ECE Shared Resources Year In Review 2024

2024

Year In Review

TRANSFORMING THE BUSINESS OF CHILD CARE Dear Friends and Colleagues, As we embark on another year, the team at ECE Shared Resources™ is filled with excitement for the future of child care and the empowering transformations taking place within communities across the United States. It is a privilege to witness the remarkable progress made by our partners across 37 states and D.C. and to know that our platform has been a foundation for success for over 17 years.

Denise Sayer Vice President & Innovator CCA For Social GoodTM ECE Shared ResourcesTM

Cellissa Hoyt Director ECE Shared ResourcesTM

We are driven by the belief that empowered educators are the cornerstone of a brighter future for our children and vital infrastructure for thriving communities. The stories we have collected from our state clients illustrate incredible initiatives that not only reflect this commitment, but also demonstrate impact on sustainable child care business operations and its importance on economic growth.

Our focus remains on providing a systems approach to state ECE support which ultimately fortifies the networks that form the backbone of this important work. Leveraging platform functionality, state partners are embedding local customizations in their sites, which elevates the work of businesses, partners, and agencies supporting the field. Through customized training, direct support, and practical tools, state partners are cultivating the partnerships necessary to elevate the ECE field. This collective spirit of cooperation is essential for realizing the full potential of early childhood education and is crucial for transforming the business of child care.

As we move forward, our shared resources platform continues to expand, serving more than 39,000 businesses nationwide and with new digital toolkits that enhance operational efficiency, we are strengthening programmatic quality for over 2.1 million children daily. We are deeply grateful for the partnership, dedication, and innovation of our state partners who work tirelessly to uplift the ECE community. Your passion fuels our mission, and your contributions are invaluable. As we look ahead in 2025, let us continue to inspire and empower one another, ensuring that our collective efforts lead to a sustainable and prosperous future for all.

Thank you for being an integral part of this journey. Together, we can transform the business of child care and create a thriving environment for our children, families, educators and communities.

Denise Sayer

Vice President & Innovator

Cellissa Hoyt Director

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

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- Margaret Mead, renowned anthropologist

3-4 | Empowered Educators

5-6 | Thriving Businesses

7-8 | Sustainable Growth

9-10 | A Brighter Future 2

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EMPOWERED EDUCATORS Meeting needs and driving impact starts with strong support. Through their shared resources platforms, ECE educators are empowered with access to essential tools that enhance learning outcomes, strengthen business operations, and elevate program quality.

HOW MANY PROGRAMS

HOW MANY EDUCATORS

HOW MANY CHILDREN

39K+

46K+

2.1M

90%

TOP 5 EMAIL TOPICS

OF STATES:

provide the platform FREE to their ECE communities

1. Discounts Available for Educators 2. Resources for Outdoor Play 3. Beneficial Ownership Filing Requirements 4. Money Management 5. Staff Engagement

Introducing...

THE SHARED RESOURCES LEARNING COLLABORATIVE A comprehensive learning event focused on the work and needs of boots-on-the-ground TA staff, coaches and more.

A Game Changer!

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TOP ROLES OF PARTICIPANTS:

MOST REQUESTED TOPICS:

Business Practices & Business Start-up Coaches

Affordable Benefits for Staff

QRIS Coaches

Business Insurance

Licensing Specialists

Financial Management Resources

Technical Assistance Staff

Resources for Managing Challenging Behavior

Behavior Specialists

Onboarding and Training Staff

REAL WORLD IMPACT From Licensing to Longevity: A Clear Path to Success At United Way of Massachusetts Bay, we partner with ECE Shared Resources to operate Shared Services MA—a platform that ensures educators have the tools and guidance they need to build strong, sustainable businesses. Since it’s inception, Shared Services MA has helped 106 new licensed educators open their doors—creating 600 new child care openings.

Through our comprehensive training and coaching model, we provide educators with step-by-step guidance, starting with pre-licensing and continuing long after they open their doors. Our team of peer coaches and trainers— many of whom have been providers themselves—help educators navigate challenges with confidence. More than 2,000 FCC educators have been trained on business and marketing through Shared Services MA—helping them gain critical entrepreneurial skills for long-term success. We also ensure that educators can access the information they need in their preferred language, offering support in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Portuguese. From licensing to budgeting, tax preparation, and business planning, our resources are designed to remove barriers and set providers up for success.

