Purdue Extension Launches First Summit to Strengthen Regional Child Care

Purdue Extension hosted the first Wabash Heartland Region Child Care Summit on Feb. 22, bringing together providers, community partners, and stakeholders to strengthen early childhood care in the region. Purdue’s First Lady, Kei Hui, opened the day with welcoming remarks, emphasizing the university’s commitment to supporting child care providers through education, resources, and community partnerships.

The summit featured a presentation from Maureen Weber, President and CEO of Early Learning Indiana, on policies shaping the future of early childhood education in the state. Breakout sessions covered topics such as business operations, managing challenging behaviors and special needs, mentoring, staff development, and grant writing.

Welcoming an excited and passionate group of childcare providers and early childhood educators, the summit fostered meaningful connections, peer learning, and valuable discussions. Participants left with practical strategies, new resources, and a renewed commitment to strengthening child care quality and capacity in their communities. Purdue Extension’s new community childcare team is building momentum as they create a network and address key factors that affect the childcare landscape. This effort is part of a combined mission to support childcare and early childhood education through Purdue Extension, Purdue Office of Engagement, and other Purdue University partners. This program is funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc.