Every Dollar Counts
Tuition Support Options Help Families Access Child Care
United Child Care Center in Terre Haute, a Level 4 Paths to QUALITY™ provider serving more than 30 preschool, pre-K and school-aged children, is committed to providing a quality education to all families regardless of income.
After seeing more families struggle financially in the post-COVID era, executive director Camille Collera decided to implement a sibling discount for families with multiple children attending the center so parents didn’t have to split up siblings or pass on the opportunity to attend United because of the cost. The center also offers a sliding scale tuition that factors in family size and income to further support parents and caregivers.
“I know our families appreciate every little bit of help we can provide toward tuition,” said Collera. “Especially when families have multiple children, it can really be a struggle to afford care. It’s nice to be able to choose the center you want and not have it break your pocketbook.”
Collera also develops relationships with community organizations to find additional ways to support the center’s families. Last winter, in partnership with the Noon Optimist Club of Terre Haute, the center provided food baskets, winter clothing and holiday gifts to each family. A connection with Vigo’s county clerk led to ongoing donations of Halloween treat bags and holiday care packages for each child.
In a sweet touch, Collera’s father gives each child a $2 bill for the holidays, delighting the students who may never have seen the unique currency. “It’s the whole mentality of ‘treat each kid like your own,’” said Collera.
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Collera dreams of creating a scholarship fund that would fulfill two purposes – one, to further support families who do not qualify for CCDF assistance but struggle to afford care, and two, to support staff members working toward a credential or degree in early childhood education. Collera is currently working with the center’s board of directors on a proposal for the scholarship fund and hopes to see it come to fruition in the near future.
As a nonprofit organization, the center prioritizes supporting families while maintaining a balanced budget. “Even though offering discounts may impact our bottom line, it’s the right thing to do,” said Collera. “We believe strongly that every family deserves to receive quality care and education for their children and shouldn’t miss out based on income.”
