GiaQuinta comments on closure of district child care facility

 This week, the Lutheran Social Services of Indiana's Children's Village Early Learning Center announced that it will permanently close on Jan. 16. The facility primarily serves families who use Indiana's Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) vouchers. Earlier this year, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced that it would pause new vouchers until 2027 and cut reimbursement rates for providers.

A few months ago, House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) toured Children's Village and noted the quality of care at the center. In response to the announced closure, he issued the following statement:

"I was deeply saddened to learn that Children's Village will close its doors early next year. Children's Village serves a critical role in our community of keeping parents in the workforce and preparing kids for elementary school. Now, parents will have to scramble to find a new child care center that they can trust.

"The closure of Children's Village – and many other child care centers around the state – is a policy decision that Statehouse Republicans have actively and consciously made. Instead of prioritizing child care and early learning, state Republican lawmakers blew a hole in this year's state budget by making K-12 private school vouchers universal.

"During last week's redistricting session meetings, I supported a motion by a fellow House Democrat to strip the redistricting bill and replace it with a cost-of-living package that would have eliminated the CCDF voucher waitlist and fully funded CCDF vouchers for one year. Fort Wayne's Republican representatives failed to support this and chose political games over helping families afford child care.

"I will continue advocating for the child care centers in our community that provide essential services for our residents during the upcoming legislative session."