In a small Missouri town, Krina Gobster is transforming childcare and early education. With a passion for nurturing young minds and a dedication to providing quality care, Krina is the founder of Helping Raise Humanity, a nonprofit focused on integrating education into childcare from infancy. Her journey is a testament to resilience and innovation, with Wonderschool’s support playing a pivotal role in her success.
Krina’s vision for Helping Raise Humanity began with a clear purpose: to provide families with an educational foundation as early as possible. “The idea is to get education into childcare opportunities,” she explains. By aligning early education with childcare services, she’s meeting the needs of working families while creating a space for young children to thrive academically and emotionally.
Initially, Krina operated her program as a registered provider, which in Missouri allows childcare providers to care for six or fewer children without a license. She started exploring the licensure process so that she could expand her program to care for 10 children instead of 6. However, the rigorous expectations of the licensing process initially overwhelmed her, causing her to put her licensing journey on hold.
Krina’s journey was significantly impacted by Wonderschool’s support. Wonderschool offers licensing support and technology tools to empower business sustainability for childcare providers at no cost to them, thanks to support from Missouri’s Department of Early and Secondary Education.
Wonderschool reached out to her during the early stages of her licensing process, offering assistance that reignited her motivation. “Their incentives helped prioritize my time and focus,” Krina recalls. This included monetary support that allowed her to outsource tasks and dedicate more time to completing the documentation and licensing requirements.
The resources provided by Wonderschool streamlined the licensing process. “Their step-by-step guidance and organization of the documentation process reduced the stress and strain of figuring everything out on my own,” she says. Even after completing much of the work, Krina was amazed by Wonderschool’s technology platform and its ability to simplify the process further. “They’ve been the backbone support for what it’s taken to become licensed,” she affirms.
Krina is now in the final stages of becoming a licensed childcare provider. Through Helping Raise Humanity, Krina aims to address the growing demand for childcare in her area while offering a nurturing and educational environment for children. By expanding her facility to accommodate up to 10 children, she is helping close childcare gaps in her community which she describes as a “childcare desert”. Licensing is also key to her ability to achieve greater financial stability and hire assistants and provide flexibility for both her and the families she serves.
For Krina, the rewards of this journey also extend beyond financial stability. Her advice to aspiring childcare providers? “Remain steadfast and embrace every challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow,” she says. Her commitment to professionalism and building trust underscores her dedication to meeting the needs of children and families.
With Wonderschool’s support, Krina is not only on the path to success but is also inspiring others in the childcare industry. Her story is a reminder of the power of determination, community support, and the impact one person can make in addressing the needs of families and children.
To learn more about Helping Raise Humanity and Wonderschool’s initiatives, stay tuned for updates as Krina’s journey continues to unfold.
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