Building Financial Stability, One Provider at a Time One of the most valuable supports we offer is one-on-one business budgeting sessions, where educators learn how to set rates, manage expenses, and build financial confidence. These conversations are often eye-opening, helping educators shift their mindset from caregiver to CEO. The economic impact of child care shortages in Massachusetts leads to $2.7 billion in losses annually. By expanding sustainable child care businesses, we are fueling young families’ participation in the workforce and community economic growth.

By equipping providers with practical financial skills, we help them stabilize their businesses, plan for growth, and ensure long-term sustainability. Many who once felt overwhelmed by the financial side of child care now feel empowered to expand, reinvest in quality, and increase their impact in the community.

Empowered Educators, Thriving Communities A thriving child care sector is essential to the economic growth of Massachusetts. When child care providers have the stability and support they need, parents can work, businesses can grow, and communities become stronger. Shared Services MA is closing equity gaps in child care through their support of Latina and Black women entrepreneurs in the licensing process—helping them start businesses, create wealth, and promote economic mobility in marginalized communities. Through Shared Services MA, we’re not just helping providers open businesses—we’re ensuring they can sustain them, grow them, and thrive.

“One of the things that shared services really does is it wraps around a new family child care provider, not only with the knowledge and skills that they need, but also the cheerleading that people who are opening a new business really need as they’re starting. And that’s one of the reasons that shared services has been so special to us.”

- Kristin McSwain, Senior Advisor for Early Childhood & Director of Mayor’s Office of Early Childhood, Massachusetts

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THRIVING BUSINESSES Strong ECE businesses are built on a foundation of quality education and operational excellence. By leveraging comprehensive support for administrative functions, providers create environments where children flourish, staff excel, and businesses achieve lasting success.

Most Valuable Platform RESOURCE AREAS

KEY INITIATIVES

Engaging with Families: Helping Families and Building Strong Relationships

Workforce Benefits

In the Classroom: Lesson Planning and Support

Business Insurance

HR: Assistance with Recruitment, Retention, and Workplace Culture

Licensing Compliance

HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE RECEIVED FROM THE CCA FOR SOCIAL GOOD STAFF?

4.7 OUT OF 5 STARS

HOW TRUE IS THIS STATEMENT FOR YOU: The CCA for Social Good staff was responsive to my needs for support throughout the year.

4.7 OUT OF 5 STARS

“My shared resources platform helps me in supporting my team, educating both children and their families, and the resources provide me insight on how to have and maintain a strong foundation for my program.”

- Johanna Torres, NY on the benefits of New York Early Learning Resources

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REAL WORLD IMPACT MEET ANDREA BIMONTE, YOUR PERSONAL SAVINGS EXPERT Andrea is ready to help child care programs maximize their budgets and streamline operations. With expertise in ECE Shared Resources programs, she matches providers to time- and cost-saving opportunities, ensuring they have the resources they need to build thriving businesses. Ask her anything, and she’ll work to find the best solutions.

“Providers are such caring and inspiring people and so dedicated to what they do. They motivate me to be the best I can be every day.”

- Andrea Bimonte, Personal Savings Expert “The AZToolkit is a very beneficial tool … whether you are a startup program or well established. It is the one-stop place to gather information from budgeting, work morale, employee on-boarding and exiting, job postings, policy templates, vendor discounts. As a principal of a preschool program of 13 years, I am still able to find new and exciting topics, ways to save money and ideas to make my program run smoother. If anyone is looking for a way to make your job easier, the AZToolkit is where to start!”

"I love Early Care Share WV because it makes it so easy to access reliable resources. They're literally at my fingertips! I look forward to emails and updates from this platform because I know there is always something new inside to explore. As a Family Childcare Provider, I can share these resources with my families and their children and have had a lot of positive feedback from them. Thank you so much for your continued support and for caring about early education in WV.”

