Mission Statement

The Baby Ph. D. Childcare Network is
dedicated to developing and supporting high-quality community-based childcare for children 0-3 years old whose families live and work in the Hyde Park and University of Chicago Communities.  Network members and affiliates include the Little Inspirations Child Care Center, twelve daycare homes, local families nannies, and family and friend caregivers.  Many network-sponsored activities take place at the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club. 

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General Information

The Baby Ph.D. Childcare Network has three primary goals:

         1. To provide professional mentoring
              and support to childcare providers and 
              nannies serving children 0-3 years old.  
      
         2. To provide childcare consultation, information,
              and referral services to families with children 
              0-3 years old.
        
        3.  To host developmentally informed, reasonably
              priced enrichment Activities for young children
              and their caregivers.

Childcare Network activities are coordinated through the Baby Ph.D. Childcare Resource Center & Lending Library at the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club.  http://hpnclub.org

Baby Ph.D. News

Network member gets Illinois Quality Counts grant for the third year in a row! 

Angel Academy, a long time member of the Baby Ph.D. Childcare Network, has been awarded funds to purchase program enhancement materials.  The competetive grant funding will pay for a reading island, a child-size cedar bench for outdoors, a set of science library photos, an interactive Geo Safari Map, and international food to add to their dramatic play kitchen area.  Angel Academy is a home daycare founded and directed by Ms. Jill Harris.  It is located in the Woodlawn neighborhood.  The daycare currently has two openings.

New Blog!

We have started a Play-N-Learn Blog!  Each week we post new information about current Play-N-Learn activities, recent themes, related developmental milestones, and projects you can do at home.  Please take some time to check it out!

Every Monday at Noon Baby Ph.D. Network staff are available for open-ended Q & A. 

Information Sessions are designed for parents seeking an overview of the types of childcare available to families in Hyde Park.  We review key considerations when choosing childcare to best fit each family's unique needs as well as specific application procedures for families wishing to enroll in Baby ph.D. affiliated daycare sites.  We are also available at this time to assist families in the process of seeking a nanny or nanny-share.  

Network Funding

The Baby Ph.D. Childcare Network is supported in part by a grant from the Child Care Initiative (CCI) of the University of Chicago and University of Chicago Hospitals. Additional support comes from the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club and family membership fees.