It's a crucial episode this week as Kris and guest Allyx Schiavone address head-on the challenges we face and the steps we must take to address the biggest issues in childcare. Allyx brings a wealth of expertise as the Executive Director of the Friends Center for Children, boasting a remarkable 30-year career solely dedicated to early learning. Allyx also chairs the Childcare for Connecticut's Future Coalition, passionately advocating for change while managing her own center day in and day out. Kris and Allyx talk about how to make change, why we still struggle with the same issues year after year, and some incredibly creative ideas for affordable housing solutions. Allyx shares her passion to work with real childhood rockstars, and let them know how valuable they are, even when society may not reflect it back.

Key Takeaways:

[2:32] The average family who is in childcare with one or more children is spending 27% of their household income on childcare.

[8:42] Allyx discusses the mission and values of the Friends Center for Children.

[9:14] Because of their clear values and purpose, it makes the dynamic less transactional and more relationship-based.

[10:45] They currently serve 122 children across two sites and are in a growth phase. By 2027, they will be serving about 275 children by opening up two other sites.

[13:40] The challenges in access and affordability are systemic, so therefore, it requires a systemic solution.

[14:05] It does feel like fighting at the coalition level because we are fighting for disruption against what is currently being done.

[14:23] The focus of the coalition and their broad approach to creating healthy systems.

[15:46] The top pillars of where change needs to be affected.

[22:39] Using Vermont as a model of what it can look like when the business industry invests in our system.

[25:00] Why do we continue to have the same issues?

[30:02] Kris talks about her advocacy group, Child Care Champions.

[34:02] What can owners, directors, and parents do to work together to be part of a solution and make a difference?

[35:13] Planning group events and writing op-eds can help educate the public on what needs to be done to disrupt the system.

[36:43] How can we move forward in our industry with a labor shortage and burnout epidemic that leaves us more than 80K providers short?

[40:08] Allyx talks about the partnership with housing advocates and donors who invested in homes for teachers to live for free, which then opened up more money for all teachers to get a bigger raise.

[41:08] How do they determine which teachers get the home?

[47:05] Allyx talks about breaking the patterns from her own challenging childhood and how much of a blessing being a parent has been in her life.

[49:08] To Allyx, the real rock stars are the women who show up, fight, and give their all even when society tells them that they aren't enough.

[50:56] The Emotional Wellbeing Program is where there is an advocate who thinks directly about the well-being of children, families, teachers, and staff. Not only is this created for culture, but for productivity as well.

Quotes:

• "27 to 7 guys is where we'd like to take it if we were going to have any help in providing childcare to everybody that needs it in this country and to continue to support the dual income and the workforce of men and women in this country." — Kris [5:02]

• "We are fighting for disruption, and we must be part of the disruption to get the forces and the people that are at the table making the laws in this country and the decision makers to actually stand up and pay attention to us." — Kris [6:32]

• "I get to be in partnership with amazing professionals and families and, of course, these amazing, eager, joyful, honest, and developing humans. What could be better?" — Allyx [8:32]

• "The fact that women are productive members in our economy and workforce, and the fact that we cannot adjust to that has to be about our socially ingrained belief." — Allyx [10:08]

• "There's a real access and affordability crisis in early education, and these challenges that are systemic require a systemic solution." — Allyx [13:40]

• "We are really fighting at the coalition level, and I use that word fighting, because it feels like that a lot of the time. We are fighting for disruption in what is currently being done." — Allyx [14:06]

• "That's why the coalition is so critical because we cannot continue to carry the weight ourselves. We have been participating in our own rescue for hundreds of years, both as women and the industry." — Allyx [29:08]

• "I look at the women that I work with and the amount of shame that we heap on them by putting them in positions where they can't care for their own family, but they are caring for everyone else's. To me, they are the rockstars and the heroes because they show up for those other children, even when society is saying to them that they aren't enough." — Allyx [49:08]

• "If you can get people to be their best selves, you are going to have better engagement from everyone involved, and that's really the goal." — Allyx [51:22]

Sponsored By:

ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)

Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Kris Murray

The Child Care Success Company

The Child Care Success Academy

The Child Care Success Summit

Grow Your Center

Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.

Friends Center for Children

Child Care for Connecticut's Future

First Five Years Fund