The Complete CRAFTS Administrative Tutorial

Introduction

This tutorial is designed for childcare professionals looking to master the CRAFTS Childcare Management Application. It will guide you through the administrative features of CRAFTS, enabling you to efficiently manage childcare operations. Whether you're new or an experienced user, this guide will help streamline your workflows and enhance productivity.

Step 1: Understanding CRAFTS

• CRAFTS is a cloud-based childcare management application that simplifies operations for administrators and educators.
• Key features include:
  • Attendance tracking
  • Financial management
  • Enrollment and registration assistance
  • Communication tools for parents and educators

Step 2: Accessing the Admin Panel

• Log in with your administrator credentials to access the admin panel.
• The dashboard will display modules like students, employees, users, billing, payments, and reports.
• Familiarize yourself with the top menu; it may vary based on user roles.

Step 3: Configuring Locations

• Navigate to Locations under the General section.
• Review the list of locations, including phone numbers and active status.
• Click Edit to update specifics like capacity and status.
• Remember, capacity drives the dashboard graphs.

Step 4: Managing Schools

• Go to the Schools section under General.
• View existing schools or add a new school by clicking Add School.
• Fill in the school's name, location, and contact details, then click Save.
• To assign students to schools, use the Create or Change Enrollments option under the Students menu.

Step 5: Creating and Managing Lessons

• Access the Lessons section under General.
• Click Create Lesson to add a new lesson with a title and description.
• To plan lessons, go back to the dashboard and click Review Lesson Plans.

Step 6: Room Management

• Go to Rooms under General.
• Edit room capacities and assign educators by clicking the Assigned Staff button.
• Assign children to rooms through their enrollment profiles.

Step 7: Allergy and Disease Management

• Click on Allergies to pre-configure a list for parents to select.
• For diseases, navigate to Diseases and document any communicable diseases children may have had.

Step 8: Immunization Tracking

• Under the Immunizations section, manage existing records and add new immunizations by clicking Create Immunization.
• Assign immunization records to children's profiles in the Create or Change Child Information section.

Step 9: Managing Staff Profiles

• Access the Users menu to create or edit staff accounts.
• Ensure to assign roles and locations for each staff member.
• Use the Employee menu to review certifications and hours worked.

Step 10: Financial Management

• Navigate to Programs under the Financial section to configure offerings and fees.
• Use Batch Billing for invoicing multiple children at once, or Custom Billing for specific needs.
• Set up Merchant Accounts for processing payments and managing electronic fund transfers.

Step 11: Streamlining Registration

• Use Consent Forms to manage necessary permissions from parents.
• Import family data using the Import Parent and Children feature to save time.
• Quickly register new families using the Quick Add Child function.

Step 12: Communication and Documentation

• Utilize CRAFTS’ messaging features to communicate with parents and staff.
• Manage observations through the Document Observations feature, tracking children’s progress and behaviors.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively navigate and utilize the CRAFTS Childcare Management Application to enhance your childcare center's operations. Consider exploring advanced features like the Dropbox integration for documentation and the Twilio SMS service for better communication. For further assistance, refer to the CRAFTS support resources or visit their website for more tutorials.