- Clara Bentley, AZ on the benefits of AZToolkit

- Sarah Maynard, WV on the benefits of Early Care Share WV

“I can't adequately continue to provide quality care without the shared resources platform. When I start or revise resources, I check the platform to ensure that I have the latest and greatest. I also look for discounts in the savings portal before I shop. If I need information for my parents and teachers or just want to enhance my center, I allow the shared resources platform to take the lead and do it for me.

It is my ‘go-to’ site.”

- Nancy Sylvester, MS on the benefits of Mississippi Early Learning Resources “I am so thankful for this platform. It has enabled me to obtain information and necessary supplies to keep my business open. I have been able to place employment opportunities that have led to some exceptional employees. I have shared with our parents the resources that are available to them in our area. It is a wonderful gift to Nevada ECE. Those who do not use the site have truly missed out!”

- Kristen Mareno, NV on the benefits of Nevada Strong Start Child Care Services Center

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SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Sustainable growth begins with innovative solutions and network supports that meet community needs. When ECE businesses have access to the right tools, partnerships, and support, their business practices are strengthened and their impact expands.

PROGRAMS BY LICENSED CAPACITY

TYPES OF PROGRAMS

WHO USES THE PLATFORM 70%

13%

30%

24%

20%

14%

6%

13%

4%

23% 13%

40%

13%

17%

Family Child Care Homes <10 children

Centers

Administrators, Directors or Owners

Small Centers or Group Homes serving 11-25 children

Family Child Care

Consultants, Coaches, TA Staff

Preschool, Before or After School

Teachers, Asst. Teachers, Caregivers

Centers Serving: 26 to 50 children

Faith-based

51 to 75 children 76 – 100 children

All other

> 100 children

How Frequently Do You Use Your Shared Resources Platform?

45%

1-4x a week

55%

1-2x a month

Impact of Acquire4Hire Job Posting & Applicant Management Service:

24 States Using

147,547 Job Applications

38,339 Jobs Posted

2,405,618 Job Views

“This platform helps me better assist communities that are starting child care businesses or providing assistance to already operational ones. I am able to share this platform so that they do not have to ‘reinvent the wheel’ when it comes to their policies and procedures, more often just change what they would like to see. This has been extremely helpful with the large capacity increase we have been assisting with over the last two years.”

- Katrina Hurley, NE on the benefits of Nebraska Early Childhood Exchange

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REAL WORLD IMPACT Transformative Business Coaching When we talk about transforming early childhood education, we often celebrate the passion, dedication, and care that educators bring to their work. But, we’ve learned that passion alone isn’t enough to build a sustainable child care business. What if we told you that data are just as critical to success?

At the Wisconsin Early Education Shared Services Network (WEESSN), we’ve seen firsthand how business coaching— rooted in real data—can completely change the trajectory of a child care business. That’s why in 2023, we underwent an evaluation to assess the impact of our coaching efforts. The results weren’t just insightful— they were game-changing.

Through our hands-on coaching and leveraging the WISER platform, providers improved tax preparation accuracy by 45% and increased proper staff classification by 65%, helping them avoid costly errors and strengthen their financial stability.

Turning Data Into Actionable Support We know that most early educators enter the field because they love working with children—not because they have a background in business management. But, to thrive, child care businesses need strong financial foundations. This evaluation didn’t just confirm what was working—it showed us where providers needed even more support.

Three priorities became clear: • Strengthening budgeting practices helps providers manage cash flow and ensure long-term sustainability by improving financial forecasting so educators can plan ahead as pandemic relief funds phase out.

• By adapting our coaching strategies to meet these needs, we’re ensuring that Wisconsin’s child care providers aren’t just surviving—they’re growing stronger, more financially resilient, and better prepared for the future.

• Embedding the WISER platform into the work of coaches provides child care business directors with realworld tools and templates when they are ready to do the work.

A Model for Sustainability and Growth The impact of data-driven coaching goes far beyond individual providers—it’s strengthening the entire early childhood education system in Wisconsin. When educators feel confident in their financial management, they can focus on what truly matters: providing high-quality care to children.

This model isn’t just working here—it’s a blueprint that can be replicated across the country. By combining data, coaching, and business strategy, we’re proving that early educators can be both incredible caregivers and successful business owners. At WEESSN, we’re not just offering business coaching—we’re redefining what success looks like for child care businesses.

