First licensed daycare opens in Rensselaer
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A partnership between Franciscan Health Rensselaer and a Jasper County-based nonprofit is helping to fill a void in the city: a licensed early childhood education center. After a three-year effort, the partners this week announced the opening of Appletree Rensselaer.
It is the first licensed education center in the city of 6,100.
The new daycare center is located on the hospital campus. It provides weekday care for up to 75 children, ages six weeks through five years old.
In response to the void, Appleseed Childhood Education, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, was established three years ago to increase the availability of affordable, high-quality childcare in Rensselaer and surrounding areas. The organization says it was also an economic issue for the community.
Research conducted for Appleseed showed Jasper County employers lose $7.3 million annually because of absences and turnover costs related to unstable childcare.
“When childcare is not available, families suffer, employers suffer, and the local economy declines,” said Adam Alson, president of Appleseed Childhood Education.
Appletree Rensselaer is operated by Right Steps Child Development Centers, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Lafayette.
It operates seven early learning centers in Tippecanoe, Newton and Jasper counties.
“This center will promise to provide quality care for the children in this community. In turn, these early learners will contribute back in unlimited ways,” said Right Steps co-CEO Tammey Lindblom.
The partners say the new facility doubles the number of licensed childcare seats in the county for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children. There are licensed child care seats in Remington, but it was about a 20 minute drive for people living in Rensselaer.
Appletree Rensselaer accepts Child Care and Development Fund vouchers, a federal program that helps low-income families obtain childcare so that they may work, attend training or continue their education. The center says it uses a sliding fee scale based on family income.