The mission of the Elkhart Child Development Center is to provide high-quality child care and early educational services to children of lower income families in Elkhart County, which includes the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of the child, while strengthening the family unit.

Description:
The purpose of the center is to provide an affordable, safe, clean and caring place so that the children have a comfortable educational environment. The center is set up to accept any child ages 13 months through 6 years and guide them through the developmental areas of academics, social, emotional and physical skills and get them ready to enter Kindergarten. The basic concept of the curriculum is based on a daily routine which involves small and large group learning and a work time when the child gets to chose the area that they to work/play in. At the end of the work time, the child is encouraged to talk about the different areas that they had been in and what they had experienced in those areas. The staff work on developing the children in areas of creativity, literacy and language social development, music and movement a variety of math and science concepts.
WE also try to help parents with parenting when they have questions and we provide them referrals when we cannot answer their question or when the children need the extra help that we cannot provide.

History:
The center was originally started in 1969 due to a need for child care in the city of Elkhart for low income families. ECDC has been providing child care for almost 39 years. We started in the Prairie St. Mennonite Church and eventually through the help of the community, we were able to build the building that we are presently in at 2121 Prairie St. The center is state licensed and has a national accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Our fees are based on income and we do accept vouchers through the state.

Contact people:

Paula Mumaw, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Carol Bennett, Assistant Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (574) 293-2737

Address:

2121 Prairie St. Elkhart, IN 46517 (See a map)

Web Site: None specified

Directions:

From the bypass, Take SR19 to Lusher Ave. Go right on Lusher Ave then proceed to Prairie St. and turn right again. We are right on the corner of Praire St. and Lusher Ave.   Nearest Bus Stop: Trolley stops on Lusher Ave. right in front of the center's parking lot., 1 minute walk