As our Intensive program graduates opened their own family child care businesses, we realized that our commitment to educational equity required us to expand our work to reach the hundreds of low-income children in home-based settings throughout the community. In 2002, we created the Family Child Care Network to bring early education specialists into the homes of licensed family child care providers, offering them educational and collegiate support in a profession that is often isolating and undervalued, and helping them to build a professional community.

While the Network quickly became a popular and important resource for licensed family child care providers, we became concerned about the lack of resources for unlicensed providers. Without support, many providers are daunted by the state licensing requirements and end up operating illegally. In 2003, we spearheaded a program that provides materials and mentorship to providers, guiding them through the licensing process.

While we serve more people than ever before, there is much more work to be done. There are still too many parents without child care choices that will enable them to succeed in the workforce. There are still too many children without safe, healthy early educational experiences. There are still too many home-based providers without the education and supports they need to provide high-quality care. And there are still too many communities without the early childhood programs they deserve. We continue to work towards a more equitable system of early care and education for all of Connecticut's children.