Parent Messaging via the Website

Parent Messaging allows you to have private conversations with parents/guardians, send text messages and add parent kiosk messages. Parent Messaging is available in Procare Online and the Child care mobile app.

Parent to Admin (Office Chat) Resources

Use these resources to help introduce your staff and parents/guardians to the parent-to-admin (Office Chat) messaging:

• Center Resource

• Family Resource

Respond to Messages

1. Click Staff Message at the top of the window or go to Messaging > Parent Messaging.

   An unread message is indicated by

   • The Staff Message icon in pink

   • The Messaging menu icon in pink

   • A pink dot indicator on Parent Messaging in the menu

   • A pink dot indicator on Office Chat or Classroom Chat

     
     

2. Select a messaging channel.

   1. Office Chat (available to admins only) allows admins and authorized parents/guardians to have more confidential discussions about sensitive topics such as billing, registration and other important matters.

   2. Classroom Chat allows teachers and parents/guardians to message each other regarding classroom matters.

      
      

3. Select a conversation to review/compose a message.

4. Enter your message.

5. Click Send Message .

   
   

Create a New Message

1. Click New Message.

   
   

2. Select the student(s), then click Add Students.

   
   

3. Admins only: Select the Message Channel (Office Chat or Classroom Chat).

   
   

4. Enter your message, then click Send Message.

   1. Use the Send as Emergency SMS option to send as a text message. Text messages have a limit of 300 characters, and parents/guardians cannot reply, but can do so from the mobile app's Messages section. Your monthly text limit will display. To increase the number of text messages, contact Procare Support for pricing.

   2. The Show at Sign In-Out Kiosk option will display the message on the kiosk the next time the parent/guardian enters their PIN. If multiple kiosk messages are entered for the same parent/guardian, messages will display in the order they were entered into the system.

Office Chat (Admin-Only Access)

Office Chat allows parents/guardians to have private conversations with admins to discuss more sensitive topics, such as billing.

Note

Staff with an Admin role with Full Access to Parent/Staff Messaging will receive these messages.

Multifamily Messages

For split families, if one parent/guardian chooses to keep messages private from the other, both parents'/guardians’ names will be listed at the top of the screen. Staff members can have private conversations with each parent/guardian by selecting the parent’s/guardian’s name at the top of the screen.

Note

Using the New Message option in the upper right corner of the messaging screen will send the message to both parents/guardians. If the message should be sent to only one parent/guardian, select the parent’s/guardian’s conversation and enter the message there.

Student Details in Messaging

Student details are displayed when messaging parents/guardians. This allows you to quickly see the student's signed-in room and access parent/guardian contact information without leaving the message thread.