Southeastern Indiana YMCA Receives Early Learning Indiana Grant

The competitive grant program helps strengthen communities’ efforts to support the learning and development of infants and toddlers

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(Batesville, Ind.) – Early Learning Indiana (ELI) announced today the 86 organizations receiving grants through the Early Years Initiative.

The competitive grant program helps strengthen communities’ efforts to support the learning and development of infants and toddlers in Indiana.

Southeastern Indiana YMCA in Batesville is among this round of grant recipients.

They received $230,800, which will be used to add one infant classroom. The classroom will serve six children to childcare program in Batesville currently serving children 12 months and older.

The aim of the Early Years Initiative is to help organizations in Indiana meet the developmental needs of infants and toddlers (birth through age three) and surround Hoosier families with the resources to make the most of these crucial years of learning. The Early Years Initiative has a particular focus on infants and toddlers in low-income families, in families within communities of color and families where very young children are multi-language learners. 

All 86 organizations will serve families in low-income households; 69% of grantees will serve members of communities of color; and 63% will serve multi-language learners. 

”We were encouraged by the range of proposals received from community organizations that care deeply about ensuring infants and toddlers in their communities develop the foundational knowledge and skills that support their future learning and development,” said Early Learning Indiana President and CEO Maureen Weber. "We only have a few short years to set our youngest Hoosiers on a path to thrive in life, and the work of these organizations across the state will enable us to make the most of these years while deepening our understanding about which efforts are most effective.” 

Studies show a child’s brain is hardest at work during the first three years of life, busy creating the foundation for all future learning capacity, social-emotional development, and mental and physical health.