FPO PHOTO

“Together with the programs WEESSN serves, we’re honing our approach, which paves the way for business coaching to have a significant impact on the long-term viability and success of child care businesses and plays a critical role in advancing sustainable change.”

- Chanel Clark, Director, WEESSN

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A BRIGHTER FUTURE The future of early childhood education is built on innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to quality. When states and partners work together, community economic growth is strengthened, and child care businesses become essential pillars of a thriving supportive network—ensuring a bright future for all.

WELCOME TO THE ECE SHARED RESOURCES COMMUNITY HAWAII

SOUTH DAKOTA

LOUISIANA

43%

11%

Conn ect ing Co

PLATFORM SPONSORS

MINNESOTA

cross the US ies A t i un m m

32% 14%

AEYC Affiliates

St at es

State.gov Nonprofits/Foundations

ia

37

CCR&R’s

and

the District of

C

m ol u

b

“My shared resources platform helps me manage the business portion of our schools. When you earn your degree in Early Education, you know children, you do not learn how to run a business, and this platform has been a game changer for me on the business side.”

- Erica Roseborough, SC on the benefits of Palmetto Shared Services Alliance

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REAL WORLD IMPACT Investing In Vermont’s Early Childhood Educators At First Children’s Finance Vermont and Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC), we know that child care providers aren’t just educators—they’re business owners, financial managers, and community anchors.

For more than a decade, we’ve worked to ensure that the Shared Services Vermont platform provides the tools and guidance providers need to navigate an increasingly complex industry.

This platform was made possible by the vision of Let’s Grow Kids and LouAnn Beninati’s strong belief in the importance of investing in child care and the tools that help it succeed. Her leadership ensures that the benefits of this work will continue to meet the moment and be infinitely impactful.

Act 76: A Game-Changer When Act 76 passed in June 2023, Vermont made an unprecedented public investment in child care, expanding financial assistance, introducing one-time readiness payments, and ensuring long-term funding for sustainability and quality growth. We recognized that for providers—many of whom operate small businesses—understanding these changes would be essential to their success.

On our Shared Services Vermont platform, we built a centralized hub where providers can find clear, practical information about Act 76 in addition to relevant, timely information from our partner organizations. Business owners who once felt overwhelmed by policy changes now have a place to turn for guidance. Whether it’s understanding financial assistance updates, navigating new rate structures, or finding ways to communicate changes with families, we’ve created a space where providers can confidently make informed decisions.

A Platform for the Future Child care providers do more than balance budgets and manage classrooms—they support families in ways that extend beyond early learning. We recognize the challenges that providers face are constantly evolving, and we know that access to accurate, trusted information is critical.

Our newly launched resource center on the platform responds to the need for information on immigration and legal considerations for child care businesses. By offering vetted guidance from national and Vermont-specific organizations, we’re helping providers feel more prepared to assist families, answer difficult questions, and navigate an evolving legal landscape.

The resources hosted on Shared Services Vermont, along with First Children’s Finance and Vermont AEYC provided business and quality training and coaching, and consultation, are always thinking ahead and are coupled with increased public investment to build stability and sustainability into the child care sector of Vermont, ensuring that families across the state have access to quality care for years to come.

“For more than a decade, we’ve worked to ensure that Shared Services Vermont contains the tools and guidance providers need to navigate an increasingly complex industry. As challenges shift, we remain committed to keeping resources timely, accessible, and locally relevant to help providers build and sustain strong businesses.”

- Tess Weafer, Program Specialist, First Children’s Finance

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CCA FOR SOCIAL GOOD HAS A SIMPLE MISSION—BUILD SMART SYSTEMS THAT UNLOCK RESOURCES FOR ECE SUSTAINABILITY RESULTING IN WIDESPREAD SOCIAL IMPACT AND STRENGTHENING OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

For more information, please contact: Denise Sayer Vice President, CCA For Social Good 603.626.2121 dsayer@ccaglobal.com

Cellissa Hoyt Director, CCA For Social Good 603.626.2109 choyt@ccaglobal.com

TRANSFORMING THE BUSINESS OF CHILD CARE