Parent Meagan Richards Story: Lack of Access to High-Quality Child Care
Meagan Richard’s son Lincoln was born in 2020, shortly after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. An event and trade show producer, the Johnston resident lost her job when the pandemic shut down in-person events. Newly jobless, Meagan found herself struggling at home with an infant son who confounded experts. “From the day Lincoln was […]
Kinte Howie Story: Rhode Island’s Early Educators Deserve Worthy Wages
Woonsocket Head Start family worker Kinte Howie recently shared his story on a RIght from the Start Zoom event focused on legislation to improve the pay of Rhode Island’s early educators. Read his full story below on the importance of investing in our early childhood educators and the work they do: My name is Kinte […]
Early Intervention: Luna’s Story
Arileibys’s daughter Luna was born premature and had to spend several weeks in the NICU. Overwhelmed and worried for her newborn, Arileibys felt like she was all alone. Before Luna was even discharged from the hospital, Arileibys was connected with Early Intervention through Meeting Street. “When something happens in just the right moment, that for […]
Early Intervention: Naiommy’s Story
It is not a secret that High quality early intervention services can change a child’s developmental trajectory and improve outcomes for children, families, and communities. Intervention is likely to be more effective and less costly when it is provided EARLIER in life rather than LATER. Therefore, I personally don’t know where I would have been […]
Early Intervention: Dalisha’s Story
Dalisha’s first son, DJ, was born premature. By the time of his first birthday, delays in DJ’s development had become apparent. Dalisha and her son were enrolled in Early Intervention at Children’s Friend. Her EI service provider evaluated DJ and helped Dalisha connect with speech and occupational therapy to support her son’s development. A couple […]
Strolling Thunder Stories – Parent Felicia Powers: Turning Down Higher Pay In Order to Afford Child Care
Woonsocket resident Felicia Powers has a ten-year-old daughter and two-year-old son, and has faced numerous barriers to accessing child care so she can work to support her family as a single parent. Although she currently works in human services, Felicia spent years as an essential worker in the nursing home industry. Now that her son […]
RI Child Care Staffing Crisis : Robert Halley’s Story
Centers Struggle to Pay Staff, And Families Can’t Cover Additional Costs of Higher Wages West Warwick child care program administrator Robert Halley has been working in the industry since 2009. He has served in roles ranging from lead teacher to director, and has seen the struggles early childhood educators and working families face as a […]
Strolling Thunder Advocate Story: Essential Worker & Parent Soani Delgado
Finding Support through the Family Child Care System While many Rhode Islanders were being asked to stay home to “flatten the curve” of rising COVID-19 infections, essential workers like Providence resident Soani Delgado scrambled to piece together child care so they could continue going to work. Soani and her husband work in neighborhood bodegas, which […]
Strolling Thunder Advocate Story: The Garvin Family
Working Mom Forced Out of Workforce Due to Child Care Costs Before having children, Providence resident Kristen Garvin earned her Master’s degree in Psychology and opened a private practice as a licensed therapist, an undertaking she describes as “a business I loved, with clients I loved.” After having her second child three years ago, the […]
Strolling Thunder Advocate Story: Family Child Care Provider Nuris Ynoa
Advocating to Strengthen Rhode Island’s Licensed Family Child Care System Nuris Ynoa opened her licensed home child care program after learning that her own child was struggling with a speech delay. She and her husband Jose wanted to create an early learning environment at home to support their son through those developmental challenges. They’re still […]