When working parents can’t find affordable child care, they’re often forced to make impossible choices, such as leaving jobs, reducing work hours, or even creating/relying on temporary solutions. Salem Zekariyas, a mother in West Virginia, was one of them. Faced with a lack of options, she did something remarkable: she started her own child care program right out of her living room.
With support from Wonderschool and the West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC), Salem transformed her personal challenge with lack of childcare into a thriving in-home child care business. Today, she’s not just supporting her family; she’s supporting dozens of others in her community. She became a business owner, a trusted caregiver, and a pillar of her neighborhood.
Her story is powerful. But this is not a siloed experience, and that’s the point.
Across West Virginia, aspiring entrepreneurs just like Salem are stepping up to fill a critical need: more accessible, affordable, and high-quality child care. In-home child care programs offer a flexible, community-rooted care that meets families where they are. And with the right support, nearly anyone with the passion to care for children can do it!
That’s why Wonderschool and WV SBDC are partnering to make it easier than ever for people to start their own licensed child care programs. Through this partnership, you can access up to $5,000 in grant funding, but this is far more than just a check. It’s a complete package of tools, training, and resources designed to give you a running start, not just a step ahead. Here’s what’s included:
Visit wonderschool.com or reach out to wvsbdc.com to take the first step.
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