Through Winnie, parents can use the app or web-based database to search for and connect with childcare, preschool, and school age program providers based on a number of criteria including geographic location, schedule, and language. Winnie also supports providers to connect with prospective families, fill staffing needs, and grow their business.
Winnie
Winnie is a commercially available tool which has been used by millions of parents to identify childcare, preschool, and school age programs in the United States.
Overview
Active since 2016
Developer Winnie
- Technology utilized
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Target age
0-8+ years
- Target audience
- ECD Focus areas
How it works
Winnie provides resources and a searchable database that helps parents to identify childcare, preschool, and school age programs for free.
Read more- User engagement strategies
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Key functions
- Sharing tips and resources Sharing knowledge and activities to improve practices, behaviors, and skills in different ways (e.g., short messages, videos) to support child development.
- Enabling connections Facilitating connections between different users of the tool including between parents/caregivers, between the workforce and parents/caregivers, and between frontline workers and their supervisors.
- Providing referrals to service providers Directing users towards more specialized support (e.g., mental health professionals, child services) to address needs.
Reach and relevance
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Users
Varied
Millions of parents and approximately 250,000 providers have used Winnie. - Country of origin
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Active countries
United States of America
- Language
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Dissemination strategy
Users learn about Winnie through search engines. In some regions of the country where Winnie has a strong foothold, users may learn about the service through word of mouth.
Technology and access
Winnie can be accessed through a mobile/tablet based app or through a web-based database. It requires use of a smartphone, computer, or tablet. Winnie is free for parents. Providers can utilize Winnie for free but have the option to sign up for a paid subscription with expanded features.
- Connectivity requirements
- Device types
- Cost model
Measurement
Winnie primarily measures success in parent engagement through understanding the number of contacts made by parents to childcare provider(s) of interest, as well as number of active parent users. For providers, Winnie looks at a number of metrics including how active they are on the platform, how many parents and job applicants engage with them, and how quickly they fill openings.
Partnerships
Winnie has been supported by investments from venture capital firms including Reach Capital, Impact America Fund, Unusual Ventures, Ludlow Ventures, Afore Capital, Day One Ventures, Kairos, and April Underwood.