About Me

I have been involved with the education of children for all of my professional career. My educational background is a BS in Elementary Education. I worked in the public school system prior to opening Growing Together Child Care in July 2008. My family child care program has offered programs for mixed ages, and outside school hours care only. I participate in both local and statewide provider network groups. I am a member of the Family Child Care Association of Maine.

This site provides both current and potential clients with information about Growing Together Child Care in regards to:

program policies that meet or exceed the requirements stipulated in the current Family Child Care Licensing Rule.
information on child development and
information on community resources that support families with children in care.
Maine’s voluntary Quality Improvement System: Rising Stars requirements

Growing Together Child Care (GTCC) is a sole provider small business. I do not have staff, so operations are closed when I am unable to provide care. In an emergency where a short-term substitute is needed, that individual will be a family member, or individual familiar with what will be their responsibility to keep the children in care safe until parents/legal guardians can pick them up. Emergency substitutes have access to the child records, emergency preparedness plan and policy handbook.

As Growing Together Child Care’s owner I meet or exceed the requirements for current FCC Licensing.

The Growing Together Child Care program also participates in Maine’s current Quality Improvement System: Rising Stars for ME. Rising Stars for ME is a 5 Star level program. GTCC is currently working towards earning and maintaining Star 4.

Conflict Resolution

I recognize that my work as an early childhood education and care professional is based on relationships formed with children and their families. To best support a child here in care, there needs to be a strong team formed by the myself, staff, the child and child’s parents/legal guardians. That only happens when there is honest communication between the adults on the team. The partnership we build will enhance your child’s growth and development. I value your questions, comments, and input. Again, as a team we will achieve the best experience for your child while at GTCC.

Conflicts arise from differences in values, motivations, perceptions, and desires. Here are some of the situations where I have seen the potential for conflict within a child care environment: developmental concerns, toileting, illness care, payment issues, parental disrespect of provider/staff, and child illness. To help diminish the potential for conflicts at GTCC I have developed policies that I both believe in and am willing to enforce. Licensing requires that parents/legal guardians read through the Program Handbook and ask about any questions that arise. In my “Program Handbook” I have done my best to clearly state my policies and explain the procedures I employ in operating Growing Together Child Care.

I will do my best to calmly and respectfully approach my confidential discussions with you. I will listen openly to your thoughts, be honest in my responses, continue to reflect on policies and make changes within the program as appropriate. My goal is to be able to meet together to find the appropriate solutions that support your child’s needs. In finding solutions I will also be considering all the other children here and my own abilities.

Working as a team, maintaining open and honest communication we can reach the ultimate goal of providing the best care for your child supporting their healthy development.

I don’t remember where I first came across this quote, but I copied it down and have kept it with me over the years.

“I am the only unique me that will ever be.
I have the power to make a difference in this world.
I look forward to taking on the grand adventure of life, living, and always remembering to be myself.
I LOVE being me!”

Looking at this regularly helps me keep focused on what is important to me in my work with children. I want to help each child get a good start on their path to a successful and fulfilling life. Not what I want for them, or what their parents want for them, but what they want for themselves. Children need to learn who they are and what they are capable of. With a positive self image and self-esteem anything is possible. Quality learning opportunities need to be made available at the youngest age possible and must continue through all the developmental years of youth. With all the negative messages that get sent out in today’s society, self-esteem isn’t something that you get once and you’re done, one is always working on it. A solid foundation in place during the youngest years helps as we age, grow and adapt to the challenges of life.

What is DIVERSITY and how does it affect my work with children in my care

After taking a course: Weaving Diversity into Our Work with Children and Families, I have a broader view of what diversity means. It isn’t just about skin color or nationality. It’s about all the little things that make each of use different from the others (ie. family traditions, economics, family structure, personal identity…).

Rising Stars -Star 3 requires the training: Supporting Inclusion: Laws and Practices which addresses the laws in place supporting universal design and inclusion, which I have completed.

I do my best to incorporate diversity concepts that come directly from the lives of children in my care. We are learning more about ourselves, as well as those we interact with. I find that the following quote sums it up nicely.

“If we were all alike we’d only need one of us.” ~ quote from Lilianne Katz