing requirements. Paths to QUALITY serves as Indiana’s childcare quality rating and improvement system, providing a clear framework for continuous improvement while helping parents identify high-quality programs through a four-level rating system that recognizes providers meeting progressively higher standards. On My Way Pre-K is Indiana’s state-funded preschool program providing free high-quality pre-kindergarten education for income-eligible four-year-olds at participating Paths to QUALITY Level 3 and 4 programs, expanding early education access for families who might otherwise not afford quality preschool. The Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) provides childcare subsidies to eligible low-income families, helping parents access quality childcare while working or participating in approved education and training activities that support family economic stability. Indiana’s childcare landscape varies significantly between metropolitan Indianapolis, mid-sized cities like Fort Wayne and Evansville, and rural communities where childcare options may be extremely limited or nonexistent. Licensed providers must maintain specific staff-to-child ratios that vary by age group, with Indiana requirements designed to ensure appropriate supervision and individualized attention for children at each developmental stage. Parents seeking Indiana childcare should check Paths to QUALITY ratings, verify FSSA licensing status, inquire about On My Way Pre-K participation for eligible families, observe daily programming, and ask about curriculum approaches supporting kindergarten readiness. Indiana’s manufacturing-heavy economy creates unique childcare demands including non-traditional scheduling for shift workers.