Messaging

You can send individual or broadcast messages, which will be delivered to the parents and staff when they sign in on any of the following check-in methods

• Keypad
• Lobby Interface (Touch Screen)
• Drop-in Services Form
  

Messages can be bilingual. You can set up parents’ language preference to 1 of 2  languages and write the messages in those languages. When delivering the message, iCare will pick the language of choice for the parent.

Messages can be entered for immediate delivery or scheduled for a day in the future.

Mail-Merge

Two methods of mail merge are available to you

• Preset mail-merge letters
• Mail-merge template maker
  

To use a preset letter, you simply choose a letter and select a list of recipients. Sample preset letters are:

• Fee collection letter
• Incomplete immunizations letter
• Incomplete records letter
  

The mail-merge template maker lets you create your own mail-merge letters. In any report, you can simply pick the fields that you want to include in the letter and give the letter a name. When you finish, a letter template will be created and it will open in MS Word for you to write the contents of the letter. Once you save the completed letter in MS Word, the letter will become available in iCare for printing or emailing. (The mail-merge template maker is part of the Custom Report Maker module.)

Letters from the mail-merge template maker can be

• Printed and mailed, or
• Emailed
  

Email

Email messages sent from iCare are routed through the Windows email program that you are using; the messages are sent to the Outbox of that program. You can send email messages to

• A group, or
• An individual
  

You can also export email addresses, all or a filtered list, from iCare to copy and paste them into any external email message.

For email merge features, see mail-merge.

RSVP Messaging

RSVP messaging lets you ask questions to parents, get their responses and automatically bill their account if you have attached a fee to the choices the parents choose from. The following are the main features of RSVP messaging:

• Preset multiple choice questions
• Bill parents' accounts for fees associated with the choices
• Get text responses
• One-time messages (ex: for a field trip)
• Recurring questions (ex: choice of lunch today)
  

Currently, RSVP messaging is delivered to the parents only through the Lobby Interface program.

Examples of RSVP messages are

• What is your child's food choice for today?
• Is your child attending today's field trip?
• When will you pickup your child today?
• Any special instructions for today? (Text response)
  

Teacher-to-Parent Notes

In the Children’s Notepad, teachers can write notes about children’s daily activities under categories such as

• Development
• Behavior
• Feeding
• Diapering
  

You can create these categories yourself. The notes report includes notes, categories, dates and time, so you can evaluate children’s development.

The teacher's notes can also be accessible to parents over the Internet through iCareWeb. (iCareWeb is sold separately).