RI Child Care Staffing Crisis: Estefany Ortiz’s Story
Family Child Care Providers Struggle with Low Pay, Hurdles to Career Advancement Providence resident Estefany Ortiz opened her family child care after giving birth to her son in 2016. She had been working in a department store, and starting a child care business was one of the only ways she could afford high quality care […]
RI Child Care Staffing Crisis : Kayla Arruda’s Story
Child Care Centers Struggle to Keep Qualified, Dedicated Staff Kayla Arruda earned her associates degree in 2014, and began working in a child care program. She quickly progressed through the early childhood education ranks from teacher’s aid to program leader. While her classroom experience, level of responsibility, and time commitment dramatically increased, her pay unfortunately […]
Strolling Thunder Advocate Story: Veronica Manfredi & Minerva Waldron
High-Quality Programs Still Struggle to Retain Staff and Keep Doors Open Sisters Minerva Waldron and Veronica Manfredi are co-owners of Over the Rainbow, a family-owned child care program with locations in Providence and Johnston. Before the pandemic, their centers always had at least 20 families seeking enrollment on their waitlist. However, even after they were […]
RI Child Care Staffing Crisis: Khadija Lewis-Khan’s Story
High-Quality, Affordable Child Care Essential for Working Parents and a Strong State Economy Beautiful Beginnings Child Care Center offers high-quality child care and early childhood education for children from infancy through preschool, centered on the belief that working families need high-quality options and that all children can achieve at a high level when given what […]
Strolling Thunder Advocate Story: Military Parent Alyssa Nichol
Low Pay and High Turnover is Challenging for Kids, Parents, and Child Care Programs Alyssa Nichol is the mother of two young children, and currently stationed at Navy Station Newport as a Navy JAG (Judge Advocate General). Having been active duty for ten years, Alyssa is used to relocating, and quickly adapting in new communities. […]
Strolling Thunder Advocate Story: Parent Wilmaris Soto-Ramos
Supporting RI Families with Children Ages Zero to Three Pawtucket resident Wilmaris Soto-Ramos and her partner Stephen welcomed their rainbow baby in October of 2020, after experiencing the heartbreak of two consecutive second-trimester losses and the stress and isolation of pregnancy during a pandemic. Wilmaris’s challenging journey to motherhood, as well as the research she’s […]
RI Child Care Staffing Crisis: Erin Thibeault’s Story
Highly-Skilled Educators Are Key for High-Quality Child Care East Providence resident Erin Thibeault is a certified special education teacher who currently teaches first grade in the East Providence Public Schools. Her four-year-old son attends child care at Meeting Street Early Learning Center in Providence while she and her husband are at work. Erin raves about […]
Bernelle Richardson’s Story: Families Can’t Afford Child Care When They “Level Up” to Middle Class
A women’s care nurse in Warwick, Bernelle Richardson works in a career she loves helping mothers with labor, delivery, and postpartum care. She credits Early Head Start as the catalyst that changed her family’s trajectory by providing the high-quality care and family support needed to “level up” to the middle class. With their children in […]
Thriving In Early Head Start: Donovan’s Story
You might remember a very cute young boy stealing the show at RI Strolling Thunder 2023 by spontaneously grabbing a toy microphone and joining Governor McKee and other leaders to offer his “remarks.” Here’s Donovan’s story of thriving in Early Head Start. THIS is why the General Assembly needs to increase state funding to keep all […]
Thriving In Early Head Start: Donovan’s Story
You might remember a very cute young boy stealing the show at RI Strolling Thunder 2023 by spontaneously grabbing a toy microphone and joining Governor McKee and other leaders to offer his “remarks.” Here’s Donovan’s story of thriving in Early Head Start. THIS is why the General Assembly needs to increase state funding to keep all RI […]
