Minnesota’s 6,000 family child care providers survived quite a test during the
difficult pandemic era, especially during the initial months of shutdown brought on by the arrival of COVID-19.
As essential or front line workers, many continued to take care of children so
that other front line workers who are parents could go to their jobs.
On October 20-21, they will gather in Waite Park, MN for “Shaping the Future,”
a training conference for family child care providers. The in-person aspect of
the event is something that many in the profession have been waiting eagerly
to attend.
“One of the most common things I heard from providers after those long years with COVID-19 is how much they missed being around other people who share the same work that they do,” said Lisa Thompson, MN Ombuds for FamilyChild Care Providers.
“Family child care is already a pretty isolated profession. These folks work in their home all day with children, no co-workers to bounce ideas off. People were starving to get back together and see each other, celebrate the work we do, the challenges we face,” she added.
Thompson is well-positioned to speak for providers. After running a licensed
family child care business for 25 years and working at a nonprofit that helps
new child care businesses get started, Thompson became Minnesota’s first
ombuds for family child care providers in July, appointed by Governor Tim Walz.
The position was created by the Legislature last year to advocate on behalf of
family child care providers on licensing, compliance, and other issues.
“I want to bring recognition for the hard work they do in supporting parents
and helping raise Minnesota’s youngest children,” she said.
The Shaping the Future conference will include panel discussions, workshops and breakout sessions on topics including early childhood physical, emotional and mental health, distinguished keynoters and a provider appreciation luncheon featuring broadcaster, podcaster and comedian Sheletta Brundidge as speaker.
By attending, providers will be able to get up to 17 hours of their required
annual training.
“Early childhood is when the majority of brain development happens. This is
when the foundation for a lifetime of learning is developed and that takes a
skill set from educators,” she said.
In addition to the professional and educational development, the conference
will also address the importance of self-care. The attendees can expect to be
spoiled a bit with a range of head-to-toe pampering activities planned for
them.
“We’re also going to have great food,” Thompson promised. “They cook for
kids every day so it will be a treat to have someone cooking for them and then doing the clean-up. We want to let them know we value them and appreciate them.”
The conference is sponsored by a partnership of organizations devoted to
high-quality child care and early learning, including Milestones, Think Small,
Providers Choice, Child Care Aware of Minnesota, Start Early Funders, local
Minnesota Initiative Foundations, and others.