Editor’s note:
In 2021, as part of an unprecedented investment in the nation’s early care and education industry from the federal government, a $65 million grant was administered by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Phoenix, in partnership with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) and Arizona’s early childhood agency, First Things First (FTF) through the federal pandemic relief funding that DES administers.
Arizona child care providers received nearly $60 million to rapidly improve and expand their facilities increasing access to early childhood learning environments statewide.
The need was substantial: Arizona providers submitted 969 applications requesting more than $176 million in funding in just two weeks. Providers from 14 of Arizona’s 15 counties applied.
Equity was a focus: Child care providers located in low-to-moderate income areas with limited access to child care were the first priority. Additional priorities included providers caring for infants and toddlers, children with disabilities, and children who receive child care assistance through DES, as well as providers with waitlists and those open nights and weekends.
Ultimately, 478 sites received grants with an average award of $124,750.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing stories from some of child care providers across Arizona who benefitted from the infrastructure grants. You’ll hear firsthand how the grants transformed the learning environment for children in their care.
This week we’re sharing a story from a provider in Graham County.
Kinder Prep Academy, Safford
As a child care business owner, Loretta Desaulniers wears many hats.
“I am the owner, director, teacher of 4- and 5-year-olds and the cleaning and laundry crew,” Desaulniers said, as she laughed. She opened Kinder Prep Academy in Safford in 2015 after teaching kindergarten for 23 years in Graham and Greenlee counties.
Desaulniers and her daughter cared for 10 children that first year. Commitment to quality care helped Desaulniers grow her child care center to serve 39 children in a low-to-moderate income community with limited access to child care.
Kinder Prep Academy focuses on literacy development and provides a comprehensive music and art program to allow children to express themselves in creative ways. The open-concept floor plan of the center encourages student interaction and movement, but there was a real opportunity to make Kinder Prep even better.
A funding opportunity, made possible by an Arizona Child Care Infrastructure Grant, soon emerged to support child care providers, including Kinder Prep Academy, which received $200,000 to improve the business.
The $65 million grant was administered by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Phoenix, in partnership with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) and Arizona’s early childhood agency, First Things First (FTF) through the federal pandemic relief funding that DES administers. Child care providers received nearly $60 million to rapidly improve and expand their facilities, increasing access to high-quality early childhood learning environments statewide.
In Graham County, out of three applications, Kinder Prep Academy was the only one approved. The money was used to:
- Improve the quality of outdoor play space.
- Improve the quality of program support space.
- Address licensing concerns.
Families now walk into a welcome area with bright colors, chairs and a small table that invites children and parents to visit. Fresh paint on the walls brightened the space.
By reimagining the flow of the open concept center into the teachers’ workroom, Desaulniers created a new exit with a more secure door where teachers safely lead the kids to the play area instead of walking near the main road to enter the play space.
The kids love the completely overhauled outdoor space—now double its original size and an ideal place to learn, play and relax.
Desaulniers also addressed licensing concerns, adding new fencing around the play area, removing weeds and the old brick and gravel surfacing, and installing beautiful new turf.
“For safety reasons alone, this was money well spent,” Desaulniers said.
Previously, with the gravel, children would come inside dusty. Desaulniers used the grant to install permanent shade awnings made of concrete and steel to withstand Safford’s powerful storms and wind gusts. The shades allow the children to use the whole play area, even when it rains. They also protect the outdoor furniture and play equipment.
These outdoor improvements will increase Kinder Prep Academy’s Quality First score, which measures progress in quality improvements, such opportunities for active play and hands-on exploration throughout the day.
On the inside, renovations improved program support spaces, such as replacing fluorescent light fixtures and updating electrical outlets. Using the existing plumbing, Desaulniers created a laundry room onsite and purchased a washer and dryer, saving her time at the laundromat. Now, staff can wash bedding and clothes on the fly. The revamped storage room is clean and bright, everything has a place and toys and books are easily traded out. Before, the teachers’ break area lacked heating and cooling, but now it is a relaxing, temperature-regulated space that is comfortable for teachers to recharge.
