IDEM recognizes Victory Learning Institute

Fort Wayne day care center earns plaque for environmental safety

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Families with children enrolled in Fort Wayne’s Victory Learning Institute have received good news from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).

The Institute recently joined IDEM’s Five Star Environmental Recognition Program for Child Care Facilities program and received a special plaque for achievements in environmental safety.

“As a new facility, we wanted to start off on the right foot,” said Bishop George McCowan, Victory Learning Institute’s manager. “We’re proud to offer parents in Fort Wayne an environmentally safe facility that’s been checked for lead and radon.”

IDEM worked with child care facilities, child care and youth associations, other governmental agencies, medical personnel and parents to develop the program to help Indiana parents and child care facilities learn about the environmental health and safety threats that may affect their children.

The program recognizes child care facilities that go above and beyond requirements and demonstrate environmental stewardship. Facilities earn one, three or five stars based on their voluntary measures. IDEM assists facilities in implementing the plans and conducts site visits before granting facilities membership.

Since the program began in 1998, stars have been awarded to over 100 child care facilities reaching an estimated 2,550 children.

“IDEM devised a way providers could be recognized because we believe children deserve a safe place to learn and play,” said IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly. “There are over 100,000 children attending day-care in more than 4,000 facilities throughout the state so anything we could do to involve the facilities was a worthwhile endeavor.”

Applicants are evaluated based on their efforts to reduce childrens' exposure to mercury, lead hazards, mold, asbestos, radon, pesticides, carbon monoxide, lead and PCBs. In addition, many of the facilities have started recycling programs, developed formal written plans for chemical management, made efforts to purchase items made with recycling content material, and reduced energy usage.

Applicants must also address issues such as the cleaning and maintenance of their facility, proper employee training, energy efficiency, indoor and outdoor air quality, vehicle idling, recycling and environmental education.

Other day care facilities statewide achieving exceptional status in the five star program include Civitan Children’s Center, Vincennes; Kare Bear Learning Center, Osceola; Kendallville Day Care Center – two facilities, Kendallville; Charlotte R. Riley Child Center at Purdue University Calumet, Hammond; Bloomington Developmental Learning Center, Bloomington; and Toyota Children’s Center, Princeton.

Grants are available for Five Star Childcare Facilities which can help reduce the cost of installing items made of recycled materials such as playground equipment, picnic tables, carpet, fences, benches and more. The state will fund up to $5,000 (subject to eligibility). A 25 percent cash match is required. Members are eligible to receive grant funding under this grant once every two years.

Additional information about the Five Star Childcare program or grant opportunities can be obtained by calling Karen Teliha, Community Environmental Health & Education at 800-988-7901 or by visiting www.idem.in.gov.

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